Well-known commentator Ihor Tsyhanyk spoke about the World Cup 2026 qualifying match Azerbaijan — Ukraine (1:1).
— We came out not prepared. I don’t remember a single match of the national team under Rebrov’s leadership where the team was charged from the first to the last minute and showed a phenomenal game. The team is uncontrollable. Just as a living organism must respond to stimuli, so must the players respond to challenges on the field. If you’re “pinched,” you must respond. But our team does not react to anything — it comes out and tries to play in some smooth motion, without character.
We have already beaten Iceland — a year and a half ago, and there is nothing scary about it. They can be defeated twice. But now we must, while the Icelanders can allow themselves to play their football: sit on their half and break out vertically into counterattacks, creating problems for us,” Tsyhanyk said immediately after the game.
