Ukrainian coach Viktor Skrypnyk shared his expectations for the first match of the playoffs of the Nations League between the Ukrainian national team and the national team of Belgium.
Viktor Skrypnyk— What are you expecting from the game?
— As a fan, I want Ukraine to beat the Belgians, but as a professional, I can think it through. A lot will depend on who is better prepared at that moment and who has a deeper bench. I mean not just the number of players, but their cohesion and form. Such nuances can play a significant role in this confrontation.
We recently played against Belgium at the Euro (0:0). There were no spectacular moments from either team, but the game was tense; its result could have been decided by a single goal either way. The upcoming match will be similar but will differ in that it's two legs, so the readiness will come to the forefront.
Our national team has players who always play in clubs, like the same Zabarniy, and there are those who don't get much time, like Zinchenko and Yaremchuk. But this can also play to our advantage as they miss playing football, and in the national team, they can prove themselves.
— On paper, Belgium is the clear favorite. What can our team do to beat them?
— We need to have a balanced team with a well-acquainted lineup. It's not necessary to field one group of players and then six new ones in the next game. When there is a compact squad of 13 outfield players, you can play balanced in these two matches and achieve a positive result because of that. The squad of the Ukrainian national team is sufficient as we don't have a significant choice among players.
I really liked the performance of the Ukrainian national team in the last Nations League. Our team was a united whole, and this was felt. It needs to be the same in the matches against Belgium. We have no room for error as it was in the match against Romania (0:3) at the Euro. We need to take off from the start.
— Who do you like among the players in the Ukrainian national team? Who do you consider the leader of this team?
— Many such players exist. In one match, the team can be led by Yarmolenko; in another, by Zinchenko, who has scored decisive goals for the national team. Malynovskyi was such a player in his time. It’s gratifying that Yaremchuk has started scoring for Olympiacos. The same can be said for Dovbyk. It seems to me that Artem made the right decision to change leagues. Yes, it's tougher for him in Serie A, but he scores his goals. Sudakov can score from practically any position.
The Ukrainian national team has players who can decide moments. Also, we have a decent defense—like Zabarniy and Mykolenko. These players play in the best league in the world. Now the main thing is for them to function well together—defense, midfield, and attack.
— Will we miss Mudryk significantly in the matches against Belgium?
— Every team dreams of having a player who makes a difference. Mudryk, with his speed, could make that difference. But now we need to learn to play without him. The Belgian team also has its problems. De Bruyne and Courtois—sometimes they want to play for the national team, and sometimes they don’t. In the national team, they might not be welcomed as warmly as before.
The advantage of the Ukrainian national team is that we don’t have a high rotation and have a stable lineup. New names in the national team only appear due to force majeure, like with Mudryk. But it’s encouraging that Rebrov gives a chance to young players during the training camps, like Krasnopira from Karpaty, to sniff what the national team is like.
— Mudryk is threatened with a long suspension if the B Sample tests positive. Can he then return to a high level?
— We don’t know for how long the suspension will be or if there will be one at all, so it’s not worth discussing this prematurely. Footballers sometimes return even stronger after serious injuries. Eriksen had serious heart problems, but he returned and is playing at a high level. It depends on the character and desire of the player himself. I want to wish Mudryk that everything ends well, and Ukrainian football does not lose this player. Misha can still bring a lot of benefits.
— Let’s briefly run through the positions in the Ukrainian national team. Who do you think we will see at the forefront against Belgium—Dovbyk or Yaremchuk?
— It seems to me that in one game Dovbyk will start, and then Yaremchuk will replace him, and in the second—it will be the other way around. It is already up to Rebrov to decide who and when from the forwards will play.
— What can you say about the goalkeeper position: Will we see Trubin or Lunin in the match against Belgium?
— I am not inside the team and do not see the whole process from the inside. Who plays will be decided by the head coach, who feels the aura of the players and knows who is ready and how. We have very good goalkeepers.
— Personally, who do you prefer—Lunin or Trubin?
— I prefer Lunin more, but that does not mean that Trubin is worse. Each of the goalkeepers goes through peaks—sometimes Lunin plays better, sometimes Trubin does. Rebrov has a difficult choice ahead.
— What do you think about Yarmolenko? Is he still at the level of the national team?
— Considering Mudryk's absence, Yarmolenko is definitely needed by the national team. Andriy is an experienced player who has gone through a lot. His recent substitution and double against Galatasaray in the Europa League are worth noting. People like Yarmolenko are worth their weight in gold. The main thing is that he is in good form, and you can't take away his desire. Young players feel more confident when they have such veterans behind them. As far as I know, Andriy is not "flashy," but the soul of the company and the locker room leader.
— The Ukrainian national team started the Nations League with two losses but then leveled the situation. How do you assess our team's play under the leadership of Serhiy Rebrov?
— It's normal. I know what it’s like to be a coach in Ukraine and how challenging that is. In Europe, they have more understanding of the coach's work, while here, if something doesn’t go right immediately, the coach becomes the worst person in the world. Critics will immediately appear. But I always support my colleagues and never attack their personalities. Rebrov is a professional with his philosophy, and a good coaching staff has been gathered in the national team. I support the Ukrainian national team and wish it only victories.
— Your prediction for the match Ukraine—Belgium?
— In the first game, the Belgians will play cautiously, trying to get to know our team since they have a home match in reserve, and in the second match, they will be guided by the result. We are unlikely to see a bright, attacking football in Spain and a score of 3:3 or 4:4.
I think the game will be similar to the one that was at the Euro, without a lot of dangerous moments. I predict a draw in the first match, and in the second—we will "dance" from the result. Mudryk would indeed come in handy in Belgium if the opponent starts to press us.
Andriy Piskun
