The National Team faces this Thursday (8:45 p.m., Teledeporte) against Ukraine its third match of the qualifying windows for the 2023 World Cup, which is celebrated in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines. And unlike other breaks, Spain will only play one game, in Córdoba, due to the convulsive situation that the ex-Soviet republic is experiencing in the face of a possible military invasion by Russia. The duel in Kiev, which was to be played next Sunday, is on holdpostponed in principle for the next Window, scheduled for the end of June and the beginning of July.
“The postponement is understood. The safest thing for everyone is to cancel it until things calm down a bit”, says Yankuba Sima, who together with Joan Sastre and Joel Parra attended the media on Wednesday at the Vista Alegre Municipal Sports Palace track.
Yankuba Sima
Training. Very good. This group was already known from the previous Window. We haven’t had much time to prepare for the match against Ukraine, but just enough for a very important game.
Dani Pérez, partner in Manresa. He is a very good player, a very good game director and he can perfectly do what Scariolo asks of us. I am delighted to share the track with him both in Manresa and in the National Team. It is a privilege to play with him.
Pustovyi as a rival. It will be very complicated. He is a very physical player, very big and he is going to make things very difficult for us. I have the experience of playing against him in the ACB, so I have the maximum intensity and try to win the match.
Ukraine. I wish I could answer how are you. I can’t get into his head. I don’t know how they will be. They have been concentrated in Córdoba these days and they will be ready for the game against us, which will also be very difficult for them.
postponements. It is understood. The safest thing for everyone is to cancel it until things calm down a bit.
Joan Tailor
training. Well. It has been shorter than usual. Going over the systems we had and everything we want to do against Ukraine. The three days we have tried to prepare the game as best as possible.
Tribute to Philip. Any tribute paid to him is little. He deserves any tribute he can get. He has been a great player for Madrid and for the National Team. More than deserved.
*Felipe Reyes will be one of the four Olympic medalists from Córdoba honored in the Spain-Ukraine match. Gymnast Lourdes Mohedano, soccer player Rafael Berges and boxer Rafael Lozano will also receive honors.
Postponement. With all this mess, it relieves us. When all this started and there was some uncertainty (if we were going to go or not) she finally stopped. Better for everyone. We hope that when we have to go there in the summer the situation will be smoother.
Joel Parra
training. Well. Happy. We are almost all from the previous Window and everything goes more smoothly. Very good sensations.
Scariolo asks you for something. No. As in the previous Window, let it be me, let it be aggressive.
Ukraine. Very physical players. Outside line with a good throw of three. The point guards are good generators… but, above all, they are very physical, with midfielders like Pustovyi, who is very big. We have to be prepared: they will come out very physical and they should not surprise us.
Postponement. The situation is as it is and it is the best for everyone. The first thing is safety.