At the end of March, our team began a training camp in Antalya, Turkey. The players from the Ukrainian national team — defender Lubov Shmatko and midfielder Veronika Andrukhiv — shared their emotions after starting work.

Photo: womensfootball.com.ua

“The preparation is going well, we've gathered but not everyone has arrived yet. The main group is training, and we're recovering a bit. Now all the teams are preparing seriously, you could say they have grown up. I think the match against Kosovo will be tough, but we need to come out and show our best game.” — Lubov Shmatko said.

“I believe that our team is currently in a good, positive state. The championship has already started, everyone is in good shape. There was a difficult flight, but we've recovered now. We had some light training, and from here on out we'll be working at full strength. I think we'll approach the first match in good condition.

We're preparing very seriously for all opponents, there's no underestimation. In my opinion, Kosovo's team is slightly behind Croatia in terms of technique, but it's a fighting team that will fight to the end on every inch of the field. So we need to mentally prepare ourselves, and physically I think we are ready. We need to listen to the coach and follow all instructions. I believe everything will work out for us.” — Veronika Andrukhiv believes.

According to the qualification draw results for the 2025 Women's European Championship, Ukraine's national team will play in Group V4, where their opponents will be Wales, Croatia, and Kosovo.

On April 5th, blue-and-yellow will start with a nominal home match against Kosovo. The game will take place at the “Mardan” stadium in Antalya, Turkey. Kick-off is set for 18:00 local time.

The match against Croatia - Ukraine will take place on April 9th at the Stadion Ivan Laljak-Ivic in Zupanje and will start at 17:00 local time.

Photo: womensfootball.com.ua

National Women's Team Roster

Goalkeepers: Kateryna Samson (“Vorskla” Poltava), Daria Kelyushyk (“Kryvbas” Kryvyi Rih), Kateryna Boklach (“Marseille”, France).

Defenders: Kateryna Korsun, Yana Kotik, Iryna Podolska (all — “Vorskla” Poltava), Olha Basanska (“Metalist 1925” Kharkiv), Lubov Shmatko (“Galatasaray”, Turkey), Yana Deryach (“Fomget”, Turkey).

Midfielders: Iryna Mayborodina, Nadiya Kunitsa (both — “Kolos” Kovalevka), Anna Petrik, Nikolina Kozlova, Veronika Andrukhiv, Yana Kalinina (all — “Vorskla” Poltava), Elizaveta Molodyuk (“Shakhtar” Donetsk), Dayana Semkiv (“Kryvbas” Kryvyi Rih), Tamila Khymych, Natiya Pansulaia, Daria Apanshenko (all — “Metalist 1925” Kharkiv)

Forwards: Olha Ovdiiychuk (“Fomget”, Turkey), Inna Hlushchenko (“Nice”, France), Roxolana Kravchuk (“Vorskla” Poltava).

Qualification for the 2025 Women's European Championship

Group V4

Round 1

05.04.2024

Ukraine — Kosovo

Wales — Croatia

Round 2

09.04.2024

Croatia — Ukraine

Kosovo — Wales

Round 3

31.05.2024

Wales — Ukraine

Kosovo — Croatia

Round 4

04.06.2024

Ukraine — Wales

Croatia — Kosovo

Round 5

12.07.2024

Kosovo — Ukraine

Croatia — Wales

Round 6

16.07.2024

Ukraine — Croatia

Wales — Kosovo

Qualification Draw Results for the 2025 Women's European Championship

League A

Group A1: Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Finland.

Group A2: Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic.

Group A3: France, England, Sweden, Ireland.

Group A4: Germany, Austria, Iceland, Poland.

League B

Group B1: Switzerland, Hungary, Turkey, Azerbaijan.

Group B2: Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Israel.

Group B3: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Malta.

Group B4: Wales, Croatia, Ukraine, Kosovo.

League C

Group C1: Belarus, Lithuania, Cyprus, Georgia.

Group C2: Slovenia, Latvia, North Macedonia, Moldova.

Group C3: Greece, Montenegro, Andorra, Faroe Islands.

Group C4: Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Armenia.

Group C5: Albania, Estonia, Luxembourg.

The distribution of spots for the 2025 Euros will take place based on the results of the upcoming league cycle. Teams play in groups of four or three (League C). The top eight teams from League A (first and second places) qualify directly to the final tournament along with the host country, Switzerland.

Seven remaining spots will be contested over two rounds of playoffs. In the first round, teams finishing third and fourth in League A play against group winners and three best runners-up from League C. Eight winners advance to the second round.

In another path, four group winners and two best runners-up from League B will face off against remaining two second-place finishers and four third-place finishers in League B. Six winners move on to the second round.

In the second playoff round, 14 national teams directly compete for seven spots at the final tournament of Euro 2025 where a total of 16 participants will take part.

The paths of teams in knockout matches may be adjusted to account for Switzerland's participation in League B but as host nation in the Euros.

If Switzerland finishes first, second or third in its group in League B, then the best fourth-placed team from that division will enter the playoffs.

League Promotion and Relegation

Parallelly, teams also compete for positions in the next national league cycle starting 2025—2027:

— winners, holders of second and third places in League A groups remain in League A;

— holders of second places and three best third-place finishers in League B groups remain in League B;

— holders of second, third and fourth places in League C groups remain in League C;

— winners of groups in Leagues B and C move up to a higher division;

— holders of fourth places in groups in Leagues A and B, as well as the worst third-place finisher in League B drop down to a lower division.

2025 Women's European Championship. Calendar

Rounds 1—2: March 3 — April 9, 2024.

Rounds 3—4: May 29 — June 4, 2024.

Rounds 5—6: July 10 — July 16, 2024.

Playoff Draw: July 19, 2024.

Round 1 of Playoffs (2 matches): October 23 — October 29, 2024.

Round 2 of Playoffs (2 matches): November 27 — December 3, 2024.

Final Tournament Draw: December 16, 2024.

Final Tournament: July 2 — July 27, 2025 (Switzerland).