The players of the Ukrainian national team Volynets and Pikhalyonok shared their impressions of the preparation for the League of Nations matches

18.09.2022 15:05

Photo of UAF press service

The players of the national team of Ukraine Yevhen Volynets and Oleksandr Pikhalyonok spoke about the preparation for the September matches of the League of Nations.

Yesterday, the national team of Ukraine at the Polonia stadium in Warsaw spent the first full day work in preparation for the final cycle of the 2022/2023 League of Nations matches. The course of the training was commented on by the goalkeeper of "Kolos" from Kovaliv Yevhen Volynets and the midfielder of "Dnipra-1" Oleksandr Pikhalyonok.

"It is very nice to train in such an atmosphere and work with such masters. That's why I like everything and I feel great in the camp of the national team. Today I had to parry the blows of such great performers as Andriy Yarmolenko and Artem Dovbyk. It was not easy, because these are very high-class football players, and it is not for nothing that Andriy, for example, played in the English Premier League. At the same time, although it is difficult for me, it is interesting. 

Photo of UAF press service

As for the atmosphere in the team, it's just great! Everyone is positive and supports each other. Oleksandr Vasyliovych Petrakov is a very demanding coach. We talked with him, and he brought me up to date. So everything is good. The fields and conditions in Warsaw are impeccable, so it's a sin to complain. Little by little, I'm starting to feel like a part of the national team," said Yevhen Volynets.

"The day before yesterday, our flight was delayed, and we could not get to the first training of the national team on Friday. We are of course upset, but it happened. However, we have already fully recovered and started to work. We arrived at the national team camp after a successful match against Dnipro-1 in the Conference League, and victories at the club level always lift the spirits. After all, before that, our club only had defeats in the European Cups, and finally we won. The mood for the game and teamwork were the main factors of this. Everyone worked at one hundred percent, and the victory came. 

At the moment, we have already switched to the national team, we are preparing for the match with Scotland, in which we only need a victory. Even though we have little time to prepare, this is our job. I believe that this will not be a hindrance, because in our country matches in clubs are in full swing. Games every three days, so we are in good shape. As for the League of Nations itself, participation in this tournament gives me many positive emotions. Some say that this is not a very prestigious competition, but I do not share this opinion. Participation in any tournament under the auspices of UEFA or FIFA is a great honor. In addition, it is always nice to play for the national team, so I will prepare to the fullest.

I will note that Scotland and Armenia will come against us with a special attitude, as against the leaders of the group. We also need to tune in to the full program, and we'll see the result. We will fight for our country, for our people. Many thanks to the Armed Forces for liberating the occupied territories. This gives us, football players, more effort. We will also try to improve the mood of our soldiers, which is also very important," said Oleksandr Pikhalyonok.

We will remind that the Nations League match between the national teams of Scotland and Ukraine will take place on September 21 in Glasgow at the Hampden Park stadium (start at 21.45:XNUMX p.m.).