Nataliya Zinchenko: There was an opportunity to make sure that Turkey are worthy rivals

20.09.2021 13:01

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

On September 21 in Kyiv, the national women's team of Ukraine will hold a friendly match with the team of Turkey (kick-off at 2023) in preparation for the start in the 19.00 World Cup qualifiers. Currently, our girls under the leadership of head coach Nataliya Zinchenko are completing preparations for this encounter.

- Unlike the national team of Ukraine, Turkey have already started in the World Cup qualifiers, - Nataliya Zinchenko in a comment to the UAF official website said. - And there was already an opportunity to make sure that they are worthy rivals, because a few days ago they drew with ambitious Portugal and made a pleasant impression. By the way, two years ago my wards played with Turkey and confidently won - 4:0, but since then their squad has undergone serious changes.

- Did all the players you wanted to see come to the training camp before the match with Turkey?

- Only Nicole Kozlova is absent, who is busy these days in matches for the student team in the USA, where she is studying. There is an agreement that Nicole will arrive in Kyiv on October 18 to prepare for the opening match with Faroe Islands. All the others are diligently preparing, including three legionnaires - Dariya Kravets (Fiorentina, Italy), Tamila Khimich (Split, Croatia) and Nadiya Kunina (Linkoping, Sweden).

- Will your wards face a lack of playing practice to approach the match with Turkey in full force?

- Most of them have already played eight or nine calendar matches in clubs this season, and that's enough.

- Not only Turkey, but also our rivals in the qualifying started competing on the road to the World Cup. Did you have the opportunity to watch videos of the matches with their participation?

- Not yet, but so far everything is expected. In particular, with their devastating victory over Faroe Islands, Spain confirms that they will be the favorite of our group. By the way, videos of the matches Faroe Islands - Spain and Hungary - Scotland are already at my disposal, and after friendly with Turkey, I will analyze them.

The squad of the national women's team of Ukraine

Goalkeepers: Iryna Sanina (Kolos Kovalivka), Daryna Bondarchuk (WFC Kharkiv-2).

Defenders: Lyubov Shmatko, Anna Petryk, Olha Basanska (all - WFC Kharkiv-1), Kateryna Korsun, Natiya Pantsulaya, Iryna Podolska (all - WFC Kharkiv-2), Dariya Kravets (Fiorentina, Italy).

Midfielders: Nadiya Havanska, Yuliya Shevchuk, Dariya Apanashchenko, Iryna Kochneva, Olha Boichenko (all - WFC Kharkiv-1), Tetyana Kytayeva, Yana Kalinina, Veronika Andrukhiv, Yana Malakhova (all - WFC Kharkiv-2), Tamila Khimich (Split, Croatia).

Forwards: Nadiya Kunina (Linkoping, Sweden), Olha Ovdiichuk (WFC Kharkiv-1), Roksolana Kravchuk (WFC Kharkiv-2).