The first match of the 2022/2023 Nations League, Ukraine will play against Ireland in Dublin. The game will take place on June 8 (kick-off at 21:45 Kyiv time). The day before the match, midfielder Serhiy Sydorchuk participated in a press conference alongside head coach Oleksandr Petrakov.

"How important is it for you to play for Ukraine right now?"

"First and foremost, this is the main team of the country. I have already said that when you start playing football at seven or eight years old, there is only one team for you — the national team. Especially now, we have the opportunity to draw attention to what is happening in Ukraine. This is currently the most important thing."

"How has the war affected you personally?"

"My family and I left Kyiv, Ukraine. When hostilities began, my wife was eight months pregnant. We had to look for a maternity hospital."

"You are from Zaporizhzhia. How do you feel when you see what is happening around your city?"

"First of all, I want to note that the war has not reached Zaporizhzhia; it is only in the region, about 50-60 km from the city. My relatives — my mother, father, and my wife's parents — are currently in Zaporizhzhia. Things there are relatively calm now, with the Ukrainian flag flying high."

"How did you spend your evening after Sunday's loss? Is it difficult to prepare for a new tournament?"

"We returned to the hotel. There was silence immediately after the game. As I have already said, there has never been such silence in my professional career. For about an hour no one even came out of their rooms — everyone wanted some alone time. Then we started talking."

"As for how I feel, Oleksandr Vasyl'ovych said the next day that men should remain men. We need to turn the page, no matter how difficult it is for us. Perhaps for someone this was their last chance to make it to the World Cup. But tomorrow will be a new story, a new tournament. So all thoughts — only about the next match."

"Is it difficult to prepare for a game considering what is happening in your country?"

"I think it's not that difficult, because when we traveled abroad with our clubs at first, it was harder. But then we saw the feedback from Ukraine, how soldiers watch our matches... So everything goes a bit easier than at the beginning."

"The players of your team had to choose between continuing to play football or taking up arms and going to war?"

"I can't speak for all the footballers, but there are many athletes who took up arms. When it all began, there was a huge gap — you didn't know what to do, where to go... Then President Volodymyr Zelensky said that every person in Ukraine should help the army at their place. I believe we are now at our place and helping Ukraine."

"You participated in both previous matches. How do you feel ahead of tomorrow's match against Ireland?"

"If you ask about my physical condition, it is good."