The midfielder of the Italian club Genoa and the Ukrainian national team, Ruslan Malinovskyi, participated in the pre-match press conference of the national team’s head coach a day before the 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Iceland, which will take place tomorrow at the Legia Stadium in Warsaw.
Ruslan Malinovskyi. Photo — A. Popov
— If we recall our first match with Iceland (5:3, — ed.), this time it will be a different game. Firstly, it is nominally a home game for us. Secondly, the opponent has two acceptable results, we have one.
— Tomorrow there will be more responsibility, for us it’s like a final. We learned lessons from the first game with Iceland. The great things we did in it need to be repeated tomorrow. But we also need to add a little in all aspects of the game. We have a very great team, everyone is focused, everyone is serious. We have a game ahead of us, and I believe we are ready.
— What should the Icelandic national team definitely not do tomorrow?
— They should not score a goal. (Smiles). I’m confident we will have scoring opportunities. But most importantly, we must play very clearly in defense. Small details make the difference in such matches. When you concede, it’s very hard to come back into the game. We must be concentrated from the first minute and should not leave the opponent any chances. Firstly, at set pieces.
— Is it better to prepare for a match when a draw is acceptable, or under such pressure as now, when you need to win?
— When you are under pressure, it gives you more responsibility, motivation, you are more focused. I played many of these matches for the national team and for the club. When I was younger, I was anxious in such situations, there was anxiety. But now you understand that there may be few of these matches left in your career. In general, it’s always better to play for a win, not a draw.
Serhiy Rebrov’s pre-match press conference.
Alexander POPOV from Warsaw
