ACTUALITE |
11.11.2001
World Cup play-off: Ukraine 1 Germany 1- post-match reaction
KYIV,
- After the World Cup play-off first leg between Germany and Ukraine German national team head coach Rudi Voeller said: "The atmosphere was very anxious around the game. I`ve been to many international tournaments but never felt such a tense. Our guys were very nervous. Ukrainians played well particularly in the beginning. We often made mistakes at first and conceded a goal that was the logical consequence of those blunders. Then we managed to get back into the game scoring a deserved equalizer. I am satisfied with the result.
"I`m pleased with the German national side`s performance. Ukrainians are strong rivals, indeed. But they played predictably tonight, without any surprises. However, we are not going to relax now. Those are play-off matches and we`ll be fighting in Dortmund harder than in Kyiv."
Voeller also reflected on Ukrainian player Shevchenko: “Sheva is a real superstar. But we were able to neutralize him collectively though he sometimes could break our resistance.”
Ukrainian national teams assistant coach Leonid Buryak said: "The match was really a cup like a game. Such a game cannot be too spectacular, as a rule, as the good result is the most important. We are thanking our players for their self-sacrificing struggle on the pitch. Unfortunately, our players sometimes lack in individual skills. When a striker has just a keeper to beat (like Vorobey and Shevchenko did tonight) he must score. We are set to get a victory in Germany. I guess that now chances are still 50:50.
Buryak expressed his satisfaction with Shevchenko’s performance: "Shevchenko was very useful today, he played really well though acting not as a pure striker. Levytsky sometimes lost mutual understanding with defenders that led to dangerous moments at our goal."
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