The Ukrainian national team narrowly lost to Wales in Cardiff (0:1) and will not participate in the World Cup in Qatar. The head coach of the blue-and-yellow team, Oleksandr Petrakov, commented on this result.

— What would you like people in Ukraine to remember about the national team's path to the World Cup?

— Our team. My boys did everything they could. I don't know what to say. We need to apologize for not scoring, but we did all that was possible. This is sports.

— What was missing from you today?

— A goal — nothing else.

— What are your thoughts about the future of the team?

— We have a game on June 8th, we start our Nations League campaign.

— What is the atmosphere in the dressing room of the Ukrainian national team now?

— There's an eerie silence in the locker room.

— Is today's result a coincidence or a matter of course?

— This is sports, football. Some had luck today, others did not.

— Oleksandr Karavaev — the only right-back in the team. Do you plan to call up anyone else for this position?

— No plans. There will be rotation now — other boys will come out. Those who played today won't play on the 8th.

— How is Andriy Yarmolenko, the captain of the national team and a player who gave his maximum in both playoff matches but scored an own goal?

— I can only thank him for everything he did for the team. I have no complaints about my players. To the press: don't pour negative on Yarmolenko and other boys, pour it all on the head coach. Wins — the team, loses — the head coach.

— Do you have any words for the global community regarding the current situation in Ukraine?

— You all know that we are at war, people are dying. Children, women... Russians are causing a lot of damage to our infrastructure. Our boys from the army fight as much as they can. I wish everyone would support our country. I want to emphasize once again: may God forbid this tragedy from coming to you. As long as it doesn't personally touch you — no one understands what war is like. We are here now, but people are dying there. I don't know what words to choose for the boys on the front line. Boys, we did everything possible today. But this is sports that millions of people watch. Some were lucky, some weren't...

Finally, I want to thank Wales for everything and wish their national team success at the World Cup.