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 boys is higher than that of the hosts, and the composition is more equal. If only football players came to the match in combat sports uniforms and demonstrated their best qualities.
– In your opinion, what “trump cards” of the Georgians can prevent the Ukrainians from gaining the upper hand?
– The hosts have a player for whom the fans come. This is Khvicha 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 Yukhym Konoplia can handle the ambitious Georgian. If by joint efforts, thanks to the game of anticipation, a reliable underwriter is lucky enough to complicate Khvichi’s life, then the chances of achieving a positive result will increase.
Secondly, the position of the defensive midfielder is cause for concern. Who will Serhii Rebrov, the helmsman, choose? Dynamite player Volodymyr Brazhko returned to the lineup after an injury, but his game at the club level does not impress, as for Ivan Kalyuzhny, his maximum attitude does not cause doubts, but he will not lack speed in the fight against the mobile midfielders of Georgians. Especially since Kvaratsheliya likes to move to the central zone from the left flank.
– But a whole group of players of the Ukrainian national team, except for Brazhk, still had insufficient game practice.
– This is also alarming, because our legionnaires did not reach the base not only in terms of health, but also in terms of playing qualities. We are talking about Oleksandr Zinchenko, Roman Yaremchuk, Mykhail Mudryk. And you can’t envy Rebrov, because he always emphasized that he would prefer those who 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, which prevents him from fulfilling his goal-scoring mission in Italy, where they know how to defend themselves. What we have in the end: Dovbyk – does not score, Yaremchuk – in reserve in “Olympiakos”. There is also Dynamo player Vladyslav Vanat, but he is not visible on the international stage. Sadly.
– Then, how to win in Batumi?
– It will be a difficult confrontation for both national teams. There is hope that our goalkeeper will be at his best, that the midfielders will entertain with their creativity, that one of them will hit the target, that Fortune will smile on the guests. However, I am inclined to the fact that there will be a productive draw.
Earlier, the midfielder of the English “Brentford” Yehor Yarmolyuk shared his impressions of the first call-up in his career to the ranks of the national team of Ukraine.
Source: sport.ua