Famous Ukrainian coach Vyacheslav Hroznyi analyzed the World Cup 2026 qualifying match between Ukraine and Iceland (2:0) and assessed the prospects of the Ukrainian national team in the playoffs for World Cup qualification.
Vyacheslav Hroznyi— Vyacheslav Viktorovych, I know you get very emotional during matches, even when commenting in the studio. Were you confident about Ukraine’s victory before the match, even though the resolution only came in the last ten minutes? Any emotions left?
— They’ve calmed down a bit. I managed a few hours of sleep, only got to bed around six in the morning. As we discussed, our team can regroup when there’s no room to retreat. The national team played a very good match, although it was nerve-wracking. Iceland’s team took many corners, which is always dangerous, especially from them. During set pieces, they always pose the greatest threat to the opponents' goals.
— Nevertheless, our national team played perhaps the best match under Serhiy Rebrov’s leadership. What improved the quality of the game?
— First of all, the level of our players is quite high. Zabarnyi plays for PSG, Trubin has considerable game practice at Benfica, Malinovskyi is in Serie A, Mykolenko in England, Tsyhankov and Vanat in La Liga. Let’s not list everyone. This speaks to the good level of the national team’s players.
Secondly, the coaching staff thought strategically, which also impacted the result. Most of the top players rested in the match against France — only Trubin, Zabarnyi, and Yarmoliuk played in the starting lineup in both matches. Therefore, against Iceland, the team looked fresh and light. We were faster than the opponents and pressed actively in their half of the field.
The flanks worked well — Zubkov and Tsyhankov constantly threatened the Icelandic goal. Vanat opened actively, keeping the defenders on edge. We didn’t receive the ball with our backs to the opponents — only facing them, mostly passing medium and long distances. The whole team was in motion, and the players opened correctly. Our attack group is fast, and we managed to use this advantage.
— It seemed the defenders were part of the attacking group in this game.
— It hasn’t been like this for a long time. Zabarnyi and Matviyenko actively moved forward, making good passes. Someone from the holding midfielders moved to the last defender’s position. Entire groups of players moved up. Wing-backs actively moved forward. Konoplya even played the role of a midfielder. We outplayed the Icelandic national team in all aspects.
— There was a certain risk in such a setup, as Iceland created several chances to score.
— Not from open play. Everything they created was a result of rehearsed set plays. We played zonally, not combinatively, and practically no one was marking players personally. Iceland could have scored, but thankfully Trubin saved us. However, we showed that yesterday we were a team. Remember how we scored the second goal. Shaparenko slid in a tackle a few minutes before the final whistle, Kaluzhnyi picked up the ball and passed it to the fresh Hutsuliak.
— At first, it seemed that Oleksiy wouldn’t exacerbate the situation, but calmly hold the ball. After all, there was almost no time left in the match, and half of the Icelandic players didn’t even run back to defend.
— He took advantage of this, turned, and shot. It was fortunate, but it was also a reward for the missed opportunities the Ukrainian team created throughout the match. I mentioned Shaparenko as an example of everyone doing the hard work without exception. This was very important. We gave a head start to our opponents in the Nations League when we lost to the Czechs and Albanians, and then in matches against them and the Georgians, we saved the situation; in the group tournament, when we drew in Azerbaijan. If it weren’t for that misfortune in Baku, a draw with Iceland would have sufficed. We would have had an advantage in the fight for second place. The game would probably have been different, without these swings to the end of the match. In any case, we should congratulate the team on making it to the playoffs.
— This is now our feature: we harness slowly, but travel quickly.
— When we approach matches with concentration, we indeed look quite decent and achieve the necessary result. On the 20th, the draw will take place. Potential opponents are such that we can handle them. We have a real chance to qualify for the World Cup. I think we’ll make it. Because the last match showed that with maximum dedication, when there’s a need to achieve a specific result in a certain match, the national team plays as it truly can. Over a long distance, it can afford to lose unnecessary points, but when backed into a corner, it transforms.
— The national team looked good against Iceland. It’s a strong team, but in the playoffs, the opponent will probably be stronger.
— There are more than four months until the playoff matches. We still have Zinchenko, Sudakov, Dovbyk, who didn’t play due to injuries. There are players who can really create competition, strengthen the team. There is time, there’s positivity, there’s perspective.
— The team was well-motivated, charged. However, if Iceland had realized one of the two chances, hopes for victory would have quickly faded.
— We discussed this problem before. Problems near our goal during set pieces arose in the already mentioned matches with the Czech Republic, Albania, at the Euro it was the same. Our national team hasn’t addressed it. And they could have scored at 0:0. I didn’t like that. I think the coaching staff is pondering this. Someone might say the opponents are taller. But that doesn’t matter when you choose the right position. Remember, we scored the first goal from a set piece. Hutsuliak played ahead of the curve, and Zubkov was left alone on the far post.
Of course, there are certain nuances to consider. Who analyzes with a cool head has the advantage. Opponents in the playoffs will consider our weaknesses during set pieces. At the end of March next year, we might meet Wales or North Macedonia, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Romania. There are no Italians in our group of four, and we should be able to pass these teams.
Hennadiy Chekhovskyi
