Famous Ukrainian coach Vladimir Sharan shared his expectations for the first match between the national teams of Ukraine and Belgium in the Nations League playoff for the right to participate in Division “A” of this tournament, which will take place today in Murcia.
Vladimir Sharan. Photo — Yu. Yuriev- There is a lot of talk right now that the current Belgian team is not as strong as it was a few years ago. But this does not mean that today’s match in Malaga, as well as in three days in Genk, will be an easy walk for Sergey Rebrov’s players. Do you agree?
- It is clear that there can be no talk of an easy walk. Especially since the Ukrainian national team is definitely not considered the favorite in this match. And a change of coach (referring to the Belgians) in most cases has a positive effect on the team in which it occurred. This relates to the mood for the match and the increased responsibility of the players. Especially for the first encounter. Rudi Garcia is a very experienced coach. As far as I know, he does not reveal what tactical scheme will be used in the match against Ukraine. He does not disclose his plans, and he is right to do so - in his opinion, it will be harder for our team in this regard. Especially for its coaching staff.
And I would also highlight the return to the Belgian national team of experienced goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. This is a very important point, as he previously had misunderstandings with former coach Domenico Tedesco. Therefore, for the Belgians, having one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the squad is definitely a plus.
- What factors can guarantee a positive result for the Ukrainian national team in the confrontation with the Belgians?
- As always - our character. True Ukrainian character! The desire to win, dedication. And, of course, organization of play, gameplay discipline. Undoubtedly, luck will also be necessary. It should always be present. As is known, luck always favors the strongest. So we will see how our guys prepare for today’s match and how psychologically ready they will be. After all, physically, the lineup I see for this game raises no doubts. All the guys who are in the team are in good shape.
- Could you share your thoughts on the starting lineup of the Ukrainian national team for the match in Malaga?
- Yes, I will try to name it roughly. In goal - Trubin, in defense on the right - Sych, in the center - Zabarniy, Matviyenko, on the left - Mykolenko. In the holding midfield zone - Kalyuzhny, Zinchenko, and Sudakov, on the right - Yarmolenko, on the left - Tsygankov, and up front will be Yaremchuk. This is my subjective opinion.
- Do you think the absence of Artem Dovbik due to illness may affect our team’s attacking potential?
- It's hard to say. Yaremchuk and Dovbik are similar types of players. As for their colleague in the same position, Vanat, this striker has a somewhat different style - he is more speed-oriented. I cannot say that Dovbik’s absence in the current match will have a serious impact. After all, Yaremchuk is also a player of good level. Vanat can strengthen the play - that’s for sure. It’s possible to change the formation during the match to 4-4-2. It all depends on how the match unfolds.
- Did you notice many surprises when you familiarized yourself with the squad called up by Sergey Rebrov for the two matches against the Belgians?
- I believe that currently, the squad features an optimal list of players and Rebrov’s selection is correct. We all saw from the broadcasts that the head coach of the Ukrainian national team closely observed the performances of candidates for the national team in every round of the spring portion of the championship, attending matches in different cities. He watched who is in what shape and analyzed everything carefully. Therefore, all the players who have been called up to the main team of the country are there quite deservedly.
- What are you doing during your creative break?
- I am focused solely on my health. In late autumn last year, I underwent knee surgery at one of the capital's clinics. For two months, I had to move on crutches, and now I am undergoing a rehabilitation course. This is a long and rather complicated process, so I have to be under the constant supervision of doctors. I just returned from Kyiv, where I went for a few days for another consultation and examination. Therefore, the recovery continues.
- Are you missing coaching? What are your plans?
- As I already mentioned, at this stage, my main focus is on my health. I hope the recovery process won’t take too long. After that, I will think about further plans in my professional career. In the meantime, I try to keep my finger on the pulse of football affairs in Ukraine, closely following events in other championships, in European cups, and in the Nations League. Of course, every coach wants the creative break in their career not to be too long, and I am no exception in this regard. I should complete my recovery by spring, and how things will go from there - time will tell. If an invitation comes from a club with ambitious plans or high goals, I will be interested in immersing myself in their realization.
Vyacheslav Kulchytsky
