Myron Markevich: “The goals for the year are maximum: national and youth teams - to get to the Euro, and the U-20 team to be worthy of the World Cup”

04.01.2019 13:15

Photo of FFU press service

The results of the year for the national teams of Ukraine with the projection for the near future were summed up by the chairman of the Committee of national teams of the FFU Myron Markevich.

- Myronе Bogdanovich, 2018 can be attributed to the national teams in the asset?

- Undoubtedly. Two of our youth teams, led by Volodymyr Yezersky and Serhiy Popov, made their way to the elite round of the Euro. Alexander Petrakov and his team will play at the World Cup (U-20). Oleg Kuznetsov got a good team, and it had to take part in the final part of the European Championship, if not for the annoying situation with disqualification ...

The youth team did not achieve the result, although it should be noted that the group in the blue-yellows was not easy - England, Holland, Scotland… But it is important that several players were prepared for the main team of the country. Alexander Golovko coped with this task.

Well, we should thank Andriy Shevchenko for the quality work done during the League of Nations matches. We can only wish the main team of the country the same game and a positive result in the selection for the Euro.

- Some say that the national team of Ukraine in the qualifying tournament will compete with the national team of Serbia for second place, and there are those who believe that the blue and yellows will be able to compete with the Portuguese in the fight for the first row in the table ...

- Undoubtedly, you need to set a goal to win the group. Now football is so unpredictable that the favorite is not always the favorite. Of course, the Portuguese national team looks solid by name, but many of our guys have already gained experience, so the belief in the best does not leave me.

- A number of decisions were made at the FFU Executive Committee. In particular, Oleg Blokhin was appointed co-chairman of the FFU Council for Strategic Development of Professional Football. In what planes will you have interaction?

- Oleg Vladimirovich has a lot of football experience. Blokhin went through such a football school, God forbid. I think this is a serious acquisition for FFU. In the current situation, it is important that our football goes forward, and a person like Blokhin should help in this regard.

- You supported the candidacy of Ruslan Rotan for the position of head coach of the youth team…

- I told him that in September, when the Euro qualifying tournament starts, he will have a different life. He is a serious guy. I can say this from our joint work in Dnipro. I want him to be the same coach he was as captain.

- What are the tasks for the national teams for 2019?

- Only the maximum. The national team - to get to the finals of the Euro, the youth team - to overcome the elite round, and the U-20 team - to perform with dignity at the World Cup. But for this it is very important that the clubs release all the players called by Alexander Petrakov.

- Will you help the coach of the youth team, if necessary, to resolve this issue?

- I'll try. Although I am already calling on clubs to meet, because the successful performance of national teams at any level is first of all the prestige of the country.

- What do you wish Ukrainian fans in the new year?

- Of course, first of all - health. Now domestic football is not experiencing the best of times, but it is necessary to survive. I'm sure there will be a breakthrough, the wait is short, you need to be patient.