LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov has mentioned UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin made his gamers “angry” when he mentioned it will be a “disaster” for Euro 2024 if Italy fail to qualify for the match.
Reigning European champions Italy face Ukraine the German metropolis of Leverkusen on Monday — all of Ukraine’s Group C house video games have been performed at impartial venues as a result of Russian invasion of the nation — needing to keep away from defeat to qualify for subsequent 12 months’s finals in Germany.
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A win for Ukraine would safe qualification for Rebrov’s staff, nonetheless, and power Italy into the playoffs. Italy missed out on each the 2018 and 2022 World Cups after shedding within the playoffs, prompting Čeferin to say final month that he needed them to succeed in the finals of Euro 2024.
“Italy must qualify for Euro 2024, otherwise it will be a disaster,” Čeferin instructed Italian media outlet LaPresse. “The Italian national team is too important, but I think it will beat Ukraine.”
Čeferin’s feedback had been met with incredulity in Ukraine, although, and Rebrov, the previous Dynamo Kyiv, Tottenham and West Ham ahead, mentioned in his pre-match press convention in Leverkusen that the remarks have solely served to additional encourage his gamers to safe the runners-up spot within the group behind already-qualified England.
“We’re not interested in what he [Čeferin] has to say,” Rebrov mentioned. “It’s not our job to focus on such comments.
“However all that they’ll actually do is have an effect on my gamers to make them extra indignant and motivated to qualify.
“I believe we’ve got a superb probability. This sport is totally different to the sport in San Siro [when Italy won 2-1 in September].
“Will probably be a full stadium supporting us. We performed in Bremen just lately and had large help, a lot of Ukrainians. I’m positive will probably be identical right here, a full stadium with our flags. It’s going to be totally different.
“It’s one factor to play in opposition to North Macedonia or Malta, with respect, however after we play England or Italy, it’s totally different.
“This can be a sport when we’ve got to point out our face. We made a lot of errors in Italy, however we perceive our accountability on this sport and what we’ve got to do.”