21 March, 10:50 AM
Oleksandr Zinchenko commented on the victory over Belgium (Photo: REUTERS/Pablo Morano)
Oleksandr Zinchenko commented on the victory over Belgium (Photo: REUTERS/Pablo Morano)
Oleksandr Zinchenko, the 28-year-old Ukrainian national team footballer, praised the squad’s resilience after their 3-1 victory over Belgium in the first leg of the Nations League playoffs on March 20.
The coaching staff’s halftime instructions turned the game around, according to the defender.
“We got a positive result. I think the right conclusions were drawn at halftime. We came out in the second half and managed to change the game,” said Zinchenko.
He acknowledged Belgium’s strength, calling them a “top team” and urging caution ahead of the next match.
“We need to stay grounded,” the Arsenal player added.
“We all know the second game will be totally different—they’ll be at home, the crowd will push them forward. We understand the kind of players they have and what they’re capable of. So, we’re preparing and need to keep moving forward.”
Zinchenko also expressed support for teammates Yukhym Konoplya and Oleksiy Sych, who left the match early due to injuries.
“It’s a real shame the guys got hurt. I hope they avoided serious damage and can return soon,” he said, as quoted by UA-Football.
The return leg, Belgium vs. Ukraine, is set for March 23. The winner will advance to Division A in the next Nations League season, while the loser drops to Division B.
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