It turns out that during the preparatory work in Slovenia we have never seen the real Ukrainian team. Practice matches with Borussia Gladbach, Empoli and Rijeka were just the beginning. And to the game and the choice of composition. It’s the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Because only after the game we played with the Croatian team, the legionnaires came and left five players who did not fit into our coaching staff.

Then there should have been at least one friendly match – against the national team. Approx – DR Congo. In that match, Petrakov was to simulate the situation in Scotland. However, for unknown reasons, this match did not take place. And instead our team played a two-way match. Who played it and how is a big mystery. Almost military.

It is only known that two teams – “yellow” and “blue”, had a full-fledged 90-minute duel, which ended in a 1:1 draw (who, by definition, should be scored – Yaremchuk and Dovbik). It has also been known that one of the teams tried to play something like Scotland did. And all the fielders from both teams played without substitutions. Actually, that’s all. On the eve of his trip to Glasgow, Petrakov decided to play it safe not only by Scottish “scouts”, but also by Ukrainian fans.

This is his right. Any tactic and strategy is correct if it works. Let’s hope the Blue-Yellows deliver the result we need on the first day of summer.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the opportunity, or rather the knowledge gap, “Let’s play Petrakov.” So, let’s try to predict which squad our coach will form on the evening of June 1 at Hampden Park.

Goalkeeper

Probably, this position is the most “transparent”. Despite the fact that in the “secret” two-sided game Petrakov made full use of the existing goalkeeper reserve (all three goalkeepers played – Buschan, Pyatov and Riznyk), and the fourth goalkeeper – Lunin – joined the team later after the Champions League final, in my opinion, the Ukrainian national team head coach has long decided on this position. It will be occupied by the Dynamo goalkeeper Buschan. This is probably the case when you don’t need to be smart and experiment, you don’t need to look for the better than the good. George is currently the number one goalkeeper in the country. And that’s it. But then it will be more difficult.

Protection

In this case, it is crucial to fully understand what kind of game plan Petrakov plans to play in Glasgow. Specifically: two or three middle backs. There are pluses in both the first and second game lineups. In addition, Alexander Vasilievich, when fighting against formidable opponents, was “attracted” to play exactly five defenders. But in the last official meetings (and three practice sessions in the Slovenian camp), our coaching staff used four defenders. Most likely our team will play two central defenders against Clark’s team.

It is also a difficult question to determine the duet of the central defenders, although it is not easier on the hour. Petrakov probably described them as “top secret” in that fight, but we didn’t see that match. Therefore, you have to rely on intuition.

In my opinion, the choice of the coaching staff will fall on Matvienko and Zabarny. For the simple reason, this couple is the most suitable combination at this stage. And this optimality has matured, at least, because some colleagues of our two heroes are either inactive (Krivtsov) or have some health problems (Popov).

According to an unwritten rule, a pair of national team defenders should ideally be from the same club. Therefore, combinations of Matvienko – Krivtsov or Zabarny – Popov seem more suitable to me. But due to injuries, the selection was narrowed. Therefore, we have what we have.

Yes, Sirota and Bondar are in the squad to make a lot of defenders from their teammates, but these two are actually newcomers to the national team. The coach is unlikely to risk putting them into battle.

Wings are much easier. Actually, there are not many options. Mikolenko should appear on the left wing, and Karavaev on the right. The situation where the alternative is not really necessary.

A little note. Regarding the left-back position, it is said that Zinchenko, who plays on the left wing in the defense of the club team, can play in this position. But in the national team, Alexander almost always acts in the midfield. It’s more useful there. There he will play against the Scots.

midfielder

Actually, let’s start with Zinchenko. Its appearance at the base is “reinforced concrete”. But like Yarmolenko. The first will be closer to the left wing of the middle of the field, the second – to the right wing. These players are the backbone of the current Ukrainian national team, they run the game, so it’s on them, not Tsyhankov or Mudrik, that the coaching team should bet.

I don’t think Petrakov would dare to play against a tough and compact team with a single defensive midfielder, with power and vertical football (I’m talking about Scotland). In principle, Alexander Vasilyevich is generally very conservative in this regard. Therefore, I dare to suggest that Stepanenko will replace a pit bull.

But for the latter, Sidorchuk and Pikhalyonok “fight” for me. There is a huge temptation to send Oleksandr there (the Dnipro midfielder showed up against the backdrop of a confident game in the training camp), but he will most likely be paired with Sergey Taras.

I think Shaparenko will be the tip of the “triangle” in the middle of the field. Nikolai has already fully recovered from a minor injury, so I think from the first minutes he is ready to play.

First of all, there was no place for Malinovsky, Mudrik and Tsygankov in this model. In my opinion, these three will definitely come across at the Hampden Park site. But come not from the first minutes, but as a backup.

Attack

The Blue-Yellows will play a nominal forward, which will be Yaremchuk. Because, like Roman, Zina and Yarmola, he is a backbone player in our national team. Also, Dovbik is kind of a copy of the Benfica striker (I mean in terms of profile features and playing style).

But personally I have no doubt that the Dnipro-1 forward will also train in Glasgow.

The optimal composition of the national team of Ukraine for the game against Scotland (Sport.ua version):