Ukraine coach criticises Čeferin’s Italy wish for Euro 2024

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin made his players “angry” when he said it would be a “disaster” for Euro 2024 if Italy failed to qualify for the tournament.

Reigning European champions Italy will face Ukraine in the German city of Leverkusen on Monday – all of Ukraine’s home matches in Group C have been played at neutral venues due to the Russian invasion of the country – and will need to avoid defeat to qualify for next year’s finals in Germany. .

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A victory for Ukraine, however, would guarantee Rebrov’s team qualification and force Italy into the playoffs. Italy missed the 2018 and 2022 World Cups after losing in the playoffs, prompting Čeferin to declare last month that he wanted them to reach the Euro 2024 final.

“Italy must qualify for Euro 2024, otherwise it will be a disaster,” Čeferin told Italian media outlet LaPresse. “The Italian national team is too big, but I think they will beat Ukraine.”

Čeferin’s comments were, however, met with disbelief in Ukraine and Rebrov, the former Dynamo Kiev, Tottenham and West Ham striker, told his pre-match press conference in Leverkusen that the remarks were of no use. than to further motivate his players to secure the runners. -a place in the group behind already qualified England.

“We are not interested in what he [Čeferin] has to say,” Rebrov said. “It’s not our job to focus on such comments.

“But all they can really do is impact my players to make them angrier and more motivated to qualify.

“I think we have a good chance. This match is different from the one at San Siro [when Italy won 2-1 in September].

“It will be a full stadium to support us. We played in Bremen recently and had great support, many Ukrainians. I’m sure it will be the same here, a full stadium with our flags. It will be different.

“It’s one thing to play against North Macedonia or Malta, with respect, but when we play England or Italy, it’s different.

“It’s a match where we have to show our face. We made a lot of mistakes in Italy, but we understand our responsibility in this match and what we have to do.”