In the elite round of Euro 2023 (U-19), Ukraine's youth national team (players born in or after 2004) will face Luxembourg, Denmark, and Spain.

Gathering today, Ukraine’s U-19 national team is immediately heading to Spain. There, the elite round of Euro 2023 will take place. About how the team prepares for the tournament, its head coach Serhiy Nagornyak told the official website of the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF).

— Mr. Nagornyak, what are your plans to prepare your team for the elite round of Euro 2023?

— On March 19, we will leave Kiev in an incomplete squad and pick up other players along the way, some will join us independently. On the morning of the 20th, we will fly from Budapest to Spain. The 21st is a pre-match training session, and on the following day — the start of the elite round. There's no time for preparation at all, so we'll be in the same situation as before. However, what worries me most are injuries to some players.

— Who exactly won't be able to help?

— First of all, this is Yegor Yamoluk. Also, Yevhen Pastukh and Oleksii Fedor.

— There's a new name in the list, Mykita Aleksandrov...

— We have an issue with forwards. In essence, there is only Igor Horbach. Daniel Kivinda has just started training after a serious injury, so it’s too early to talk about him as a potential candidate for the national team. Despite my search efforts, I didn't find suitable candidates even among younger players. Someone advised me to look at Mykita Aleksandrov, whom I remember from Dynamo Kyiv. After the start of the war, he moved to Spain and now plays for Rivas Madrid. We'll see what this player is capable of.

— Have you familiarized yourself with future opponents in your group?

— Luxembourg made it to the elite round, which says a lot. Denmark has always been a tough opponent, and Spain needs no introduction. Comparing their squad from Euro qualification matches to recent friendly games, one can say that Spain have five national teams of this age group, with such an extensive selection available to their head coach.

— But Ukraine's task is maximum?

— Of course. There’s no other option. Yes, the circumstances are against us, but I believe in my team. What worries me most is the first game against Luxembourg, as we don't know how our players will cope with such a long journey.

It should be noted that 28 participants will compete for spots at the final stage of the tournament, which will take place from July 3 to 16 this year in Malta. Seven group winners will qualify.

At this qualification stage in March, 27 teams that passed the first round and Portuguese team, who received a direct entry to the elite round as leaders of the corresponding age rating, will participate.

Ukraine's U-19 National Team Roster

Goalkeepers: Yuri-Vladimir Ghereta («Rukh» Lviv), Denis Barchenko («Shakhtar» Donetsk).

Defenders: Andriy Bulysa («Minay»), Oleksandr Rosputynko («Shakhtar» Donetsk), Artem Benedyk («Dynamo» Kyiv), Vitaliy Khodok, Bohdan Slubik, Andriy Kytela (all — «Rukh» Lviv), Danylo Udod («Al-Ain», UAE).

Midfielders: Ivan Losenko, Oleksandr Pushkarov, Oleksandr Yushchenko, Anton Glushchenko (all — «Shakhtar» Donetsk), Anton Tsernenko («Dynamo» Kyiv), Kirill Sigeiev («Oleksandria»), Dmytro Chernysh («Vorskla» Poltava), Ivan Varfolomeev («Slaven», Czech Republic), Volodymyr Khara-barra («Nuremberg», Germany).

Forwards: Igor Horbach («Dynamo» Kyiv), Mykita Aleksandrov («Rivas Madrid», Spain).

Euro 2023 (U-19) Elite Round Group 3 Schedule

March 22, 2023

Denmark — Spain (6:00 PM)

Ukraine — Luxembourg (9:00 PM)

March 25, 2023

Ukraine — Denmark (1:00 PM)

Spain — Luxembourg (3:00 PM)

March 28, 2023

Spain — Ukraine (1:00 PM)

Luxembourg — Denmark (3:00 PM)

All times are in Kyiv time.

Euro 2023 (U-19) Elite Round

Group 1: France, Romania, Norway, Northern Ireland.

Group 2: Germany, Slovenia, Belgium, Italy.

Group 3: Ukraine, Spain, Denmark, Luxembourg.

Group 4: Portugal, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sweden.

Group 5: Ireland, Greece, Estonia, Slovakia.

Group 6: Serbia, Poland, Israel, Latvia.

Group 7: England, Turkey, Iceland, Hungary.

We remind you that in the qualification round of Euro 2023 (U-19), Ukraine's youth national team under Serhiy Nagornyak's leadership finished its campaign with a maximum result, securing first place in their group.