Today, on March 3, the Ukrainian women's national team WU-17 will start their second qualifying round for Euro-2023 in Bulgaria. In Group L, our compatriots will first face the hosts and then play against Latvia on March 6.

The blue-and-yellow team had the opportunity to hold a four-day training camp in Bulgarian Svishtov, traveling by bus through Romania on February 26. On the 27th, the team conducted their first practice session focusing on defining the playing roles of the players, and on the 28th – they played an internal match.

"We have video recordings of our opponents' matches from last year's first qualifying round for Euro-2023 in Group L. Of course, adjustments will be necessary as there have been significant changes in both teams' lineups. Nine new players are already part of our national team," said head coach of the Ukrainian women's national team WU-17, Serhiy Sapronov, in an interview with the official website of the UAF.

"We are preparing for these two matches. We all know why we're here and will show everything we can. The team is ready, and we'll showcase our game. There's no underestimation of opponents; we don't expect easy games," noted Liudmyla Zaborovets.

"We started preparations with a good attitude, everyone is ready to win in both matches. We understand that last year we performed poorly and are now prepared to leave the group," said Sofia Vershnyak.

"We take the first match very seriously, analyzing the Bulgarian team theoretically. We're building new connections. The coaches have set a goal – two wins. We need to advance to League A to play among the best teams," emphasized Daria Krasnoborodko ahead of time.

Roster of the Ukrainian women's national team WU-17

Goalkeepers: Svitlana Snihur ("Veres" Rivne), Uliana Solovyova ("Dnipro-1" Dnipropetrovsk).

Defenders: Daria Krasnoborodko ("Kolos" Kovalevka), Victoria Shevtsova ("Dynamo" Kyiv), Diana Borovska ("EMS-Podillya" Vinnytsia), Liudmyla Zaborovets ("Shakhtar" Donetsk), Mariya Yagnatenko ("Ladomir" Volodymyr-Volynskyi), Margarita Medved', Sofia Vershnyak (both – "Yunyist" Chernihiv), Ruslana Aliyeva ("Vippingen", Switzerland).

Midfielders: Tetiana Kadira ("Kolos" Kovalevka), Anastasiia Astakhova ("Shakhtar" Donetsk), Anastasiia Stakhnyuk ("Yunyist" Chernihiv), Anastasiia Zhigadlo ("Dynamo" Kyiv), Oleksa Nosko ("EMS-Podillya" Vinnytsia), Kateryna Yuzva ("Ruh" Lviv), Amilina Tarsukova (KhFCKSP Kharkiv).

Forwards: Olena Martchenyuk ("EMS-Podillya" Vinnytsia), Marina Ptitsyna ("VfL Wolfsburg", Germany), Ilona Novoselska ("Dnipro-1" Dnipropetrovsk).

Euro 2023 (WU-17). Second round. Group V6

March 3, 2023

Bulgaria — Ukraine (14.30)

March 6, 2023

Ukraine — Latvia (14.30)

March 9, 2023

Latvia — Bulgaria (14.30)

Game times are in Kyiv time.

Teams in League L, including those that dropped out after the autumn stage of League A, compete in six groups (two with four participants each and four with three) for spots in the first round of League A next season. These go to group winners as well as the best second-place team.

Recall that the Ukrainian women's national team finished last in their group during the first round and dropped down to League L. 

In League A, seven groups will feature 28 teams, including seven national teams that rose from League L after the end of the first round. Seven group winners in the second round of League A (and the best runner-up if Estonia finishes first in their group) will earn spots at the finals, which will take place between May 14 and 26. Teams finishing fourth in groups will start the first round of the season-2023/2024 in League L.

Euro 2023 (WU-17). Second round

League A

Group A1: Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Romania.

Group A2: England, Norway, Belgium, Croatia.

Group A3: Germany, Portugal, Hungary, North Macedonia.

Group A4: Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia.

Group A5: Ireland, France, Italy, Kosovo.

Group A6: Spain, Denmark, Serbia, Belarus.

Group A7: Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Wales.

League L

Group V1: Greece, Faroe Islands, Lithuania, Moldova.

Group V2: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Montenegro.

Group V3: Scotland, Israel, Georgia.

Group V4: Iceland, Luxembourg, Albania.

Group V5: Northern Ireland, Turkey, Armenia.

Group V6: Ukraine, Latvia, Bulgaria.