Andriy Shevchenko: "This is not the level of football we want to demonstrate"

21.06.2021 23:14

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The head coach of the national team of Ukraine Andriy Shevchenko held a press conference after the final match of the group stage of Euro 2020 - with the team of Austria - 0:1:

- First of all, our team did not survive in the physical sense. It is always difficult for us to play at such a level in such a short period of three matches, we knew about it. Today we lost a lot of individual duels, we had a lot of unforced errors. One of them, when we lost the ball in the center of the field, led to a corner and a missed ball. But it's not even at this point. We were late everywhere. It's hard to talk about a constructive game when the team just wasn't ready.

Despite this, the team fought to the end. We did not give up and continued to believe in a successful end to the match, and this is the only positive moment for us, if we analyze the game.

- You still have a theoretical chance to continue the fight in the tournament. What will you do to keep players motivated?

- We will prepare. According to the regulations, we are obliged to stay here and train.

- Today the national team of Ukraine played the worst match in the tournament. How do you feel now?

- As I said, it was difficult for us to play physically, we didn't have time, we lost martial arts, we often made mistakes. In the second half there were attempts to change something, we tried to fight. But this is not the level of football we want to show. There is disappointment, with such a level as in the first half, we would have nothing to do in the playoffs.

But we had two fights at a good level. Today - yes, they played a bad match.

- How can you comment on the substitutions made after the break?

- We replaced Malinowski, because he didn't get into the game, he made a lot of mistakes. They wanted to strengthen our composition with Tsygankov. Marlos was released, trying to gain at least some control over the game. But Austria pressed very well, the opponent felt that he was physically superior to us. Replacements did not lead to anything.

- What can the Austrian national team expect from the match with Italy in the 1/8?

- It will be very difficult for Austria and Italy, but in football there are always chances, anything can happen.