Ruslan Rotan: "Challenging group drawn, but Olympics have no easy matches"

21.03.2024 09:15

The draw for the football tournaments at the 2024 Olympics took place in Sen-Denis, revealing a challenging path for the Ukrainian Olympic team. Placed in Group B, Ukraine will face formidable opponents including Argentina, Morocco, and a third representative from Asia.

Commenting on the draw, Ukraine's head coach Ruslan Rotan acknowledged the strength of the group, emphasizing that there are no weak teams in the Olympics. "Argentina, as one of the main tournament favorites, needs no introduction, possibly featuring Lionel Messi in their lineup," said Rotan. "Morocco has recently showcased its talent at the World Cup, highlighting the strength of teams from the African region. As for the third Asian team, it could potentially be Japan, whom we may face shortly."

Rotan also provided insights into the team's preparations and upcoming friendly match against Japan U-23 on March 25th in Fukuoka. "From today, we start preparing for the tournament. To represent our country and strive for the highest goals, we must show our best," he emphasized.

Addressing concerns about player availability due to club commitments, Rotan mentioned ongoing discussions with clubs regarding player release for the Olympics. "It's not easy to organize this training camp, but I'm grateful to the leadership of the Ukrainian Association of Football for making it happen," he added. "Our clubs have always worked in the interests of our country, and I believe they will do so again."

Regarding squad selection challenges, Rotan highlighted the difficulty in finalizing the squad due to visa deadlines and injuries affecting key players like Artem Bondarenko, Dmytro Kryskiv, and Mykola Mykhaylenko. "This is a new team, and every player has the opportunity to prove themselves and earn a spot for the Olympics," he stated.

Looking ahead to the friendly against Japan U-23, Rotan expects a competitive match against a well-prepared opponent. "Japan has a cohesive team that has been playing together for over three years," he noted. "We've observed their matches against strong opponents like Argentina and the USA, indicating their readiness for the Olympics."

Despite the challenges ahead, Rotan expressed confidence in the team's focus and determination. "Time is limited, but I see that our players are very focused and responsible in their theoretical and practical sessions," he concluded. "I believe they will overcome the challenges ahead of us."