Serhii Sydorchuk: It is great for the national team of Ukraine that Andrii Yarmolenko has been feeling confident

18.06.2021 14:32

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Players of the national team Oleksandr Karavayev and Serhii Sydorchuk took part in the regular press conference held today at the Ukrainian Media Center in Bucharest.

Here are the answers to Serhii Sydorchuk's questions.

- After the match between the Netherlands and Austria, the national team of Ukraine is in second place in the group. Did you watch the match of rivals? Does this result make it easier for us to reach the playoffs?

- Yes, we arrived after our game, had dinner, and managed to compete with our rivals. Of course, they cheered for the Netherlands, so that they scored more goals and it was a little easier for us. But in the match with Austria everything will depend on us. Everyone has watched the schedules and knows roughly which teams we can get to. There will be no weak teams in the playoffs, no matter where we come from. You need to rely only on yourself.

In general, we need to stay on the ground after yesterday's victory. There is no unnecessary euphoria in the team now. By the way, we have already completed the minimum task, but we always want to achieve more. Especially since we have never been in the Euro playoffs in history.

- How do you like the training conditions in Bucharest?

- I am pleasantly surprised by the fields - they are really high quality. We first trained at one stadium, then moved to another. The fields are perfect. There are not enough such fields in Ukraine. We are grateful to the Romanian side for the organization.

- Did your family come to Bucharest?

- My family is now in Kyiv.

- You played two matches for Euro 2020. Is it easier to start or come in from the bench? What attitude did Andriy Shevchenko give you in yesterday's match?

- It all depends on the game. Probably, I belong to those footballers who find it harder to go into the game as sub. As for the setup, the task was to strengthen the middle of the field, as the opponents got lost in long passes and rebounds. Plus I had to help with the set pieces. Another task was to control the ball, which we did not do well in the second half.

- What do fans post to you on social networks?

- Now a lot of words of support, nice messages. Also great respect to all who came to the stadium. When the fans started singing Chervona Ruta during the warm-up, I felt really excited. Thanks to our fans for that!

- Questions from a French journalist. Even in France, where Mbappe, Griezmann and Benzema are present, the media write that the Ukrainian national team has a strong attack. What's the secret?

- Of course, it is nice for our attack players - Malinovskyi, Yaremchuk, Yarmolenko, Zinchenko. The secret is in their individual skill. Each of them is strong in its own way. Malinovskyi works well with the ball, he has a good shot and pass. Yaremchuk finds a great space, opens up, works on the field. He is very strong in the European Championship. I look at his workout in training as he recovers. Man has a goal, and he goes for it. It's nice to see Roman grow up in the national team. Yarmolenko has got wings at this tournament, it is very important for him. He was a little depressed emotionally, and after the first game it was noticeable how happy he was to score and have a good game. It is great for the team that Andrii felt confident.

- The last time until yesterday the national team of Ukraine won the Euro game in 2012. What emotions did you experience then?

- I remember the match with Sweden, I watched it at home in Zaporizhzhya. We still had a vacation then. Of course, there were many positive emotions.