To summarize the performance of Ukraine's youth team in the Elite Round qualifier for Euro 2022 (U-19), where they secured second place behind Serbia due to having more yellow cards than their competitors, the official website of the Ukrainian Football Association asked head coach Volodymyr Yezersky.

— Volodymyre Ivanovich, was this such a disappointing outcome for Ukraine's national team in your football career?

— Such an outcome has never happened before. After the tournament ended, all official personnel were locked in a meeting room for half an hour deciding on this issue. In their careers, they have not encountered such cases where two teams had equal points. It's unfortunate that qualification to the European Championship was decided based on three yellow cards. I believe it would be fairer if yellow cards from the match between Ukraine and Serbia were counted instead of all matches. But this is the regulation, and there’s nothing we can do about it now. Many of our respected officials called me to congratulate us on a good result but were shocked by such an outcome.

It's a pity that the enormous amount of work done by our coaching staff six-seven days before the tournament did not yield the desired results. The players grasped our idea and implemented it on the field, despite having no game practice since February except for those representing «Ruh». Moreover, many players who were previously called up to this team got injured, so we had debutants in the squad. It was tough, but the whole team showed character, everyone was professional.

We really wanted to bring as much positive emotion to our supporters, many of whom are now defending our country with a gun in their hands.

By the way, I would like to thank the UAF for solving organizational and technical issues, the Dutch Football Association, and Yevhen Levchenko — for the opportunity to work at the base of the Netherlands national team, President «Ruh» Hryhoriy Kozlovskyi — for the conditions before leaving for the tournament, as well as all clubs that delegated their players to our national team.

— Which match was the most challenging for you?

— I believe that our group in the Elite Round looked stronger than what could have been in the final stage of Euro. All three matches were difficult. The Norwegians had a very strong lineup. Serbia has players from «Milan» and many other powerful clubs. Not to mention the hosts, the Netherlands, who even with one point before the last round had the chance to win the group, so their morale was sky-high. But again, our players, despite how hard it was for them physically, showed themselves in the best light. Of course, this cannot go unnoticed by the entire coaching and administrative staff. Everyone worked like a well-oiled machine.

— The match against the Netherlands was the last one for this Ukraine national team. What did you say to your players after the tournament?

— I told them that it was a pleasure working with such players. I am proud of having led this team. The boys did everything possible to qualify for the European Championship, which was their dream. I wished the players not to lose their potential and approach their work professionally. Soon, a large group of players will move up to the youth squad, and in due time, some will surely knock on the door of the national team.

Elite Round qualifier for Euro 2022 (U-19)

Group 6

June 1, 2022

Norway — Ukraine — 2:3

Netherlands — Serbia — 1:2

June 4, 2022

Ukraine — Serbia — 1:1

Netherlands — Norway — 1:1

June 7, 2022

Ukraine— Netherlands — 2:1

Serbia — Norway — 3:2

Final standings

With equal points, level head-to-head records and goal difference, Serbia received the qualification spot according to the regulations due to fewer disciplinary points (10 yellow cards compared to 13 for Ukraine).

Euro 2022 (U-19). Final tournament

Group A: Slovakia, Romania, Italy, France.

Group B: England, Israel, Serbia, Austria.

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