Ukraine Played Bravely Against The Netherlands Despite Losing, Shevchenko: Thanks To My Team

Andriy Shevchenko (Instagram @andriyshevchenko)

JAKARTA - Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko praised his team's mentality and thanked them even though they lost 2-3 against the Netherlands in the Euro 2020 match in Amsterdam on Monday morning.

"I want to thank my team for the reaction they have shown, especially after going 2-0 down, we could have lost (bigly without scoring) at that time," Shevchenko told the uefa.com website, Monday reported by Antara.

"It was a very fast and interesting match with lots of chances created by both teams," he continued, extending his run of defeats in the European Cup finals to four after losing all three of their group stage matches at Euro 2016 at Euro 2016.

Ukraine did play bravely and confidently even though it appeared at the opponent's cage. Going down 0-2 did not frustrate them, instead coming back to equalize before their hopes were crushed by a header from Dutch right-back Denzel Dumfries.

"We have found the energy to change and attack. We switch formations and balance it," said the living legend of Ukrainian football, praising his team for showing good responsibility, including in coming back to try to cover defeat despite failure.

Shevchenko deserves to be proud of his team's spirit and mentality and the technique they have shown that will set them up well against Austria and North Macedonia in their next two matches in Group C.

One of those mentalities did not fall behind because the Dutch were 0-2 down and on the other hand had equalized, thanks to one goal from Andriy Yarmolenko.

Yarmolenko himself considers the match against the Netherlands a tough match. "We are aware that we are facing a serious opponent. The coaching team is happy at how much we have given," said Yarmolenko.

WHAT. A. GOALS! Andriy Yarmolenko with a stunner!#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/uPhzAgrXVh

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 13, 2021

"It's true that losing a game is always frustrating, but we still have two more games to play and will still play with the same energy. If we manage (to qualify) it will be great," concluded Yarmolenko.