Ukraine head coach Andriy Shevchenko said Ukraine should ignore the disappointment of conceding an injury-time goal in their 3-2 loss to the Netherlands at Euro 2020 and focus on the crucial match against North Macedonia on Thursday.
After erasing a 2-0 deficit against the Netherlands in their Group C opener on Sunday, the Ukrainians were drowned out by a late Denzel Dumfries header in Amsterdam when they looked like they did enough to win the draw.
Although Shevchenko is pleased with his team’s response, he admitted that the match’s relentless pace took its toll on the players.
“A lot of players were empty after the match against the Netherlands, we will see how many of them will be able to recover enough for the match against North Macedonia,” Shevchenko told Ukrainian media.
“We knew before the tournament that it would be the pivotal match in the group stage.”
Shevchenko emphasized that Ukraine will try to learn from Austria’s writers after their first 3-1 victory over North Macedonia, who are playing their first major tournament as an independent country.
“We will watch the tape and show everything that the Austrians have done so well,” Shevchenko said. “We still have two games left and we have to stay there at every opportunity.”
North Macedonian winger Izjan Alyoski said that his country should learn from its mistakes after conceding two goals in the last 20 minutes against Austria.
“The match against Ukraine is like a cup final because it is a must for both teams, but whatever it is, we have to continue to enjoy the tournament and have fun,” Alewski said during a press conference on Tuesday.
“However, we have to recover quickly from the loss against Austria and we don’t have much time. It is necessary to believe in our ability to win even though Ukraine is the frontrunner.
“It is a great offensive team full of quality people and it will require a tactically strong defensive effort to thwart them.”
North Macedonia will meet the Netherlands in their last group game in Amsterdam on Monday and Ukraine will meet Austria in Bucharest.
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