The Ukrainian national team, after losing to France (0:2), could not defeat Azerbaijan in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Serhiy Rebrov’s team played to an away draw of 1:1 and is in third place in Group D standings. We are behind France and Iceland. Former Dynamo striker Artem Milevsky shared his impressions of the game.
— Artem, what do you say about the match, because I can’t shake the feeling of hopelessness after the national team’s game?
— There’s not much to say here. I’m not a fan of criticizing, we have many experts who will find the right words without me. I was betting on a minimal victory for Ukraine because I understood it wouldn’t be easy for us as many thought.
And Tamila (Artem’s girlfriend - ed. A.P.) was cheering for her relatives because she has Azerbaijani roots, so she is satisfied with the result (laughs, - ed. A.P..). Tamila told me just yesterday that it would be a draw. I replied, “Don’t make me laugh. If we can’t beat Azerbaijan, then who can we beat?”. Now she will be laughing at me, she’s waiting for me for dinner (laughs, - ed. A.P..).
Jokes aside, but the performance of our national team is not serious. The team didn’t create a single clear-cut chance.
— Did you watch football with Aliyev?
— Yes, we haven’t watched matches together for a long time, and then we gathered and got such a “gift” from the national team — a draw against Azerbaijan. We sat silently looking at each other with surprise.
— Let’s analyze the moments from the penalty situation. Do you think there was a foul on Vanat?
— I think there was a penalty. The opponent put his hand on Vanat’s shoulder and slightly pulled his shirt. But why did Vanat start grabbing his face when he fell?! Maybe that’s why the referee changed his decision. If you dive, then at least don’t grab your face.
— In your time, not only did you score, but you also fell like a master. Vanat should take lessons from a professional.
— There are master classes on cooking and other things, and I will conduct a master class on diving (laughs, - ed. A.P..).
— What do you say about the penalty against us?
— With such deliveries into the penalty area, everyone usually keeps their hands behind their backs. They know that there is VAR. I don’t want to name names, but the player plays in the EPL, has been in Man City and Arsenal; how could he make such a mistake and put his hands out?
— Our players perform in the EPL, La Liga, Portugal, but why do they walk slowly in the national team?
— I’m not in the national team and don’t know how they prepare. On Instagram, everything is okay, millions of photos. It feels like life is good. Now the guys will pack their bags and fly: some to England, some to Portugal, some to Italy. Vanat will fly to Spain. So tell me, how did he play today?
— Like Dovbik — not at all.
— Exactly. If you can’t show anything against Azerbaijan, then what will you do in La Liga against Real and Barcelona? The guys will fly abroad to their clubs, and everything will be fine for them. They don’t see the situation in which we live. For this, players should come out for the national team and try to please the fans who watch them in Ukraine.
— Remember how you came to the national team. Do you see differences from the current gatherings?
— I saw how Tsyganov left the national team. A Mercedes van pulled up, they carry his bags, sit him in the car, take him to the airport, dust him off! That’s all good, the level of organization is top-notch, but what on the field?! We used to get to the base in Koncha-Zaspa by ourselves, sometimes even paying our own money. No one carried our bags, but we went out and fought for the national team.
And now the training camps are in Marbella and elsewhere. It feels like the world’s best national team is gathering. So go out and show something on the field! We have players in Rome, Benfica, PSG, in the EPL, a master even moved to Girona, yet they can’t beat Azerbaijan.
— Fans in the comments are demanding Rebrov’s resignation. What do you think about that?
— Well, who else can replace him? I don’t know what is in the minds of the coaching staff right now. Yarmolenko is not needed by them. Aliyev asks me: “Why wasn’t Yarmolenko called up?”. I say: “Rebrov said there is tough competition in his position.”
Well what the hell competition is there in his position? This is nonsense. Zubkov can play on the left, Tsyganov is constantly injured. Voloshin? Guys, are you serious — which Voloshin? Yarmolenko could have easily come on for 30-40 minutes and helped in this situation. He has a name; opponents would be afraid to touch him. Andryukha would definitely come up with something against Azerbaijan and execute it.
— Zabarnyi played his 51st match for the national team against Azerbaijan and surpassed you in the number of games for the national team.
— I’m only happy for Ilya and wish him success at PSG. I have a very good attitude towards him. He is the only bright spot in our national team. If it weren’t for Zabarnyi, it would have been 0:4 against France, not 0:2.
Andriy Piskun