Away draw against France (2:2) in the previous qualifying for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship made Ukraine’s position in Group 8 more solid. However, in order to strengthen their chances to progress to the next round Pavlo Yakovenko’s lads have to reach the maximum result in the nearest clashes against Belgium (Kyiv, October 9) and Slovenia (Celje, October 14).
- We do not set any other goal, Yakovenko admits. − Now we neither count the points we can get nor analyze the things that my settle in our group. Our only task is to win in every single match. Of course, it’s not that easy as we face strong opponents Belgium and Slovenia. Besides, we suffer certain problems in the squad.
- Belgium, leaders of our group, haven’t lost a point so far in the qualifying. Their journalists claim the current squad looks the most talented over the last decade. What are your thoughts on that?
- Belgium side can fairly record high results. Most all their footballers play in the clubs of elite division, some have experienced playing in the eurocups. Jean-François De Sart has a chance to involve a host of very strong players. Hence, Belgium team are well-played with poised lines and good understanding. It’s necessary to point out the high level of discipline inside the team. They are also good at standards.
- You have mentioned the lineup problems in our team. What were you meant to say?
- First of all, we have some gaps in the defense line. Yaroslav Rakytskiy is called out to the national team camp. Our captain Taras Stepanenko is still ruled out of the game. Yevgen Selin failed to join us as he injured a thigh when we played France. We all expect these boys to return in the quickest way. On the other side Serhiy Kryvtsov is back on track again after a nose fracture.
− Mr. Yakovenko, you didn’t call Artem Kravets and Dmytro Lyopa who are already training in their clubs. The reason is that they are not in their optimal conditions now or not?
− We are very glad that these talented guys are already restored, but I suppose that it is necessary to give them more time to reach their best conditions. Believe me we will be very happy to see them in the squad of Ukraine U21 team again. As a matter of fact the same situation we have with Volodymyr Lysenko who also restored not long ago. But instead of Kravets and Lyopa he was injured for not too long and that’s why now he is preparing with us for the matches against Belgians and Slovenians.
− The fact that you named Ehor Lugachov from Spartak Moskow in your list is of a great interest, because mass media wrote much about the epopee with his citizenship…
− This time everything is in a different way. Russian club sent us an official confirmation that Ehor duly came to Ukraine U21 team. It is necessary to mention that recently Lugachov plays in the double of Spartak at the position of central defender and it is very appropriate for us at the moment.
− You had more than a week for preparation for the match against France. This time you have only four days. Does it mean that a training process will be different?
− In general we will be preparing in a usual way. But of course the character of our work will be influenced by the lack of time. In this case it is very important for team’s trainers to define psychological and functional conditions of the players in a right way. The results of the match to a great extent will depend on the self-confidence of our guys. So, we have to help them to be ready for this game.
− Mr. Yakovenko, you called several newcomers instead of a short period for preparation…
− We know such players as Vitaliy Vitsenets from Shakhtar Donetsk and Kyrylo Petrov from Dynamo Kyiv very well. I should mention that they became the winners of 2009 UEFA Under-19 European Championship, which was hosted by Ukraine. Midfielder Ihor Tyschenko is a player of the first squad of his Illichivets Mariupol recently and eve scored several goals. We kept an eye on a forward of Chornomorets Odesa since the time he played in a youth Ñhampionship of Ukraine. We want to watch these footballers in the team, their actions together with more experienced partners. You know my principle: selection continues at all times.
