Saturday, November 19 saw Ukraine's youth team play their first of two scheduled friendly matches in Tbilisi against Israel's youth team — 1:1.

Tomorrow, on November 21, the blue-and-yellow will travel to Gori, which is about 60 km from Georgia’s capital, for a friendly match against the local team. By the way, the Georgians have called up three players from their national squad for this game, including defensive midfielder Giorgi Tsitaiashvili — a player who belongs to Kyiv's Dynamo but is currently on loan at Polish Lech.

However, what concerns us more is the personnel situation in Ukraine’s youth camp, which unfortunately has some negative aspects.

Midfielder Mykhailo Kukharev from Scotland's Hibernian arrived injured. He did not play on Saturday and will not be able to help the team in the second match either.

During training, midfielder Danylo Kravchuk of Ingulets was also injured, while defender Vitaliy Roman of Ruhu suffered a nose injury during the first half against Israel. Fortunately, an examination did not reveal any fractures, but a serious hematoma will prevent the player from participating in the second match.

We should add that by agreement with their clubs, defender Maxim Taloviy of Czech Slavia and midfielder Maxim Bragaru of Chornomorets have remained behind.

Considering all circumstances, head coach Ruslan Rotan has called up two players — midfielder Kyrylo Sygiiiev of Shakhtar and forward Igor Krasnopiir of Obolon.

The match between Georgia and Ukraine will take place on November 21 in Gori at Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium. Kick-off is set for 18:00 local time (16:00 Kyiv time).

Ukraine's youth team lineup before the match against Georgia

Goalkeepers: Yakiv Kinaraykin («Dnipro-1»), Dmytro Tvardovskiy («Shakhtar»), Kirill Fesyun («Kolos»).

Defenders: Rostyslav Lyakh, Denys Sliusar (both — «Ruhu»), Mar'yan Farina («Shakhtar»), Dmytro Kuzik («Kolos»), Roman Yakuba («Valmiera», Latvia).

Midfielders: Ivan Zhelezko («Valmiera», Latvia), Oleksiy Kashchuk («Sabah», Azerbaijan), Mykhailo Kucheravyi («St. Johnstone», Scotland), Marco Sapuga («Ruhu»), Denys Bunchuikov («Seren», Belgium), Artem Kulakovskyi («Vorskla»), Mykhailo Mykhaylenko («Zoria»), Kyrylo Sygiiiev («Shakhtar»).

Forwards: Danylo Goncharuk («Lleida», Spain), Igor Krasnopiir («Obolon»). 

It should be noted that following the draw for Euro 2023 (U-21) on October 18, Ukraine has been placed in Group B where they will face Romania, Spain and Croatia. Our team will start their campaign with a match against Croatia on June 21 of next year in Bucharest, Romania.

Euro 2023 (U-21). Schedule

Group Stage

Group A: Georgia, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands.

June 21, 2023

Georgia — Portugal 19.00 (Tbilisi)

Belgium — Netherlands 19.00 (Tbilisi)

June 24, 2023

Georgia — Belgium 19.00 (Tbilisi)

Portugal — Netherlands 19.00 (Tbilisi)

June 27, 2023

Netherlands — Georgia 19.00 (Tbilisi)

Portugal — Belgium 19.00 (Tbilisi)

Group B: Romania, Spain, Ukraine, Croatia.

June 21, 2023

Ukraine — Croatia 19.00 (Bucharest)

Romania — Spain 21.45 (Bucharest)

June 24, 2023

Romania — Ukraine 19.00 (Bucharest)

Spain — Croatia 21.45 (Bucharest)

June 27, 2023

Croatia — Romania 21.45 (Bucharest)

Spain — Ukraine 21.45 (Bucharest)

Group C: Czech Republic, England, Germany, Israel.

June 22, 2023

Czech Republic — England 19.00 (Batumi)

Germany — Israel 19.00 (Kutaisi)

June 25, 2023

Czech Republic — Germany 19.00 (Batumi)

England — Israel 19.00 (Kutaisi)

June 28, 2023

England — Germany 19.00 (Batumi)

Israel — Czech Republic 19.00 (Kutaisi)

Group D: Norway, Switzerland, France, Italy.

June 22, 2023

Norway — Switzerland 19.00 (Cluj-Napoca)

France — Italy 21.45 (Cluj-Napoca)

June 25, 2023

Switzerland — Italy 19.00 (Cluj-Napoca)

Norway — France 21.45 (Cluj-Napoca)

June 28, 2023

Switzerland — France 21.45 (Cluj-Napoca)

Italy — Norway 21.45 (Cluj-Napoca)

Quarter-finals

July 1, 2023

A1 — C2 19.00

B1 — D2 22.00

July 2, 2023

C1 — A2 19.00

D1 — B2 22.00

Semifinals

July 5, 2023

Quarter-final winner 1 — quarter-final winner 3 19.00

Quarter-final winner 2 — quarter-final winner 4 22.00

Final

July 8, 2023

Semifinal winner 1 — semifinal winner 2 19.00

The matches will start at Kyiv time.

Matches of the tournament involving sixteen teams will be held on four stadiums in Romania (two in Cluj-Napoca and two in Bucharest) and four in Georgia (in Batumi, Kutaisi and two in Tbilisi). The opening match will take place in Romania while the final will be played in Georgia.

The three best teams of Euro 2023 (excluding France and England) will receive tickets for the 2024 Olympic Games.