The honored coach of Ukraine, the former head coach of the national team Myron Markevich talked about what he expects from Sergei Rebrov’s players in the rematch of the Nations League against the Belgians in Genk:
Myron Markevich— Yesterday in Spanish Murcia, there were two different halves. Before the break, the actions of the nominal hosts were affected by excessive nervousness, leading to mistakes in the transitional phase. The guests dictated the conditions.
— What helped our team achieve a turnaround?
— Paradoxically, but the missed goal by Lukaku at the end of the first half. The score forced the Ukrainians to act much more aggressively. And although there were no tactical reshuffles, thanks to the tenacity in the midfield block, it became harder for the Belgians to control the ball.
Credit should also be given to coach Sergei Rebrov, who guessed well with the substitutions; the "fresh" players increased the pace, and the opponents struggled to keep up with the developments on the field. The second half was exemplary not only in terms of game organization but also in terms of realizing goal-scoring opportunities. The guys did great.
— In just two days, the rematch will take place in Genk. Should we expect any changes in the starting lineup of the Ukrainians?
— Although they say that a winning lineup should not be changed, the appearance of Vladyslav Vanat from the first minutes is not excluded, as he is more mobile than Roman Yaremchuk. This is important in a counter-attacking game. As for the potential return of Artem Dovbyk, I do not have information on whether he will be back in shape after his illness.
In my opinion, in Genk, the Ukrainians will dictate the terms. The main thing is to remain confident in their abilities, so to speak, not to set up any buses in their own territory, but to act as they did in the second half in Murcia. Of course, they need to be prepared for the fact that the hosts, with the support of the 12th player, will go on the attack with great forces. That’s why it’s very important not to concede an early goal.
Dmitry Vus
