Former forward of several Ukrainian clubs Maxim Feshchuk evaluated the list of football players called up to the Ukrainian national team for preparation for the September qualifiers for the World Cup 2026 — against France (September 5) and Azerbaijan (September 9).
Maxim Feshchuk— The decision of the head coach is not up for discussion. It’s a decision that invariably has an answer, there is some logic behind it. The best players at the moment are called up to the national team; there’s also a microclimate in the team, there are people for the collective. There are certain components based on which players are selected.
— New faces have appeared in the national team; Mihavko and Ocheretko received their debut call-up. What do you think about these two young players?
— Speaking of Ocheretko and Mihavko, in some ways they deserve a call-up to the national team. This does not mean that they will play in the starting lineup, but I believe they have earned this call-up.
By the way, I also glanced at the reserve list; many players from Dynamo, like Brazhko, and Mykhailychenko from Polissya deserve a call-up. Hutsulyak is also a very high-quality, very good player; he proved this with his actions for the national team in the last matches, without a doubt. But at the moment, I believe he is not in optimal form today. However, the coach has confidence in him, and he is counted on, which is also normal.
— It is hard not to notice the absence of Andriy Yarmolenko again. How important is his presence in the national team now, considering his authority in the locker room? Do you agree with Rebrov’s decision?
— What can Andriy give to the national team today? Authority, experience, skill, but the years also take their toll; football does not stand still, it is a dynamic game. Sooner or later, Yarmolenko will have to end his time with the national team. In this case, his absence indicates that today his authority, skills, and previous achievements are insufficient.
