Former Ukrainian national team defender Volodymyr Mikitin assessed Serhiy Rebrov’s team’s chances in the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff semi-final against the Swedes.
Mykhailo Mudryk«There are no easy paths to the top. I agree, the Swedish national team is a formidable opponent, but it could have been worse if we hadn’t been lucky enough to be placed in the first pot during the draw.
This generation of the Ukrainian national team has yet to win anything serious, and there are currently plenty of problems in the game of the country’s main team. Therefore, we need to work on our mistakes and take the next chance to make a statement on the international stage.
We just need to stay realistic and not indulge in illusions about the early return of Mykhailo Mudryk. Everything will depend, first and foremost, on our guys, on how they prepare for the March exam, what their mindset will be, especially since there is no time to get going in knockout matches. And it’s important to remember that Swedish 'stars' Isak and Dekkeres are also just people, with their strengths and weaknesses.
By the way, Isak himself was successfully neutralized in the round of 16 match of the 2021 European Championship,» Mikitin said.
