Myron Markevych: “We have reason to count on the success of the national team of Ukraine at Euro 2020”

04.01.2020 12:00

Photo of UAF press service

Last year was one of the most successful in the history of football in Ukraine. This is evidenced by the results of our national teams at European and world competitions. Myron Markevich, Chairman of the UAF National Teams Committee, spoke about his impressions of the victories and prospects in the new year.

- Myron Bogdanovich, how will you remember 2019 for our football?

- The brightest and most colorful. U-20 national team won the World Cup! The main team of the country has reached the final of Euro-2020. And two youth teams, U-17 and U-19, made their way to the elite round of the European Championship. The result is five! It is a pity that the "youth" did not start very well in selection for Euro. However, I have already said that it was not easy for Ruslan Rotany, as the team was fully staffed only before the official matches. But I still believe that a good specialist will leave Rotan.

- Did you expect such dexterity from the national team?

- Before the selection I had restrained optimism, but Andriy Shevchenko's team showed itself in all its glory. Not only did our national team beat the Portuguese and Portuguese champions in the standings, but the entire qualifying distance was unbeaten. Well done!

- What do you expect from 2020?

- First of all, I would like the main team of the country to perform as successfully as possible European Championships.

- On the eve of the draw for the final stage of the Euro, you said that you see the national team of Ukraine at least in the quarterfinals. Have your expectations remained the same?

- So. The game of blue and yellow gives cause for optimism. Our team is young, trained, motivated, so there will be nothing supernatural if we see it among the eight best teams on the continent.

- Two rivals in the group are already known.

- Of course, the Netherlands has a very strong team, under Ronald Kuman the team has added significantly, its players play in top clubs, especially the match against this opponent will take place in Amsterdam. But this is football, and we also have the right to count on success, despite all the advantages of the hosts.

Now, I will not say anything specific about Austria, but, considering how our opponent went through the qualifying tournament, I believe that Ukraine is at least not inferior to the Austrians.

- Which opponent is better to get from the fourth basket?

- It is clear that I would not like the Romanian national team, because it will have a bonus in the form of home walls, and of the four Georgia, Northern Macedonia, Kosovo and Belarus, I think it does not matter who will be the opponent.

- The year promises to be no less busy for the country's youth national teams. How do clubs, in particular, the grands, intend to release their players?

- It is difficult to count on something without the strongest teams. The primacy of the country cannot stand above national interests. The call to the national team is also an advertisement for clubs. They themselves must understand this. Therefore, I want to hope that everything will be fine with understanding.

- In the spring, the U-19 team in group c England, Denmark and Latvia argues for a single ticket to the Euro. Will it be difficult for Oleg Kuznetsov's team?

- Incredibly difficult. However, no one loses hope. You only need to tune in to the first place. Kuznetsov has been working with these guys for a long time, so they know their business.

- Alexander Petrakov with his U-17 team will be easier, given that the rivals will be Greece, Turkey and Belarus and the fact that in the final part of the European Championship, in addition to the winners of eight groups, there are also seven best second teams?

- Alexander Petrakov raised the bar for all national teams. He is an experienced specialist, he knows how to work with young people, so I am waiting for his team to reach the final part of the Euro.