• Українська
  • Русский
  • English
Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Rehabilitation Effective

13 November, 2012 - 00:00

By Andriy BILEICHUK and Kyrylo STADNYCHENKO

Ukraine's junior national (under 21) beat Iceland 5:1 in the European championship
qualifiers. After the first round the soccer team is placed 1st-3rd, sharing
the slots with France and Russia (each having scored 9 points).

The Day asked soccer moguls to comment on the game.

Anatoly DEMYANENKO, Kyiv Dynamo coach:

The first half was pretty tough. I thought the boys were too nervous
trying to demonstrate their best on their home turf. Besides, they hadn't
gotten over their previous defeat by the French (0:4) and were anxious
to rehabilitate themselves. After half-time they looked calmer and showed
a good performance. I think that Viktor Kolotov's team stands a good chance
of making it to the top.

Serhiy FEDOROV, Kyiv Dynamo player:

The turning point of the game was the second goal placed by Oleksiy
Oliynyk from the penalty area. Although everything was in strict accordance
with the rules, the whole thing looked funny and badly shook the Icelanders.
They were psychologically defeated and our boys calmly guided the game
to its logical end. I was also glad to watch the team keep going even when
obviously losing at some stages. They won because they couldn't be broken.

Leonid PAKHOMOV, head coach of Russia's junior national team:

The Ukrainian performance in the first half was a bit chaotic and they
got hit. But they are due full credit for the second half. They played
at top level, letting off burst after burst at the Icelandic goal.

PS: The Ukrainian and Icelandic nationals met on March 31 in
the 2000 European championship qualifiers.

 

Rubric: