The head coach of Ukraine's U-19 national team, Volodymyr Yezersky, spoke about preparing his team for the elite round of Euro 2022 qualification.

On June 1, Ukraine's youth national team (players born in 2003 or later) will start in the elite round of Euro 2022 (U-19) qualifications. During preparations for these matches, head coach Yezersky answered questions from the official website of the Ukrainian Football Association.

— Volodymyre Ivanovich, how is your mood ahead of the start in the elite round?

— It could have been better. We are coming out of the circumstances that have arisen. However, the coaching staff is doing everything possible to bring the team to a common level before the tournament starts.

— Are there player issues?

— For various reasons, several players are missing whom we would like to see in the squad. Oleh Ocheretko is injured. We counted on Daniel Kivinda, who is currently with "Benfica," but he is only recovering from an injury. The youth national team of Ukraine has called up Anton Bolya and Dmitry Kapinus. But never mind, I believe that other footballers will proudly represent our country in such prestigious tournaments.

— How well do you know the potential of your future opponents?

— We have a very strong group. I have plenty of information about the opponents, who after the qualifying round that took place in October last year, have already gathered for the fourth time. And Ukraine's national team, again for all known reasons, had a pause of essentially seven months. I consider Norway's team to be the favorite. It has nine footballers who regularly play in higher division teams in Norway and Denmark, as well as six players playing in England with U-23 teams. Serbia has 12 footballers who play in their league. And all of them are very familiar with the Dutch school of football. Moreover, this team is hosting the matches.

We are getting acquainted with the performers since, as I have already said, we haven't seen each other for more than half a year. Within a short period of time, we need to understand who is in what condition and convey our ideas to the players, remind them of what was previously done so that we can balance the team.

— How difficult will it be for footballers to adjust to games given what's happening in Ukraine?

— Of course, the most important factor is psychological. But I am confident that the boys will play with great desire. Another question is how ready the team as a whole will be to face such opponents, and this will only show through the matches themselves. However, Ukraine's national team will strive to perform honorably and delight their compatriots.

Ukraine U-19 National Team Roster

Goalkeepers: Timur Puzankov («Shakhtar» Donetsk), Dmytro Ledyi («Rukh» Lviv).

Defenders: Eduard Kozik, Andriy Bulysa, Mar'yan Farina (all — «Shakhtar» Donetsk), Maxim Dyachuk, Navin Mališ (both — «Dynamo» Kyiv), Vitaliy Roman, Marco Sapuga, Denis Pidgurskyi (all — «Rukh» Lviv), Danylo Udod («Mariupol»).

Midfielders: Nazariy Voloshyn, Oleksandr Yatsyk, Anton Tserenko (all — «Dynamo» Kyiv), Ivan Losenko («Shakhtar» Donetsk), Artur Mykytishin, Dmytro Shostak, Mihail Khromey (all — «Mariupol»), Daniil Khrystchuk («Vorskla» Poltava), Illia Kvaskytsya («Rukh» Lviv).

Forwards: Yegor Yarmoluk («Dnipro-1» Dnipropetrovsk), Kiryllo Popov («Dynamo» Kyiv), Anatoliy Semenets («Recreativo», Spain).

Elite Round of Euro 2022 (U-19) Group 6 Schedule

June 1, 2022

5:00 PM. Norway — Ukraine (Rotterdam)

8:00 PM. Netherlands — Serbia (Almere)

June 4, 2022

9:00 AM. Ukraine — Serbia (Alphen aan den Rijn)

5:00 PM. Netherlands — Norway (Rotterdam)

June 7, 2022

9:00 PM. Ukraine — Netherlands (Rotterdam)

9:00 PM. Serbia — Norway (Alphen aan den Rijn)

Match start times are in Kyiv time.

If advancing to the final tournament, Ukraine's national team will play in Group B alongside England, Israel, and Austria.

Euro 2022 (U-19). Final Tournament

Group A: Slovakia, Romania, Italy, France.

Group B: England, Israel, winner of Group 6, Austria.

The final tournament will take place from June 18 to July 1 in Slovakia. Two best teams from each group advance to the semifinals. A match for fifth place is also scheduled as five of the strongest Euro 2022 (U-19) national teams receive spots at the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Indonesia.