Oleksandr Petrakov: "For the third match in Spain the players lacked strength ..."

14.02.2020 19:20

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Head coach of the U-17 Youth Team of Ukraine Oleksandr Petrakov summed up the result for his team.

At the Spanish stage of preparation the Ukrainian national team (players not older than 2003 of birth) held three control matches, having played twice with England (0:0 і 0:4) and once with Belgium (1:0). These matches were told by the mentor of blue and yellow Alexander Petrakov.

- Alexander Vasilyevich, what are your impressions of the Spanish collection?

- I would very much like to go back there again (smiles). Thanks to the national association, everything went at a high level. This applies to rivals, working conditions and weather. I love it.

- Is it a great experience to play with such rivals?

- I think the British and Belgians were satisfied with the strength of the Ukrainian national team. It is nice that we are respected by such opponents and invited to play sparring. My only mistake is that I agreed to play the third match. There were not enough human resources, because due to various problems, only 17 players were preparing for the second match with the British. The boys simply did not have the strength to play three matches in five days at the same level in February. We brought the balls to ourselves.

- But in the first two matches your wards coped with the task?

- I think the team looked good. Yes, there were many mistakes, but all the players tried to perform the installation, acted in a disciplined manner. I was satisfied with these fights.

- Will many of these players receive a challenge for the next training camp, timed to the elite round of the Euro?

- I will not talk about it now. Football is a traumatic sport, so let's wait. I would very much like all candidates for the national team to approach this tournament healthy.

- Problems with the choice of attackers remain?

- Unfortunately yes. In fact, only Dmytro Shostak was now a center forward. He played three matches, and at the end of the training camp it was clear that he lacked the strength, and there was no one to replace him.

- What about Atletico Madrid striker Nazariy Dovgan?

- Maybe he will grow up, strengthen and add, we will follow him, but so far this player is not suitable for this national team of Ukraine.

- Will the next collection start according to a pre-approved plan?

- So. On March 17, we gather and immediately fly to Turkey. And on the 21st we will play a closed control game with the hosts of the final part of the European Championship - the Estonian national team.

Recall that in March in the matches elite round for a ticket to the finals of Euro 2020 (U-17), the national team of Ukraine is arguing with the hosts of the tournament, the Turks (25th), as well as the teams of Belarus (28th) and Greece (31st). The winners of the groups and the seven best second teams (according to the results of the matches with the first and third teams of their group) will reach the final stage, where they will join the host of Euro - Estonia. The final tournament will take place from May 21 to June 6 this year.