Former head coach of Dynamo Kiev and the Ukrainian national team Jozsef Szabo shared his impressions of the Euro 2024 qualifying match between Ukraine and North Macedonia (2:0), which took place yesterday in Prague.
Joseph Szabo
— In the first thirty minutes of the match, our players played well, – said Jozsef Jozefovich. − Very well. They had the advantage, scored the goal, and still had chances to score. But then it was cut off. After that, the North Macedonians had three exits to our “frame” – and if it weren’t for Trubin, I don’t even know how it would have ended.
Our goalkeeper is great, simply great! The second half turned out to be similar to the last fifteen minutes of the first: it began with another one-on-one match with Trubin. And it was good that he kicked the ball away when the North Macedonian international was threatening the goal on the right side. After that, our team only defended itself, playing on counterattacks. However, she didn’t succeed, except for one or two moments. But at the gates of the Ukrainian national team it was unsafe, and more than once.
I would like to talk about playing defensively. In particular, about the central defender Matvienko. He doesn’t win the ball. And besides him, a lot of our players are not selected. Apart from Stepanenko, I don’t see anyone in the middle management who could skillfully master this component. Mikolenko selects, Hemp, Zabarny – and that’s it. There is no one else to take away. The North Macedonians often, during their attacks, directly entered our penalty area and seemed to receive a gift: here, score! You can’t play defense like that, it’s not normal! You must be able to take the ball.
As for the attack, I’ll say this. Yaremchuk came on instead of Dovbik. Yes, he’s no good! He doesn’t really play anywhere, moving from team to team. Sergei Rebrov invited him to the national team, but he is not impressive. Just none. The guy has an athletic build, but he can’t play like his colleague in the role Dovbik. He knows how to cover the ball with his body, skillfully manage it, and shoot at the first opportunity. And Yaremchuk’s opponents take the ball every now and then. As soon as this attacker drops lower, the pass addressed to him is immediately lost. It shouldn’t be this way.
— In our football there has long been an acute shortage of forwards…
– In fact of the matter. You have to be able to do something with the ball. Take, for example, Dovbik. As I already said, he knows how to play with his body, and if one of his partners needs help, the guy does it. In the Prague match, while he had strength, in the first half and part of the second, Dovbik looked good. And then he was replaced.
— Do you think Mikhail Mudrik’s play can be assessed more with a “plus” or “minus” sign?
— I think it’s still a plus sign. Although he holds the ball a lot, trying to take over the game. Mikhail needs to be taught that you don’t always need to go after several defenders alone. Especially when they pull up under him in the amount of three or four people. In this case, you need to escalate the situation by passing, and then open up and receive the return ball. This was the case in today’s match. When Mudrik had space, he ran and ran, aggravating the situation. And then two or three players from the North Macedonian national team began to insure him, and Mikhail moved to the middle. He wants to hit, but doesn’t come out. However, you can’t deny his efforts.
— Can goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin’s performance today be called close to flawless?
– He was the best in today’s match! Of everyone in our lineup. Without a doubt, it is Trubin who should be given this title. He’s great. If it weren’t for Trubin, I don’t even know what another goalkeeper would have done. They shot at his goal both in the first half and in the second, but they didn’t score.
— Who do you think was missing from our team today?
– Yarmolenko. As a leader and a player who can control the ball and play a pass. It’s a pity that he couldn’t take part in the Prague match. It wouldn’t hurt to have Tsygankov, who could play one half. After all, today was hard for everyone, and it was noticeable. When the television broadcast operators showed our defenders, it was clear that they were barely breathing.
— In the match with the North Macedonians, Alexander Karavaev, who played in the position of left midfielder, showed his experience in all its glory…
“What he did just before the final whistle, none of the young players would have done. That’s what great experience means. Karavaev skillfully passed his opponent who was trying to make a tackle, raised his head, looked at what was going on, and seeing that the North Macedonian goalkeeper was 15-16 meters out of the frame, he immediately shot. He did it great, needless to say! After this, the question of the winner of the match was removed. I congratulate Sergei Rebrov on his success and wish him good luck in the next match against Malta. But something definitely needs to be done about the protection.
Vyacheslav Kulchytskyi
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2023-10-15 04:24:00
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