Today Ukraine national team became aware of its rival in play-off qualification, World Cup – 2010. Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko team will be opposed by the Greeks. The first away match will take place on November, 14, the other one will be home on November, 18. Olexiy Gai, the miners’ and national team midfielder has shared with us his opinion on the results of the drawing.

— Olexiy, how did you get to know that Greece is the rival of Ukraine? How do you evaluate the drawings results?
— I was watching live broadcasting of the drawing on TV. If to compare this team with the teams of France or Portugal, it is sure to be of lower class. But Greece got in the short-list group, which suggests once again it’s a strong rival .In any case, there are no rowers playng but footballers like us. Thus, we shouldn’t be glad beforehand, vice versa we have to get ready to serious matches.

— What can you tell about Greece national team? What is their level now??
— Frankly speaking, I wasn’t interested in their performance of late. Now I’ll have to pay more attention to them..

— Do you agree that Ukrainians were acting in the stronger group that the Greeks? Their rivals were the teams of Switzerland, Latvia, Israel…
— Now a lot of teams have started to play football. And those who were not the best are now showing worthy results. I think the struggle was in all groups, and Greece being the runner up is worth something.

— Wouldn’t you like to oppose Russia in play-off?
—    It’s not our choice in this situation. It doesn’t matter which team we are to oppose. Anyway we have to go to the pitch and show what we are capable of.

— Which premonitions did you and your team mates have as for the drawing results?
— I wouldn’t call it premonitions. Of course, we were discussing it with the guys, everyone had their opinion. But I was thinking we would oppose Portugal. The destiny made another decision.

— That is, you hoped for better and expected the worse?
— Yes, but I’ll repeat, Greece is not an easy rival. The Greeks might be supporting themselves by the thought they are to play against Ukraine. But two equal team will be having a clash.

— Both Greek and Ukrainian national teams were participants of World Cup final stage once. Does this fact gives your team additional motivation?
— You need motivation in every game, irrespective of who your rival is. Everybody definitely wants to get to World Cup. Some of them, who didn’t get, say that SAR is underdeveloped country and the other things like that. But these are just idle talks. Every footballer wants to show himself at World Cup or Europe. It’s the greatest achievement for every capped player.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office