Despite A 2-1 Win Over North Macedonia, Shevchenko Admits Ukraine Is Nervous

Andriy Shevchencko (right) (Instagram @euro2020)

JAKARTA - Ukraine is trying hard to beat the tense atmosphere against North Macedonia in the European Cup, admitted coach Andriy Shevchenko after his team won 2-1 at Bucharest's National Arena on Thursday night, as quoted by Antara from Reuters.

Shevchenko's side dominated the first half against the lowest-ranked side in this Euro finals, going into the break already two goals ahead but limping in the second half, and almost conceded by North Macedonia's first chance.

Ukraine goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan saved midfielder Arijan Ademi's 47th-minute attempt and it turned the game into a much more competitive setting as North Macedonia pulled one back through Ezgjan Alioski from his second after his penalty had been denied by the goalkeeper.

"First of all, this part of the European Cup is a very different atmosphere. It's very emotional," Shevchenko told reporters. "It's a different type of tournament. At any moment the balance of the team can change."

"We played really well in the first half but they started the second half really well and our mistake led to the penalty that got them to score.

"It looks like anxiety and nervousness set in. We created more chances and we should have scored the third goal... but we also have to praise the character of North Macedonia."

Ruslan Malinovskiy missed the Ukraine penalty that should have added to their lead and Shevchenko defended his decision to replace his two goalscorers, Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk, in the 70th minute.

"We changed the team because we had to protect our goal and we had to press a bit upfront to prevent long passes," added the coach. "We brought in two new players who turned out to be quite a lot of pressure."

"I think during that game we had enough chances to score again... The main point is that we won."

⏰ RESULT ⏰

🇺🇦 Yarmolenko & Yaremchuk net for Ukraine

🇲🇰 Alioski scores rebound; Dimitrievski saves penalty

🤔 Who impressed you? #EURO2020

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 17, 2021

Ukraine has all three points after two games and plays with Austria next Monday. The Netherlands faces Austria on Friday with both teams already on three points after winning their opener.

Yarmolenko, who scored Ukraine's first goal and provided an assist for the second, said his coach had warned them at half-time that North Macedonia would come out attacking.

"They told us that North Macedonia would start attacking because they had nothing to lose," the Ukraine captain said. "They make us nervous. At 2-1, we panicked a little bit."

"We didn't want to lose and it was clear that everyone was nervous, but it was great that we managed to keep the win."

North Macedonia, who lost against Austria in their first game, needs Austria's help to beat the Netherlands so they can prolong their breath in this first major tournament.