Former Ukrainian national team midfielder Taras Stepanenko shared his thoughts on the prospects of the Ukrainian national team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification stage.
Taras Stepanenko— When was the last time you spoke with Serhiy Rebrov? And do you still keep a place in your heart for a return to the national team?
— I’m a realist. I was last in the national team about a year ago. I also last spoke with Serhiy Rebrov then. I’m now part of the Football Association (referring to the executive committee, ed.). When there is a vote, I try to be present, of course, when there are no training sessions.
As for the national team, to be called up, you need to play consistently at a high level. Under Pushych, I didn’t play constantly. Then I had many injuries — 6−7 minor injuries. I practically didn’t play in this season normally, yes, a couple of times I came on as a substitute. Therefore, from the beginning of the season, I’ve been training normally for about a month. I’m just starting to get in shape. So what national team are we talking about?
Of course, I still plan to play football, that’s why I came here. I wasn’t playing recently at Shakhtar, and I didn’t have a good relationship with this coach. So now I simply support the national team, I’m always in touch with the guys.
— And you’re not putting an end to the national team. Great! Do you think the generation of Stepanenko, Sydorchuk, Yarmolenko can still make their mark with the national team — or is it now the time for the young ones?
— If the coach believes that the level of the players he called up is better than those he didn’t invite, then that’s his right. There’s no question in that. If we’re going to look at who is 35 and who is 25, then I don’t agree. Look at Modric at 40 becoming the best player in Italy. Cristiano Ronaldo plays all matches and scores for the national team. So it’s a matter of the player’s level and status.
For me, quality always needs to be shown. Only quality can answer this question. Not age. And if we’re talking about age, for example, a 17-year-old gets called up with no experience, but like Yamal, becomes a leader of the national team — it’s about the player’s level and what he can contribute to the team.
At the moment, we have the best in their positions from all over Ukraine. So the choice is always up to the coach. He has assistants, they watch matches, analyze. So I don’t think it’s an age issue. I don’t want to speculate on what people think about age. When I’m healthy and playing, in all physical indicators, I’m always in the top three. Why should I mention my age? I run just as well. (Smiles).
— How would you assess our national team’s chances in the World Cup qualification?
— I believe that our national team has everything. Very good players. They practically all play in their clubs. We have many legionnaires in European clubs. Furthermore, I repeat, this World Cup qualification is special — more teams, more chances to advance.
In our group, France is a top team, but Iceland, Azerbaijan — they’re not top. Our national team is much stronger. So we just need to believe in ourselves. It’s understood, it’s always challenging to play for the national team. You need to win, and there’s great expectation from you. If you play 1:1 with Azerbaijan or don’t win against Iceland, there’s immense pressure on you.
But in our national team, everything is in place to take points from France, to win against Iceland and Azerbaijan. If it comes to the playoffs, to win there too. Right now in my team (currently Stepanenko plays for Turkish «Eyüpspor», ed.) there are three national players — Slovenia, Romania, and Bosnia. We’ve already gone through Bosnia, and we can play against Romania too. These are teams of the same level that will be reaching the playoffs when we don’t come first. Therefore, the guys need to believe in themselves, and I believe in them.
I think we have a very good national team, a very good collective — and everything can work out.
— Soon our team will play in Paris against France. What are your thoughts, predictions? In all of history, we’ve only won against France once…
— From my experience, it’s unrealistic to pretend you don’t know about France’s level. They’ve earned their name through results over a century. When I was preparing for such matches, I told myself: «I must be fully concentrated for all 90 minutes.»
What’s the strength of such teams? They have the quality where a new player no worse can come into any position, and if you give any fight and aren’t 100% concentrated, they will use that moment — and you are not in the right position.
Practically everyone called up to the Ukrainian national team has high-level experience. They know how to play such matches. I don’t think the French are much stronger. Yes, they have a much wider selection of players. They can have 2−3 squads. But in terms of the quality of our players and our collective, I think we’re definitely not inferior to them.
— Which young players would you already like to see in the national team? Who, in your opinion, has a special character and potential?
— I’m very glad that Batagov was called up (despite not playing due to injury, ed.). He truly deserves it, I’ve been watching him, a very good player. We have only one left-footed center-back — Kola Matviyenko. I think Arseniy will be a great addition to the national team and will definitely play for them.
I can’t claim to follow all the young players in the Ukrainian championship. I won’t name names, but I know a couple who also deserve a call-up to the national team. But we have a good roster. Young players are always being called up. I believe that at the moment, these are all those who truly deserve to be in the national team.
Kristina Pastukhova
