After Monday’s World Cup 2026 qualifying match, in which the Ukrainian national team defeated Azerbaijan (2:1), football experts assess our team’s chances of making it to the finals as promising. This opinion was expressed by the former coach of «Zakarpattia» («Hoverla»), «Uzhhorod», and «Minai», Mikhail Ivanitsa.
Mikhail Ivanitsa (photo: zaf.org.ua):— Thank God we won. But still, something isn’t right with our national team. I don’t know why. We are all supporting them, worrying for them in this difficult time. As for the game against Azerbaijan, I can say: our players did well, managing to secure the much-needed three points. Ruslan Malinovskyi significantly strengthened the team, and the other guys also tried. One can’t say they lacked confidence. There was a desire, an aspiration to achieve a positive result. Compared to the first meeting in Baku, we played the second one better.
— The team under Serhiy Rebrov always finds it challenging to play against Azerbaijanis— both in Baku and in the conditionally home match in Krakow.
— I want to note that the Azerbaijan national team is not the same as it was five or ten years ago. Everyone has learned to play football now. Just take our group opponent — Iceland. The other day, they played 2:2 with France, and they looked very decent in the first match too. The San Marino national team is no longer that weak, and the Faroe Islands national team is doing wonders, scoring twelve points and fighting for second place in the group! I repeat: everyone knows how to play football now — in clubs and their academies work qualified coaches, and players are growing. But as for us, something is still not as we would like.
— What exactly do you mean?
— I recently listened to an interview with Oleh Blokhin, who said that right now in our football there are no bright individuals capable of taking the game upon themselves or deciding the outcome of the match. They reach the penalty area, but instead of moving forward, outplaying the opponent, or taking a shot, they somehow turn back. No one dares to take the game into their own hands! Whether they are afraid or something else — it’s hard to say. So, apparently, we don’t have stars like Blokhin, Oleksandr Zavarov, Andriy Shevchenko.
I don’t want to go back a hundred years and list all the legendary players, but there were many. They could outplay, twist opponents around, create an advantage for others. Or take those who could deliver a delicate, filigree pass — Leonid Buryak, Pavlo Yakovenko. There were also plenty of excellent wingers. And although many of our players now play in good foreign clubs, they lack a high level and stability. Believe me, I’m not criticizing, just drawing parallels. Once, on a business trip to Kyiv, I met the well-known coach Ivan Terletsky at the Dynamo stadium, who told me wise words: “Mikhail, individually teaching a player to outplay an opponent is harder than teaching them to pass.” And I fully agree with him.
— How do you assess the chances of the Ukrainian national team in the current World Cup qualifying cycle?
— I would like our players to at least make it to the playoffs. It will, of course, be difficult, as the next game is in France, and the final, conditionally home game, is in Poland — against Iceland. One can’t help but talk about the strength of such a rival as the two-time world and European champions France. The Icelandic national team is also a powerful, organized team. During the match in Reykjavik, when the score went to 3:3, I thought: well, that’s it, ours might psychologically break down. But they pulled through — scored the fourth and then the fifth goal. So, I can say: in the remaining two games, the Ukrainian national team will find it difficult, but I still hope that the guys have gained more confidence and will pass this qualification.
— And could it happen that the confidence gained after two consecutive victories will disappear if points are lost in France— before the decisive match with Iceland?
— Anything is possible. Our team received a lot of criticism after unsuccessful starting matches. And even in the Krakow game against Azerbaijan, the last minutes were very nerve-wracking. Personally, I watched the broadcast and smoked, watched and smoked (smiles). The ending was too tense. But I still think in the remaining matches, our players will give their all to achieve their goal. Let’s hope for the best.
Vyacheslav Kulchytsky
