After the CH-2026 qualifier match against France in Paris (0:4), head coach of the Ukraine national team, Serhiy Rebrov, answered journalists' questions.

— Mr. Serhiy, in the first half, the Ukrainian national team held up quite well. France had some chances but failed to capitalize on any of them. Was the turning point and key moment the penalty at the start of the second half?

— I think there were two key moments. The first one is the penalty against France. As far as I could see, their player went in with an open foot, and in my opinion, a 11-meter kick should have been awarded. However, the referee decided otherwise. Then came the penalty against us. Yes, these are two key episodes of the game. Although I don't think they alone determined the outcome. France created many opportunities in the second half when our players showed signs of fatigue.

In the first half, we disciplined ourselves defensively and hardly allowed anything to the opponent. But in the second, unfortunately, we gave way — 0:4. We have time and an opportunity to fix everything next Sunday.

— How would you evaluate Taras Mykhalko's debut and the episode with the penalty?

— I am pleased with his debut. He deserved this opportunity, came out under a system with three central defenders, and in my view, played very well, helping in defense. But unfortunately, excessive aggression in our own penalty area... We warned him about it, but he is a young lad who eagerly goes into battle. Unfortunately, it happened right there.

— At the 64th minute when you made two substitutions, you called Zabarny to yourself. Did you adjust tactics and formation?

— Yes, I hinted at him because we needed to hold out. We had to press higher up the field more aggressively, and I told both central defenders to help the team in high pressing more actively. In the first half, we covered zones better and did it very effectively. But after conceding a goal, we had to react.

— How do you forget this loss and prepare for the match against Iceland where only victory is needed?

— Unfortunately, but I think everyone understood that today's game with France decided little. I believe players came out with the right attitude. But I cannot say that anyone underperformed or did not run enough. Everyone understands that the next match will be decisive. I am sure the boys will be fully prepared and are already getting ready for it.

— For 90 minutes, the national team of Ukraine didn't make a single shot on goal. Why was there no attacking play?

— Because we did not engage with the ball. In some places, we controlled it but did not take it to the penalty area and did not create opportunities — we went into attack with small numbers. France worked very well and quickly with the ball, and it was extremely difficult to take it away from them. That's why, unfortunately, we didn't create any chances.

— In the first half, Ocheretnyk took the game on himself but often found himself without support except for Yaremchuk. Why did gaps appear between attack and defense?

— When you defend for a long time, you simply don't have the strength to counterattack. We talked about this with players before the match and in halftime: against France, it's important not to sit too low. But the opponent forced us to defend deep, and we rarely managed to come out into counterattacks.

— Did the players execute the game plan and are you satisfied with their actions?

— I am pleased with the first half. We did not plan to sit so deep in our own penalty area — it was the opponent who forced us to defend this deeply. The French often changed direction of attack, and after the first half, we really looked exhausted.

When you come out on the field knowing that the game doesn't decide much... Players probably felt this too: the main thing was to hold out.

Recall, the next CH-2026 qualifier match will be played by blue and yellow on November 16 against Iceland's national team (game start time — at 19:00 Kyiv time).