Malders Cited the Reasons for Ukraine's Loss in the Match Against Hungary
Ukraine national team head coach Andrea Maldera commented on the team’s 1-2 loss to Hungary in the Nations League. He shared his thoughts after the match and at a UAF press conference.
The coach made no secret of his disappointment with the final result, emphasizing that the team deserved better: “We’re disappointed because we didn’t deserve to lose today. I think we played a good match, especially considering the large number of players making their debuts. Everyone gave their all on the field.”
The coach cited a lack of experience in the game’s crucial moments as the main reason for losing points after the team tied the score: “I believe we lacked the experience to hold our ground in those moments after we tied the score. At moments like that, it’s not about tactics or technique. You need leadership—a leader on the field who can take charge in those moments. We need to learn to play better in the final minutes of matches. I’d like to review the second goal again, but this is the kind of experience we need to gain in order to act with more confidence in such difficult situations. It’s more about emotions than technique.”
Commenting on the roster situation and the absence of several key players, Maldera noted that the national team was effectively missing another team. Nine UPL players took the field at once, and the coach understands all the difficulties they’re going through. However, he was pleased with those who got their chance: “We saw many young players who could become a valuable asset for our team in the future and help the national team. The names that come to mind are Krupsky, Krasnopir, and Ponomarenko. They all played a very good game today. And yes, of course, there may be some issues with intensity, since they’re still young.”
Regarding the low scoring—only two goals in four matches—the coach noted that it’s sometimes hard to find a logical explanation for this, since the team hit the post and had other good chances. In his opinion, the result is important, but today it was also necessary to evaluate the players’ performance. “Four points is a fair result, given the large number of new players. We have good team spirit, and we’re on the right track. To win, we need to get stronger,” Maldera concluded.
As a reminder, Ukraine lost to Hungary in a crucial Nations League match.
Sweden defeated Romania thanks to a goal by Dökér.
The Polish national team lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina 0–1.
France scored four goals against Belgium in 14 minutes and won 4–1.
