Vladimir Brachko, a defensive midfielder for Ukraine's youth national team, shares his thoughts on captaincy within the blue and yellow squad, evaluates their chances of qualifying for Euro 2025 (U-21), and admits that the entire team misses playing at home stadiums with wild support from Ukrainian fans.

— Vladimir, Ukraine's youth national team has gathered this year for the final qualifying matches of Euro 2025 (U-21). Did you miss the boys? What do you discuss during meetups after club football breaks?

— Of course, I missed them! All the guys are waiting to be called up for the national team because there's a special atmosphere here. When we gather, we talk about our recent games. Who won and who lost, and we might argue over that (smiling). But the atmosphere in the squad is very warm and friendly.

— In the recent derby match against «Shakhtar», you led «Dynamo» onto the field with a captain's armband. And before that, you had the opportunity to do so in the youth team as well. Is this an honor or additional pressure for a footballer?

— For me, it is primarily an honor. Of course, there will be some pressure, but one must not pay attention to that. I am the captain and represent the entire team. I need to be a leader and solve all problems both on and off the pitch.

— Under the leadership of Unai Melgass's coaching staff, the youth squad has played three official matches so far. In your opinion, has the team already understood the coaches' requirements? And do you notice any differences compared to when we worked with Ruslan Rotan's coaching staff?

— We are getting better as a team with each gathering, but there is still room for improvement. The more we work together, the better we understand each other. There are certainly changes in our approach to training, but the main thing is to follow the coaching staff's instructions.

— Can you highlight some conceptual aspects of what football Unai Melgass expects from his youth team?

— Faster transition from defense to attack, more vertical play, and the need to make decisions quickly.

— In the three opening matches of Euro 2025 (U-21) qualifiers, the team has won all three games. The home victory over England was particularly valuable. Is this a deserved achievement for the blue and yellows?

— Of course, we wanted that! The match against England was decisive, and in my opinion, we executed our plan and beat the opponents. We need to stick to the same line of play against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan, and I think everything will be fine for us.

— You have two upcoming matches – against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan. Both teams won only once in this campaign. What do you know about these opponents and what are you expecting from the future games?

— We recently met with Luxembourg. This is quite a tough team. They try to play football, cover our players. We already know this opponent, will study them further, and aim to win again in the second meeting. As for Azerbaijan's national team, we will receive all necessary information from the coaching staff and also prepare for that game.

— You scored for the youth team back in 2021, in a friendly match against Uzbekistan (1-1). When can fans expect your next goal? Do you have other key responsibilities on the pitch?

— I hope to score in every game. But we'll see how it goes. The main thing is for the team to win! I can also be useful in other playing moments.

— How do you assess the chances of Ukraine's youth national team qualifying for the 2025 European Championship?

— I have already played in a European Championship, but I want to get there again! I believe we have decent chances because I know the level of the boys and the team as a whole. Perhaps few believed that we could beat England's national team, especially after they thrashed Serbia 9-1. But we did it and are not going to relax. We want to qualify for the European Championship!

— The two November matches will be played in Murcia, Spain. Have you ever played in Spain before, and which match is your most memorable?

— I was in Murcia with Kyiv's «Dynamo». But that was during winter, and it wasn't as warm then as now. It feels very comfortable here.

— Due to the Russian full-scale invasion, Ukraine's youth team has not been able to play on home soil for over a year and a half. Do you personally miss packed stadiums in Ukrainian cities? Or does the team feel support from Ukrainians even at a distance?

— We haven't played in Ukraine for a long time, so of course we miss our home stadiums and stands filled with our fans. When we play in Poland or Slovakia, many Ukrainians come to the matches, but still, we want to play at home again. We hope that peace will return to Ukraine soon!

The match against Luxembourg's national team will take place today, November 17th, and the meeting with Azerbaijan's team — on November 21st. The start of both matches — at 8 PM Kyiv time. By the way, tickets for the games are free and can be obtained via this link. Printing a ticket to enter the stadium is not necessary; it can be presented from your mobile phone screen.