Midfielder of Zhytomyr’s «Polissya» Vladislav Veletien commented on his debut call-up to the national team of Ukraine — for the World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Iceland (October 10) and Azerbaijan (October 13).
Vladislav Veletien. Photo — UAF— Vladislav, this is your debut call-up to the national team. Did you expect it to happen now? How did you find out about the invitation?
— I didn’t expect it to happen now. I was personally informed during the game, after being substituted.
— What were your first emotions after hearing this news? How did the team and your close ones react?
— The emotions were positive. First, the team congratulated me, then my close ones.
— This is your first call-up to the senior national team, but you have already played for the youth and Olympic teams. How does this moment feel different?
— It’s hard to describe in words — you have to feel it.
— How did the guys in the team accept you? What have the national team players said so far?
— They accepted me well. I already knew many of them.
— Some of your club partners already have experience playing for the national team. What did they tell you before the departure, what advice did they give?
— They just congratulated me. But we didn’t discuss it in detail.
— What’s the atmosphere like within the national team now, and how are you preparing for this gathering?
— Everyone is extremely focused on the matches. I am also focused and concentrated to absorb the information provided by the coaching staff.
— A debut call-up to the national team is always a special stage in a career. What does making it to the senior team mean for you personally?
— It’s a childhood dream. It also means that I am on the right path.
— Do you see this event as a deserved result of your work, or rather as a new challenge that needs to be proven every day?
— It’s a new challenge. In football, there are no past merits — you have to prove yourself every time.
— What goals and expectations do you set for yourself in this gathering, especially concerning the possibility of debuting on the field?
— To help the team — both on and off the field.
— How important is it for you now not just to be on the list, but also to show yourself to the coaching staff in training and matches?
— One must show oneself. What’s the point of just being on the list?
— When you imagined this moment — the first call-up to the national team — how did you see it? How does reality match those expectations?
— It’s exactly as I imagined.
— What impression do the upcoming opponents of the national team have? What should one pay attention to in these matches?
— We analyze the opponents and our games simultaneously. I think, first and foremost, one should focus on our own game.
— How do you assess Ukraine’s chances against Iceland and Azerbaijan, and overall at this stage? What can be a key factor for the team’s success?
— We need to play to win in all matches — and everything will be fine.
— Lastly: who is your favorite player in the history of the Ukrainian national team?
— Yevhen Konoplyanka.
— Can you name your top 3 favorite national team matches that you have seen with your own eyes?
— Ukraine — Portugal (2:1). Ukraine — Sweden (2:1). Ukraine — France (2:0).
Kateryna Bondarenko
