Serhij Rebrow is considered a skilled tactician and strategist who can push his team to achieve top performance even under adverse circumstances. When the Ukrainian selection takes on Iceland this Wednesday (8:45 p.m./DAZN) for the final qualifying game for the European Football Championship in Germany, the national coach will once again have to rely on an important but difficult to predict component: the principle of hope.
This already applied to the game against Bosnia-Hercegovina won last Thursday. After a 0-1 deficit, the courageous Ukrainians still managed to win the game thanks to goals from Roman Yaremchuk (85th minute) and Artem Dowbyk (88th minute). The victory reaffirmed the confidence of qualifying for the European Championships for the fourth time and also sent a message of optimism to the war-torn homeland, which has been fighting for its existence against the Russian invaders for more than two years.
A tough game
“Our mission is to show that we are still alive, that we are still fighting against the Russians, that we still need support from Europe,” said Rebrow, who took over the national team in July last year, after the victory over the Bosnians: “This game showed the character of our players and our country.”
For Rebrow, who played a total of 75 games for the Ukrainian team between 1992 and 2006 and is still considered one of the most successful footballers in his homeland, this is not an empty phrase, but a lived value. The Ukrainians now have to prove this once again.
The Icelanders represent an uncomfortable opponent. Rebrow’s team expects a tough game. “Iceland is one of the national teams that will essentially engage us in a game of arm wrestling,” central defender Denys Popov told Ukrainian media. “We have to be prepared both physically and mentally.” The right conclusions were drawn from the game against Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Icelanders were analyzed intensively in advance, added striker Danylo Sikan.
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The expectations of the team in the game against Iceland are therefore correspondingly high, said Rebrow during a press conference on Monday evening: “We are attacked with missiles every day. The football players know who they are playing for. This game is very important for all of us to help our people.”
The most important factor for the victory are the Ukrainian supporters, who are expected in large numbers at the Miejski Stadium at the Polish venue in Wroclaw. “We definitely need the support of the fans to give us an extra boost and push us forward,” said Popow. Rebrow knows that too: “It will be a different game and a different atmosphere for our players.” What can be expected is an atmosphere that radiates hope, despite an unprecedented crisis
