Україна National Team III

Absolutely not a guaranteed spot in euro. That’s assuming Ukraine defeats Lithuania at home. After the Moldova debacle in 2013, that is certainly no guarantee. This team is better than that one though probably at every single position. Funny things happen in football and luck hasn’t exactly been our friend the last 25 years.

 

A win at home against Lithuania will, almost, guarantee Ukraine qualify for Euro. Unless, of course, Ukraine loses by 5 or more goals at Serbia..

 

Just my thoughts on a few players after watching the extended Nigeria highlights.

Lunin: the guy is awesome. Super fast reflexes, big size, confidence, poise and intelligence. He COULD be one of those rare difference making keepers. However, I’m worried this will be another wasted year for him as he’s already not playing. La Liga Has a history of young prospects that have gone there to play and sat on benches until they were in their mid 20s before going to a league worse than the upl.

Kovalenko: didn’t really notice him, but it looked like he got put into a cdm role, which isn’t his game as far as I understand, although he won’t find his way into an attacking midfield role on this team. Maybe not even on Shakhtar. That may have factored into nigeria having so many chances. Would have liked to see shepelev there and see what he can do.

Karavaev: from what I saw, as expected from a converted midfielder, he looked overmatched defensively, but contributed numerous times from the flank with good runs and effective crosses. I’d start with a more prototypical back there and bring him in if we are in need of a goal. I kind of thought Zinchenko might get a look from that spot today, just to see if we could somehow squeeze One more of our stud midfielders in.

Moraes: a striker like we’ve lacked since sheva. He made some great runs and just missed getting his toe on some stretches. The guy just seems to know how to score. Obviously not the same class as sheva, but a hell of a lot better than scrubs like zozulya and seleznyev, who you knew weren’t going to score. Was hoping he would make it to Roma as rumored and maybe add a bit to his game as he might still be around for the World Cup campaign. Too bad Shved got hurt, I’m starving to see him actually play.

Yaremchuk: the “Ukrainian Giroud” is settling in very nicely as a complimentary forward. Looking like a much better version of Veronin. One that can actually score. although his scoring touch has left a bit to be desired, he seems to create a lot for others and himself.

Malinowsky: his free kicks from the right side of the field are deadly and I fully expect him to be taking them. What a great late bloomer and difference maker on this team. Anyone playing full minutes anywhere, in any decent league is so important. Again, hoping he gets real minutes in Italy. I wonder if sobol will flourish similarly in Belgium.

 

For sure practically guaranteed spot in Europe. That game was in Moldova with retarded Blokhin at the helm and different player personnel

We will beat Lithuania at home ugly or not, can clinch with draw at home to Portugal or avoid losing by 5 goals in Belgrade. This is our best campaign so far, no luck involved like in 2006, we are just flat out playing well

This game was delightful to watch. The quality was decent, but the energy & desire of both teams was stunning to observe. Closest I've ever seen a game resemble a video game, was end to end and played competitive yet care free, brilliant game especially the 2nd half. We should've lost like 6-4, would highly recommend watching it

Lunin: another tough goalie ahead of him, won't be easy. Looked good today but had an absolute blooper whiffing the ball trying to clear running out of the box

Kovalev: he has regressed from his u20 world cup days and starting in champs league. He's slow & weak, he's nothing more than an average option for us off the bench. He was grossly off the pace today against fast & technical Nigeria

Karavaev: He was brilliant v. Serbia, I was surprised he was left on the bench in favor of Bolbat who is a typical subpar Ukrainian fullback, 'bolbes' is what I call him haha. Karavaev maybe vulnerable defensively like you mentioned but his overlapping runs are immense and gives us a chance to retain possession and get in the box with a slashing run for a cross

Moraes & Yaremchuk: I'm not sure what to think of them yet, but they offer something refreshing. We need them to keep up their confident form at club level

Malinovsky: simply brilliant CM, him and Zinchenko together gives us technical quality we severely lacked outside of Rotan, a blanket of security in midfield now with those 2. He will get chances in Italy for sure, right now having to prove himself off the bench but he's a sublime player. Sobol btw looked very good near the tail end of the game, left a lot to be desired early on but showed some class late, I forgot he went to Belgium will keep an eye on him

 

Thanks footy, awesome stuff. Let us know from time to time how Buletsa and supriaha are looking.

 

Good weekend. Yaremchuk with 2 (9 goals in 11 games) Malinovskyi, man of the match in his first start in serie A. Tsyhankov with a goal and 2 assists. Sobol looking like he might be a starter with bruges. Yarmo playing almost a full 90 and getting a goal. Supriaha even had 2 goals.

 

Didn’t see the game. Did anyone see it that can give us any commentary on how some of the players looked? I’m most curious about bolbat and sobol (granted, this wasn’t the toughest test.)
1]I’m assuming mukolenko will play vs. Portugal, but a was wondering if sobol can be our sweeper on the other side. I’m not crazy high on him, but what other option is there?
2) does anyone at all think that Zinchenko can play leftback the way he does at city and open a spot for tsyhankov, kono, or Yaremchuk somewhere, anywhere on the field. These talents are much better than bolbat. Or is that just too many wingers on the field?
3) is bolbat a better option than karavaev if that’s the way we go? In the future, could maybe matvienko fill that role while the sensational Denys popov or valeri bondar play a central role? Ismaily would be perfect.
4) am I too tough on bolbat?

Either way, great campaign. Would definately prefer to get a point against Portugal,but a loss won’t be devastating.

 

Not losing to Serbia by 5 or more goals will be enough to qualify directly.

 

Yep. Hiding from the boss and watching.

 

So, Ukraine defeats Portugal, despite some scary moments late, and advances to the Euro 2020 having clinched first place in the group.

 

My screens broken. It says WON. can someone let me know the real score please?.

.....as a side note. Omg yes!!!!!!!

 

Would have been damn near impossible....but losing stepanenko wohldnt have helped keeping serbia from scoring. Portugal must be sweaging a bit. More importantly,i beleive this makes us a pot 1 for euro. A pot one!!

 

Also, going back to the episode in the 1st half where Stepanenko got his yellow, was he properly carded? I thought the other Ukrainian player should have been carded. But I was only watching the game AND working at the same time and could have been wrong.

 

Looks like we’ll be a pot 1, unless im wrong about something. This lets us avoid some absolute giants. BUT, looking at it now, that forces us into a group with Germany (or Holland) which would be the best 2, unless France is a 2. This essentially makes us a pot 2. All of the other pot 1s will be host teams and cant be separated. Germany and Holland are host teams and can’t go with any of the other pot 1 hosts. Ukraine can’t go with any pot 1 hosts because they would be a pot 1. The only other possibility is traveling to Russia. I assume these 2 countries have a “can’t play each other” clause.

 

Denys popov starting for dynamo today. Will definately keep an eye out for him.

 

I've been busy balancing NFL with LaLiga & EPL so not following as closely as I was in August but just from looking at results occasionally it looks like Buletsa has been dropped to the bench. I think Supriaga had some injury worries but playing some again

Also awesome to see Popov given a shot @ Dynamo, looks like he's made himself known immediately

1. Sobol had an insanely high rating for Brugge v. Real Madrid @ Bernabeau, I don't rate Lucas Vazquez at all but I guess he just totally owned him. Brugge got lit up their next game but his rating was higher than the other defenders, he is active in duels & aerials and tackles (those are key advanced stats most fans don't notice unless they play advanced stats fantasy). So he's an absolutely great backup LB option to Mykolenko (who Sheva cleverly rested as he was close to yellow suspension didn't want to risk losing him v. Serbia just in case)
2. We need Zinchenko quality & composure on the ball in midfield, him & Malinovsky combo is a beautiful thing, their skill, movement & effort is vital. We finally have a quality LB in Mykolenko who isn't scared of the ball at his feet and has ability to get forward. Haven't had a decent LB since Nesmachny in 2006 or the few times Rakitsky played there in 2010 qualifiers
3. Not a fan of Bolbat at all, Karavaev is who I'd prefer but he's not as good defensively so that's a bit of a dilemma still. Btw Yaremchuk impressed me so much v. Portugal, I thought he was only a target guy with mediocre ability on the ball but wow he was stretching the play and taking some smooth confident touches dribbling and waiting for teammates and finding space to stretch the defense. He keeps producing in Europa as well

I hope you're right, I saw in another forum aboust eastern europe that we probably need a draw to get Pot 1, I'm still a bit confused about this new process.
Btw all of this is possible because of the Nations League and the fact we had an automatic spot in Euro Playoff secured before the group stage. We would played nervous & stiff in Lisbon the group opener had it been a regular situation and lost as usual. But we played slightly more relaxed given that we knew worst case scenario we were already in the Playoffs, plus of course with Sheva tactically we are playing very modern.

 

Will likely be in a group that includes Holland as a pot 2 and romania if they win a playoff as pot 4. If germany dont win against northern ireland, it changes to germany and hungary (if they win) ..a better scenerio.

 

That's weird how they have it all already in line like this...do you have a link that explains how it works?
Also congrats to us for a fantastic qualifying campaign, strange feeling qualifying so easily. We went an entire calendar year undefeated for the 1st time ever. We had a dominant 2013 but then lost in Paris in Nov that ruined everything

 

So Ukraine plays 1 game in Amsterdam and 2 games in Bucharest. Group c for sure now with Holland as a pot 2. Potential pt 3s are Portugal, turkey, Austria, Sweden Denmark and Czech. Potential pot 4s are wales and Finland, and the 4 playoff winners which could include good teams like Iceland, Serbia, Norway. We cant play Scotland or Hungary if they make it. I pulled this off of uefa site and twitter.

IHolland as a 2 is rough, but France and Croatia are there too and we avoid them. France is guaranteed a rough group. Holland is lucky as Ukraine is a dream #1 compared to the rest. Portugal as a 3 would be awful, but other than that, it seems doable. As far as a 4, I’d like to avoid Serbia. Regardless, I can’t complain about this brilliant (and lets be fair, lucky) campaign. It’s a victory no matter what. Hoping for just a good showing and for mykolenko, matvienko, Yaremchuk, malinovsky and maybe even tsyhankov and maybe just maybe popov to raise their profiles and end up on some top teams in top leagues. Well done boys.

 

If Romania don’t win, Ukraine’s pot 4 will be the winner of the Georgia, Kosovo, belarus,Macedonia group. According to the uefa site.

 

1 year late because of the Wuhan Flu, but here we are on the eve of potentially Ukraine's greatest moment since 2006 World Cup, or in typical fashion additional tears & misery

Sheva demeanor is special, very similar to his mentor the legendary Valeriy Lobanovsky, god speed to the lads tmrw. We have a great squad of young talented enthusiastic players (several like Buschan, Zabarniyi, Mykolenko & Yaremchuk surely on top 5 leagues radards), plus play with a cultured tactical style for the 1st time since Markevich brief stint in charge. A blend of Ukrainian & Italian influence due to Sheva's upbringing, which could come in handy in a potential Sweet 16 matchup next Sat. v. Italy if we can get a result v. Austria tmrw God willing.
Great footage on YouTube following the lads behind the scenes btw. Moments like this make me wish this forum was still alive like its heyday. Had to come back here like summer 2019 when Ukraine won u20 World Cup and keep the tradition alive if only just barely haha. Slava Ukrainiiii!!!!