Serhiy Sapronov: "Information on rivals in Euro selection is scarce ..."

19.10.2019 14:03

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

October 20 Ukraine's WU-17 will start in Serbia In the qualifying round European Championship 2020. In addition to the hosts, the rivals of our countrymen will be the teams of the Czech Republic and Georgia.

- Until the last stage of preparation were involved 22 football players, - the head coach of the national team of Ukraine Sergey Sapronov told in the comment to the official site of UAF. - But because I have repeatedly stated that there are tourists to Serbia I will not take, had to hold a two-way game on October 17 to decide on the 18 most worthy. They will be tasked with breaking through to the next round. To do this, Serbia will need to take one of the first two places.

- Who do you consider the main competitors?

- Unfortunately, we feel a lack of information about rivals. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to predict something. All I know is that our first opponent, the Serbs, bet on controlling the ball in their own half of the field, and then try to find their attackers at other people's gates with long passes.

As for the next counterparts, the Czech Republic and Georgia, I will definitely visit their match of the starting round and, I hope, find out what they are strong and what are their vulnerabilities.

- Did you manage to avoid personnel losses during the preparatory period?

- Yes, all the players I wanted to see in the national team were present at the last stage of training. True, the two leading players did not do without micro-injuries, but it is hoped that they will approach the confrontation with the Serbs in full force.

- Your wards in May took part in UEFA Development Tournament, and in September played the controls matches with the Latvians. Not enough international experience?

- No, I think that in this aspect we are on an equal footing with competitors, UAF has organized training properly. Now the main thing is to tune in and demonstrate everything we are capable of.

- You have been leading the national teams of Ukraine of different age groups for quite a long time. Did your wards manage to overcome the qualifying round before?

- Yes, in 2015, 17-year-old football players in Turkey overcame this line, but in the next round they failed. But the leader of that team Nadiya Kunina is already a player of the national team of Ukraine. I hope that in time one of my current wards will receive an invitation to the main team of the country.