Before tomorrow's friendly match Ukraine — Albania, which will take place in Spanish Valencia at the stadium «Ciutat de València» (start — around 21:45 Kyiv time), the head coach of our opponent Silvénio spoke to the media.

— How difficult is it to prepare for a match against Ukraine following the painful defeat in the semi-finals of the play-off for the 2026 World Cup against Poland?

— It’s always tough — stepping out on the field after such matches as against Poland. When you prepare, you’re at your peak and experience a defeat in what is effectively a match of life. We know the strength of Ukraine. This is a highly technical team with quality players who play in top leagues. We respect our opponent but are preparing to show our game.

— What do you think about the playing style of Sergiy Rebrov’s team?

— Of course, Ukraine is sad, as are we, that we couldn’t make it to the final of the play-off for the 2026 World Cup. We expect a tough game because we fully understand who we will be facing. Perhaps I will bring in some changes to the starting lineup, but this match is still important. We have experience playing against Ukraine in Lizniak. So, once again, we know how strong our opponent is tomorrow.