Former player of the Ukrainian national team Oleg Shelaev talked about what he expects from the friendly matches of the Ukrainian national team with Canada (June 7) and New Zealand (June 10), which will take place in Toronto.
Oleg Shelaev. Photo — fcdnister.com“I am convinced that primarily for the Ukrainian national team, the competitions in Toronto will have informational significance. Coach Sergey Rebrov will want to have a complete understanding of the potential of the newcomers to the main team of the country and of the players who have been called up for the second time. That’s why they will undergo a battle test.
I don’t think our guys, after all, like the opponents, will try to jump above their heads. Nevertheless, the tournament is more of a showcase and one should not expect fierce competition on every inch of the field. Moreover, most participants have had a tough season behind them.
I tend to think that participants will try to minimize the number of mistakes. This is also gameplay practice, with the only twist being that the opponents adhere to different styles.
I don’t think Rebrov will conduct any tactical experiments; the usual scheme of 4−1−4−1 will be used. It is important to improve those developments that the team follows under Rebrov’s guidance.
I will be cautious in my predictions: ours can win, but even if they do not take first place, it is not critical. After all, it is only the preparation for the autumn qualifiers for the World Cup,” said Shelaev.
