Vitaly Odegov: "In the confrontation with Portugal, we will seek to identify shortcomings in our game"

08.11.2021 15:02

Photo of FAU press service

Head coach of the youth national futsal team of Ukraine U-19 Vitaly Odegov shared his expectations from away friendly matches against Portugal.

In preparation for main round of selection of Euro-2022 the blue and yellows will play against their Portuguese peers on the road in Elvas on November 9-10. The beginning of the first match is scheduled for 21.00 in Kyiv. The second meeting will begin at 19.00.

November 6-7 Ukrainian team held training camp in Brovary, and the 8th went to friendly matches. Its manager Vitaly Odegov shared his expectations from these games in an interview with Futsal Association of Ukraine press service.

- Vitaliy Oleksiyovych, before leaving for Portugal, the team held a small training camp in Brovary. Can you summarize it?

- Indeed, the training camp was quite short, given the workload of players in the matches of national competitions. The training was restorative. I hope that now the guys are full of energy to start a new weekly cycle. I want to approach him in a proper game form.

- Questions about the composition. Vladislav Perveev from Sokol, who was called up for the match, did not fly to Portugal. Tell me, did all the other performers you were counting on end up in the national team for these matches?

- First of all, I would like to thank the coaches of all the teams that released their wards in the match with the top European team. As for Perveev, the club sent a letter to the Futsal Association of Ukraine, in which he noted that the matches are not held during the UEFA window. So Vladislav, who is one of the leaders of his team, remained in the club's location to prepare for the championship matches.

Mykola Guivan, who was recently injured in the first league match, and Sava Lutai also dropped out. The latter, due to certain nuances with documents, failed to arrive in Ukraine from Poland.

- The previous matches against Portugal took place in January 2020 and became the first away matches for this team of our U-19 youth team. How would you describe your future opponent?

— Portugal has its own futsal traditions. The national team of this country is the current champion of Europe and the world. Much attention is paid to youth futsal. Teams in different age categories hold training sessions on a regular basis. It will be interesting to test your strength in the face of a serious opponent.

- What is the main task for future friendly matches, because it is from them that the big cycle of team preparation for the main round of the youth Euro starts?

— In the face of a strong opponent, we will strive to identify the shortcomings that are present in our game. We will still have time to fix them. In addition, the boys need playing practice at the international level with the top team.

- On Sunday determined the last opponent of our team in the main round. Andorra was added to Belgium and Moldova. What about the youth national team of this country?

— Andorrans are similar in temperament to Spaniards and Portuguese. I can say that they like to play with the ball and will not close in defense. These are my expectations. So far we have not had the opportunity to watch videos of their matches. Of course, we will look for these materials and get to know the Andorran national team better.