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DynamoMania - Ukrainian National Team coach
Leonid Buriak:
"Yesterday, National Team players convened
at Koncha zaspa for the game vs Iran. As you know we have problems -- many
injuries. Only Husyn and Nesmachny should be back soon. Others are our for
5-6 months... Doctors will determine whether Dmytrulin can play on
Wednesday. Unfortunately kabanov got minor injury in Odesa.
We also lost Parfionov, Snytko (he is a good central defender from
Chernomorets Novorossiisk, Russia). We have a problem with Shyschenko -- he
lost his shape.
I visited Parfionov in Moscow hospital -- we should be lucky that he will
return to play...
I talked to Shevchenko yesterday. He played
a Champions League game vs Sloban Liberec, felt well after the game, but
then experienced bad sensations in his knee at home. Some liquid accumulated
there. Medical exam found that a piece of ligament was broken. He will be
operated in Belgium...
We have players capable of substituting leaders. Shevchenko, Holovko,
Vaschuk are a big loss, of course...
Iran is a team similar to Armenia in style -- so this game should be usefuil
for us..."
Why don't we see the name of Oleh Luzhny?
Oleh has problems with his club. We nvited him for the game, but he asked
some time. We keep in touch. Luzhny is 34, he is in a good shape, just
extended his contract for 1.5 years. I talked to Wenger, he is satisfied
with Luzhny. I think we will see Oleh on September 6 against Armenia.
Some media already announced the game vs
Iran as the farewell game for Luzhny...
I asked Luzhny, if it is not difficult for him to play for two teams at the
age of 34. If he decides to quit, he should make a statement and we will
organize a farewell agme to make an example for the young generation. Many
players, who desereved this didn't get an opportunity to be honored with a
farewell game (except for Oleh Blokhin). We should start this tradition with
Luzhny... Luzhny did a lot for the Ukrainian football...
Will your assistants watch the
opponents?
Yes. Kuznetsov will be in Romania, Suchkov will be in N. Ireland. Armenia
won't be playing friendlies...
Did you invite Konovalov because of his
superb performance for Arsenal? How do you like Poltavets and Bilozor?
We invited Konovalov because he is a universal player, who fit perfectly
well into Arsenal. Many say, he saved beitar jerusalem from relegation in
Israel.... Poltavets and Bilozor are good players, but we have better
candidates for their positions -- Kalynychenko, Bakharev, Voronin, Lutsenko.
We know Bilozor very well. No doubt, he is a talented player. But it is a
bit premature to invite him to the National Team. But we are watching him
closely.
How many subs will be allowed?
We will agree on the number with Iran. It will be up to the referee though.
Who will be the captain?
I think this is not the main problem.
What is going on with Bakharev and
Rebrov?
The presidnet of Ukraine granted Alexei Bakharev with Ukrainian citizenship.
FFU was arranging all dcuments for several months. We learned that there is
no legal issue with him playing for Ukraine. FIFA database carries no info
about him playing for any National Team. In 1-2 days we will have 100%
confirmation of this. So far, a fax from FIFA allows him to play for
Ukraine... I talked to Bakharev -- we were interested first of all if he has
any desire to play for Ukraine....
As for Rebrov -- He arrived in the morning and we shifted training session
to accomodate his traveling schedule.
There will be fewer fans for the Iran
game. Maybe it is wiser to play such games in other Ukrainian cities?
We thought about this. For example, to play it in Donetsk. But the game vs
Greece will be in Kyiv, and we decided to stay here.
What is the state of Shakhtar players?
Could you tell us about Lutsenko?
Valeri Lobanovsky made a standard -- never talk about club problems in teh
National Team. We do our best to unite Shakhtar and Dynamo players. Shakhtar
players are in good state of mind and health...
Lutsenko previously played for Ukraine Under-21. He is very talented, has
good thinking, maybe lacks some athleticism, but we want to try him.
Lutsenko plays well, Donadoni has good impressions about him.
Do you think that so many injuries are a
consequence of mistakes in training methods or a coincidence?
If I were coaching them in clubs, I would have been in a position to answer
this question. I think it is a coincidence... Vaschuk's injury was logical
-- he had a minor injury before, and then a misstep resulted in a torn
ligament... |
