On the eve of the decisive matches of the qualifying tournament of the World Cup 2018 coach of the Ukrainian national team Andriy Shevchenko answered the questions of Gazzetta dello Sport.

"If the national team of Ukraine have to play in the playoffs of the qualifying tournament of the 2018 World Cup, I certainly would not want to go to Italy," said Shevchenko, who at one time played 322 matches for Milan and scored 175 goals for the Rossoneri. - And it's not that the "scuadra of the adzurra" is strong, but that I love your country and even feel somewhat Italian, so I do not want to deprive the World Cup of the Italian team ".

"Italy is a football academy, which annually offers some tactical novelties.

I try to take them on board, to learn from experts such as Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Maurizio Sarri. I have already written my name in the history of Italian football as a player, and, quite possibly, I will someday do it as a coach ".

The national team of Ukraine, which is two points behind the leaders of Croatia and Iceland, will play their final matches of the qualifying tournament on October 6 against Kosovo (on the road) and October 9 against Croatia (at home).