What would Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin give for a player like Oleg Salenko?
An accurate finisher who made space for himself with quick movement, the former Dynamo Kyiv striker played in the Ukrainian national team’s inaugural match in 1992, before switching to Russia. He took the Golden Boot as joint top scorer at the 1994 World Cup, bagging an incredible five goals in a victory over Cameroon.
Born in 1969 in St. Petersburg – then Leningrad – to a Ukrainian father and Russian mother, Salenko played for his hometown club Zenit before becoming the first Soviet player to be transferred for cash to Dynamo Kyiv. When the Soviet Union collapsed he went abroad, playing first in Spain, then Scotland and Turkey before retiring in 2000.
The Kyiv Post sat down with Salenko to talk about Ukraine’s chances at Euro 2012 this summer, his favorites for the tournament and the problems of Ukraine’s Premier League.
Kyiv Post: What’s the biggest problem for the Ukrainian national team at the moment?
Oleg Salenko: None of the players in the Ukrainian team play in strong European leagues, apart from (Analtoliy) Tymoshchuk, but he is only a substitute (for German giant Bayern Munich). In the Ukrainian champsionship, many talented players often stop growing, stop progressing. For this reason, (Dynamo Kyiv winger) Andriy Yarmolenko, who is very talented, needs to transfer to a stronger league. That would be good for the national team, too.
KP: The situation is similar in England…
OS: The English league is very strong – there’s no need to go abroad to grow as a footballer. Many English clubs play in European competitions, whereas Ukrainian footballers haven’t been playing in European competitions, only Metalist Kharkiv (in the Europa League), and they have almost no Ukrainians. It’s a crazy situation. Metalist only has Marko Devic from the Ukrainian national side, and he isn’t especially trusted by Blokhin.
There’s also (Dinamo Moscow forward Andriy) Voronin, but there appear to be two Voronins – one plays exceptionally for his club, the other struggles in the national team. I don’t think Blokhin is relying on him as a key player.
KP: You played for Russia at the World Cup in 1994, but in 1992 you had already played for Ukraine. How did that happen?
OS: It was the Ukrainian national team’s first game (against Hungary). We had to show that the national team exists and can take part in the World Cup and European Championship. The team was made up of players from the Ukrainian championship. Many of those who played in that game later played for Russia.
KP: Why did you stop playing for Ukraine?
OS: We had that match and that was all. Then players who played in Ukraine played for the national team. I went abroad and didn’t even know that the national team was playing. No one even told me about it. With the Russian team it was completely different. The coach then was (Pavel) Sadyrin. As soon as I started playing in Spain, he immediately came to me and asked me to return.
KP: What’s the difference between playing football when you did and now?
OS: When we were playing, Ukraine didn’t have a full-fledged, independent football championship. We played in the Soviet championship. It was very strong – a European mini-league with around 10 very strong teams.
Now there are only three strong teams in Ukraine (Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk and Metalist Kharkiv). When we were playing, the competition was among our own countrymen – it was a high level of football. But now, the competition is between players who are bought abroad, and it’s harder for the young players to develop.
The financial situation for players has changed completely. We played for kopecks, but now our footballers earn like in Europe, and for this reason they don’t particularly want to go there. Here you can try not particularly hard and still earn well. That’s why our players, as a rule, don’t become stars.
KP: There are only a few months left before Euro 2012. What are Ukraine’s chances for the tournament?
OS: There are so many problems in the team at the moment that I don’t know how the coach is going to cope. There are only five certain starters at the moment: (goalkeeper Oleksandr) Shovkovsky, (defender Yaroslav) Rakitsky, (defensive midfielder) Tymoshchuk and (wingers Oleh) Husev and Yarmolenko.
It’s good that (full-back Artem) Fedetsky, who plays well for the team, is returning. He’s a tough player, and we need players like that. The first matches are a test of character. We are playing Sweden, and that will be a serious battle.
The Swedes’ main attacking threat is (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic. But we don’t have anyone in defense to watch him.
I think the lineup will be decided at the final days – whoever is fit and best prepared will play. The center forward position is a mystery. Blokhin doesn’t trust Devic, Voronin doesn’t play well for the national team.
All our forwards play behind the main attacker in order to justify the fact they aren’t scoring goals. (Dynamo Kyiv’s Artem) Milevsky? If he’s not on form, Blokhin won’t pick him. (Andriy) Shevchenko is being prepared as the team’s spiritual leader. He may play for 20 minutes to make a breakthrough when the opponents are tired.
KP: Who do you think is the favorite in Ukraine’s group?
OS: I think Sweden is the favorite, as it is the most stable. We have a very average group and all teams are virtually level.
France is going through a generation change and rebuilding; England is in a similar situation, but also has problems with its coach (who recently quit). France is a dark horse. They brought in young players, around 20 new players. They will be highly motivated, but could lack experience and skill.
The Swedes could have a chance. They are experienced, with a group of veterans and youngsters. A lot will depend on Ibrahimovic. He has the reputation of a player who fails at decisive moments. He knows that he needs to perform at Euro 2012 if he wants to be considered the best striker in Europe.
Hardly anyone is paying attention to the Swedes at the moment, but they are quietly going about their business and preparing a strong team.
I consider Sweden the favorite, but I’m sure that in our group everyone will lose points and there will be excitement until the final minutes of the last game.
Kostya Dovgan is a freelance journalist in Kyiv.
