On Friday, the Ukrainian team began preparations for a friendly match with Malta (June 6, Austria) and the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Finland (June 11, Tampere). On the same day, a press conference was held in Kiev with the head coach of the Ukrainian national team Andrei Shevchenko. - First of all, I would like to emphasize that at this gathering there are debutants of the national team - Shepelev and Lunin. Congratulations to these guys. They deserve this challenge for their clubs. I'm glad they joined us. We wish them good luck in striving to prove themselves worthily in the national team. - Nikita Shevchenko played only five games for Shakhtar, conceding four goals in these matches. Is he ready to defend the gates of the Ukrainian team?.

- I think that I am ready. We always call him in the team, he shows a fairly high level of skill. So it was, including, during previous gatherings of the national team. We hope for him. - Have all the players brought to this collection already arrived? Are they all well?.

- All the guys are in good condition.. The only thing is a small problem with Garmash, who because of injury did not take part in the last matches of "Dinamo". Now he is waiting for another medical examination. After that, let's see how his body reacts to the load, and then we will determine. We hope that everything will be fine with him. "What about Malinovsky?" Is he ready to play? There was information that he was injured in the last match for "Genk".

- It's okay with him.. Today he came, and he has no health problems. Today he will train on a par with all. - Do you pay attention to Dmitry Chygrynsky? Does he have a chance to return to the national team? Or is the current backbone of the defensive line of the national team formed for a long time?.

- As you can see, the backbone of the team changes constantly. We, before each collection, proceed from the way players play in their clubs. Now we decided that it was those defenders whom we called best prepared, better played. Therefore, we will prepare for the upcoming matches with these players. As for Chygrynsky, I'm very happy for him, because he has a constant gaming practice. Before that, he was persecuted for a long time, and I'm glad that now he is finally standing. We follow him. - There was information that Raul Riancho can go to the "Ruby"? Is this true?.

- I do not know where this information came from. Raoul was sick, and now he is at home with the temperature. Most likely, he will fly here today or tomorrow. As soon as his temperature drops, he will immediately fly. At least, he did not hear any statements about his future and any changes from him. - What is your attitude to naturalization?.

- If the players have a desire to play for the national team, then they must complete the Ukrainian citizenship. After that, they will fall into my field of vision as candidates for the national team. So the first step in any case for the players - first citizenship, and then everything else. - In Tampere for the match Finland - Ukraine is expected about a thousand Ukrainian fans. They have to overcome a huge path on buses. What could you tell them to somehow support?.

- We are waiting for a very heavy game, which is extremely important for us. I'm sure that the guys will do everything to achieve the result we need - victory. We will try to please the fans. Thanks to them for finding the strength in such a difficult period to support the national team in an away fight and to overcome for this a long way. This is also not easy. We will try to do everything we can to please them. - What tasks will you solve in sparring with Malta?.

- I can say that this team knows how to defend itself. The national team of Malta has long played a single team, in which there are many age players. So this sparring will be important for us in preparation for the match with Finland. Our main task for a duel with Malta is to see in the case a number of performers who have not played for the national team of Ukraine. In addition, there may be some tactical permutations in the model of our game. Let's see how the team reacts to this. And based on how we play with Malta, we will build further preparations for a duel with Finland. - How will you prepare the team in conditions when the season has already been completed, and this affects both the psychological and physical condition of the players?.

- I agree that such matches are always difficult to play. Guys somewhere are tired, but the motivation they still very large, because we are waiting for an extremely important game. When we met today with the team, we told the guys that each of them must find strength in order to play very well and do everything to achieve victory in Tampere. - Why is the national team preparing for the match with Finland in Austria, and not in Ukraine?.

- Because it was agreed in advance that the match with Malta should take place on a neutral field. We chose Austria for this match. Well, not to go back to Ukraine, decided after sparring with Malta to stay in Austria - there are approximately the same conditions for work as we do here. - In the national team of Finland the head coach was replaced. In this regard, do you expect any surprises from the Finns?.

- I recently read an interview with the current coach of the Finnish national team. He said that regardless of his place, what place his team takes, they will play in the match with us only to win. I am sure that a number of surprises Finns are going to give us. But even the words of the coach of the Finnish team, about which I just said, are already an additional irritant for our players. - The coachman left Shakhtar. Your comment on this? Do you think he will be able to stay at the national team level, speaking outside the Shakhtar?.

- Comment on this situation should the club. We called Sasha, because he shows good football in Shakhtar and is in good shape.

Therefore, he deservedly takes place in the cage of the national team. We count on him to the fullest extent. - Do you plan to watch the Champions League final? And for whom will you be ill in this fight?.

- I will definitely watch! And I will cheer for both teams. But in the heart would like to see a football player like Gianluigi Buffon won the Champions League. So my sympathies will be on the side of "Juventus".

Original article: Andrei Shevchenko: "Naturalization? First - citizenship, then everything else".