Former Dynamo goalkeeper Volodymyr Tsytskin, who later worked with Ukraine’s national teams of various ages, explained who he favors in the October qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup against Icelanders and Azerbaijanis under the guidance of Serhiy Rebrov:
Volodymyr Tsytskin— In the clash in Reykjavik, much will depend on the tactics our coach Serhiy Rebrov chooses. I carefully reviewed video recordings of Iceland’s recent home matches, where they consistently played with three forwards, and I am inclined to believe that we should first and foremost ensure the reliability of our defenses, which can be achieved with an effective 4−5−1 formation. I think we should avoid pressing on the opponents' half as it would allow the hosts to exploit dangerous balls behind the defenders. Therefore, it’s best to act in a low block and rely on swift counterattacks. It’s also advisable to neutralize Iceland’s activity on the flanks.
— Injuries to key midfielders have added to Serhiy Rebrov’s headaches, even though this is our strongest link. Whom would you prefer in the starting lineup?
— On the right flank — Voloshyn, on the left — Hutsulyak, it’s important that they perform well on their half of the field. In the center — Kalyuzhnyi, or Ochertko, Sudakov, and Shaparenko. But that’s my take.
— What result in Reykjavik can be considered positive for Ukraine?
— The main thing is not to lose. My prediction is 1:1. I repeat, it’s nothing catastrophic, but theoretically, on our nominal field in Warsaw, we must defeat the Icelanders.
You know, once I had the chance to visit Iceland and learn about how football is developed in this country. I recall being caught off guard that the Football Federation ensured the most promising players regularly trained in England. That’s why, for many years, Iceland at club level and national teams focused on the English style.
Now the situation has changed. The current national team features players from different European clubs, and their style has become more diverse. This makes the Icelanders stronger. But I am confident that our players are well-prepared for the test in Reykjavik and will achieve a positive result.
— Currently, this will be the minimum program, especially with the hope that we will prevail over Azerbaijan on October 13.
— As is known, in paired matches, Ukrainians tend to perform worse in the second. Perhaps due to insufficient physical preparation. However, this time the situation is perfect. We will settle scores with the weakest team while being the nominal host. Despite the long trip to Iceland, there will still be some time for recovery. Ultimately, Azerbaijanis will also have to spend a lot of effort traveling to France. That’s why everything should be fine with the game rhythm, and we’ll defeat them in Krakow — 2:0. As you can see, it all points to the intrigue in the battle for the second place in the group disappearing only after the last round.
Andriy Pysarenko
