Ukraine head coach Serhiy Rebrov SLAMS Aleksander Ceferin after UEFA president said it would be a 'disaster' if 'important' Italy fail to qualify for Euro 2024

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By Max Carter Keall For Mailonline

Published: 18:43 GMT, 19 November 2023 | Updated: 18:46 GMT, 19 November 2023

Ukraine head coach Serhiy Rebrov has slammed UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin after he said it would be a 'disaster' if Italy faily to qualify for Euro 2024.

Third-place Ukraine take on second-place Italy on Monday night and a win for Rebrov's side will see them earn qualification for Euro 2024.

Italy just need to avoid defeat to qualify, but a loss means they could go out the same way they did when they crashed out of the playoffs for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

However Rebrov has revealed in a spiky press conference his players will be 'angry' heading into the game after comments made by Ceferin.

Speaking to media outlet LaPresse, Ceferin said the Italian team was 'too important' not to qualify and that it would be a 'disaster' if they did not.

Serhiy Rebrov has insisted his players are 'angry' and will be more motivated for their game

Aleksander Ceferin's comments saying it would be a 'disaster' if Italy did not qualify wer emet with incredulity in Ukraine

Ceferin said: 'Italy must qualify for Euro 2024, otherwise it will be a disaster, the Italian national team is too important, but I think it will beat Ukraine.'

Ceferin's comments sparked outrage in the Ukrainian footballing community but Rebrov has inisisted his players will use it as motivation for the game.

The former Dynamo Kyiv, Tottenham and West Ham forward insisted: 'We're not interested in what he [Čeferin] has to say, it's not our job to focus on such comments.

'But all that they can really do is have an impact on my players to make them more angry and motivated to qualify, I think we have a good chance.

'It is one thing to play against North Macedonia or Malta, with respect, but when we play England or Italy, it is different.

'This is a game when we have to show our face. We made lots of mistakes in Italy, but we understand our responsibility in this game and what we have to do.'

Ukraine vs Italy will be played in Leverkusen, Germany as all of Ukraine's Group C home games have been played at neutral venues due to the Russian invasion of the country.

England have already qualified for next summer's tournament and top Group C with 19 points after an unbeaten qualifying campaign so far.