Head coach of the Ukraine women’s national team Luis Cortez He talked about how the blue-yellows’ training camp went before the final matches of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers with the Faroe Islands and Spain.

— Luis, how was the start of the training camp before the final matches of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers with the Faroe Islands and Spain national teams? How was the Faroe Islands trip and the team’s locations on the islands?

— It was nice to meet all the players after our last training camp in Poland. However, it was not an easy trip as there were not many flights to the Faroe Islands. We had to split the group into two parts: some actors and staff flew from Copenhagen, others from Paris. Also, for those traveling from Ukraine, the bus journey was too long and the players arrived very tired. But we were lucky because the flight to Faroe Islands was good. There was no wind and everything was quite calm.

– What is his plan to prepare the Ukrainian national team for a match with the local team?

— We understand that the team has to go on a long journey, but we are here to work and prepare for the matches ahead as best we can. Our preparation program consists of five practice sessions before the Faroe Islands game, as well as several theoretical sessions with video clips to help the girls understand how we should play and what we want to see from each player in this match.

– You invited 23 players to the training camp, but there is no new name on the list. Given that the final matches of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers are no longer of tournament significance for Ukraine, have you thought about rethinking potential new players in these matches?

– My job as a national team coach is to look for players who can perform better here and now. And I think the best players are the ones I invited to this training camp. Frankly, it is very difficult to choose only 23 players because there are players who deserve to be on the list. I believe there will be personnel changes in the next calls.

We understand that we no longer have a chance to qualify for the World Cup, but we must continue to prepare the team and try to win more games.

– Last time you met the girls, they all played in foreign championships due to the onset of full-scale Russian military aggression. Half of the team has returned to Ukraine and is ready to start the new season here. Do you see the positive in this?

— Of course, it’s great that football is back and the new championship of Ukraine will start soon. The main thing is to take into account all the security risks of competition. The return of players means the league will be stronger and more competitive. It is also important for these players to gain new experience playing abroad and this can help them improve their football level in Ukraine.

— What do you think in general about the resumption of football under martial law in Ukraine?

— It’s good that the UAF is doing everything possible to bring football back to Ukraine. Football is a very powerful tool to change the situation in society and under these circumstances it can help show the world that despite the war, life in Ukraine goes on and that Ukrainians look to the future.

— How would you characterize our opponents in the upcoming matches – Faroe Islands and Spain teams? What are the goals of the Ukrainian team in these matches? Will the result be a priority or is it still the development of game links for later victories?

– We want to get more points in the final matches and finish third in our group. But of course we also think about the future. We want to be the best team every day and we are working on it. We know that we have room for improvement and we are working on it, but we are also working to strengthen our strengths.

Expect fights with opponents of different levels. On the one hand, the game with the Faroe Islands, which still did not score a single point in the group stage. But today they are a better team than a year ago when the Ukrainian team played against them. This is a well-organized team that defends with a large number of players close to its own court. We will have to play very quickly and accurately to create chances and score goals.

On the other hand, we have Spain, a team I know very well because I am the coach of most of their players. Spain is an offensive team that will try to hold the ball for a long time, create many opportunities and take advantage of their individual characteristics. But we know what we can do to make it harder for Hispanic women. If we stick to the established plan, I’m sure we will have every opportunity to get a positive result. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible either.