Former Ukraine national team and Dutch “Sparta”, “Willem II” and “Groningen” footballer Evgeny Levchenko, in an exclusive comment to Sport RBC.UA, commented on the national team's first matches in the UEFA Nations League. On September 25, 2026, Andrea Moldera's team will play against Hungary, and on September 28 they will face Georgia. According to the expert, a “window of opportunity” is now opening for a significant part of the national team players to prove themselves in the best way under new conditions.
A new window of opportunity for players
Levchenko emphasized that the change in coaching staff and approach creates a rare chance for footballers to show themselves. “I would like them to start well. We have a new coach, a new approach, new emotions. I hope many footballers understand how great a chance this is for them to prove themselves in the best traditions,” the expert stated. In his opinion, such turning points in the national team's life are most valuable for players' careers, as they give the opportunity to reassess their status in the team.
The new staff's personnel policy
Levchenko separately noted the personnel policy of the new coaching staff. According to him, Andrea Moldera, together with young footballers, called up players who were not popular with the previous coach Serhiy Rebrov. “I think it's always great to see when there's a new coach who gives the chance to show themselves to both young footballers and those who were written off by the previous coach. I think this is very right,” Levchenko summed up, considering such an approach correct and fair.
Expectations of the game and Moldera's approach
The expert positively assessed Moldera's approach to the job and his attitude to the footballers. In this regard, Levchenko expects the Ukraine national team to show a different character of play compared to performances under the previous coaching staff. “Hungary, Georgia, Northern Ireland — serious opponents. But in terms of experience, these are excellent matches. If we speak globally, I expect a different game from this team than there was under the previous head coach. Overall, I'm impressed by Moldera's approach in terms of how he communicates, how he positions himself. By all parameters, I think this coach has a more even, human approach than the previous coach had,” Levchenko noted.
Match schedule for the cycle
In the current match cycle, the Ukraine national team will play four matches. First, the team will play two away games — against Hungary and Georgia — and then two nominally home matches, which will fall on the beginning of October. At the same time, the “home” matches will be played on neutral ground — in Slovakia, which will be an additional factor the team has to consider in the opening stretch of the tournament.
