Oleg Kuznetsov: Analysis of rivals is still ahead, but, at first glance, Portugal stands out

10.12.2020 17:02

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Next year, the youngest national team of Ukraine will start working under the leadership of Oleg Kuznetsov.

On December 9, the youngest national team of Ukraine U-2022 (football players not older than 17) got to know their rivals in the Euro-16 (U-2005) qualification. Blue and yellow for the year when the team moves to the U-17 category, to play with teams Portugal, Wales and Kazakhstan.

Matches of this stage will be held from July 1 to November 16, 2021. The elite qualifying round will feature the two strongest teams from each group, as well as the top four teams, which will take third place in the meetings with the first and second teams of their four.

After the draw, the head coach of the blue-yellows Oleg Kuznetsov, who recently extended the contract with the Ukrainian Football Association, answered questions from the official website of the UAF.

- Olezhe Volodymyrovych, rivals in the national team of Ukraine - not a gift?

- Nothing, a normal draw. However, so far I can not say anything specific about this, because the study of opponents is still ahead. But, at first glance, Portugal, of course, stands out. This team at any age is in the top 5 national teams in Europe. The Portuguese will be the favorites of our quartet. I assume that the tournament will be held in their country. We haven't met Wales, but I think it's a typical British team with a strong style of play. As for Kazakhstan, we have played with this team more than once. I can say that in terms of strength, she is in the top three among the teams of the former Soviet Union, it has always been difficult to play with her.

- Do you know at least the preliminary plans of your new team?

- Maybe we will meet for the first time in March, when UEFA will give ...

- Do you regret that you failed to bring to the release of the national team born in 2001? Due to the pandemic, UEFA postponed the elite round of Euro 2020 (U-19) several times, and later canceled the entire cycle altogether ...

- Of course, but in such conditions, unfortunately, nothing depended on us. In this situation, it is unfortunate for the players who worked hard. However, I want to wish the boys good health and that the injuries bypass them, and I have no doubt in their professionalism. I hope that many of them will form the backbone of the U-21 youth national team, which will start a new qualifying round of the European Championship next year under the leadership of Ruslan Rotan.