A well-known trainer, and now also an authoritative expert Oleg Fedorchuk in a conversation with a Sport.ua correspondent, he told which positions in the Ukrainian national team cause concern before the confrontation in Batumi:
– First of all, in my opinion, the class of our guys is higher than that of the owners, and the composition is more equal. If only the football players came to the match in combat sports uniforms and demonstrated their best qualities.
– In your opinion, what are the “trump cards” of the Georgians that can prevent the Ukrainians from gaining the upper hand?
– The hosts have a player that the fans come to see. This is Khvycha Kvaratsheliya. Such recognition must be earned, and of course, next Saturday, the leader of Napoli will lead his partners in the national team. Therefore, a lot will depend on whether our right defender Efim Konoplia can handle the ambitious Georgian. If by joint efforts, thanks to the game of getting ahead of the game, a reliable hedge succeeds in complicating Khvycha’s life, the chances of achieving a positive result will increase.
Secondly, the position of the defensive lineman causes concern. Who will Serhiy Rebrov, the helmsman, choose? Dynamo’s Vladimir Brazhko returned to the squad after an injury, but his game at the club level is not impressive, as for Ivan Kalyuzhny, there is no doubt about his maximum enthusiasm, but will he lack speed in the fight against mobile Georgian linebackers. Moreover, it is in the central zone that Kvaratchelia likes to move from the left flank.
– But the entire group of players of the Ukrainian national team, except for Brazhko, still had insufficient game practice.
– This is also worrying, because our legionnaires did not get into the base not only due to their health, but also due to their playing qualities. We are talking about Alexander Zinchenko, Roman Yaremchuk, Mikhail Mudryk. And you will not envy Rebrov, because he always emphasized that he would give preference to those who would have game practice. This imbalance can negatively affect the actions of the Ukrainian national team.
– Our attack leader Artem Dovbyk also has problems.
– This is another cause for concern. Unfortunately, there are gaps in Dovbyk’s football education that prevents him from fulfilling his goal-scoring mission in Italy, where he knows how to defend himself. What we have in the end: Dovbyk – does not score, Yaremchuk – in reserve in “Olympiakos”. There is also Dynamo Vladislav Vanat, but he is not visible on the international stage. It’s sad.
– Then, how will you win in Batumi?
– This will be a difficult confrontation for both teams. There is hope that our goalkeeper will be at his best, that the linebackers will be pleased with their creativity, that one of them will hit the goal, that Fortune will smile at the guests. All the same, I am inclined to the fact that it will be a productive draw.
Earlier, the linebacker of the English “Brentford” Egor Yarmolyuk shared his impressions of the first call-up in his career to the national team of Ukraine.
Source: sport.ua