Denis Popov: “Six points were needed in matches with Latvia and Andorra”

15.09.2018 12:16

Photo of FFU press service

To win with a large number of outsiders of the group the youth team of Ukraine prevented the unplayability, says team defender Denis Popov.

In two matches of the European Championship qualifying tournament, the Ukrainian national team fulfilled its minimum plan. Blue and yellow albeit minimal, but won at Latvia (3: 2) and Andorra (1: 0). Not the last role in these matches was played by the debutant of the team, one of the youngest football players of Oleksandr Golovko's team, 19-year-old Denis Popov. Moreover, the defender of Kyiv Dynamo even became the author of the ball scored in the Latvian goal.

- Denis, what are your feelings from your debut work in the youth team?

- Everything was great. I was well received in the team. We supported each other, and this probably helped us to achieve the maximum result and continue the fight for a ticket to the European Championship.

- The result is the maximum, but why were the victories over Latvia and Andorra so difficult?

- I think because there were a lot of new performers in the youth team. Somewhere there was a lack of players. Weak implementation also played a role, but again, the main thing now is that the national team of Ukraine scored six points.

- In the first half of the match with the Latvians you opened the score. Could you assume that in the future you will have to snatch victory from the opponent?

- To be honest, no. Probably, calming down with the score 2: 0 in our favor flashed somewhere, and the Baltics were able to win back. It is good that almost immediately Vita Kovalenko managed to score, as it turned out, the winning ball.

- When the Swede did not realize the penalty under the curtain of the match with Andorra, the mood did not deteriorate?

- Did not have time (smiles). After all, in a minute Marian rehabilitated, scoring a great goal from the game.

- Now even two victories do not guarantee the youth national team of Ukraine to get to the butt matches…

- We will still adjust to the maximum result in the matches with Scotland and Holland, and there it will turn out. Let's hope the stars come together.