Dmytro Mykhailenko: "Minimum goal for Euro is to qualify for the World Cup"

04.07.2024 17:06

Today, July 4, the Ukraine U-19 team (players born in 2005 or later) began their training camp in preparation for the final stage of the European Championship (U-19), which will take place in Northern Ireland from July 15 to 28.

Head coach Dmytro Mykhailenko shared the team's prospects and plans for the tournament with the official UAF website.

— Mr. Mykhailenko, how is the mood before the start of the training camp?

— We have regularly contacted the players over the past month. The boys are in high spirits and eager to get to work.

— Were you able to gather all the top players for the Euro preparations?

— I believe so. Several players who were not with us in North Macedonia for the elite round have joined us this time. I consider this the strongest squad for this age group at the moment.

— Do you have any friendlies planned during the preparation period?

— Yes, on July 9, we will play a friendly match against Poland, as we will be based there for some time before the European Championship.

— Our team comprises players from 13 different clubs. Will this affect the team's cohesion?

— Previously, the team was mainly composed of players from two clubs (Dynamo and Shakhtar). However, now many players are performing at a high level with top club teams, so the selection prioritized them.

— How well do you know the opponents in your group?

— We have gathered comprehensive information. I believe our coaching staff has thoroughly analyzed our opponents. The main task now is to convey our strategies to the boys and for them to execute these plans on the pitch.

— Is Italy the favorite in our group?

— On paper, this team stands out. The Italians confidently advanced through their elite round group, but I would not rush to conclusions. In the final stage, any team can surprise.

— What is the main objective for the Ukrainian team in this tournament?

— We aim to set ambitious goals for the team, but first and foremost, we are focused on qualifying for the U-20 World Cup.

Ukraine U-19 Squad:

Goalkeepers: Markian Bakus (Rukh Lviv), Vyacheslav Surkis (Dynamo Kyiv), Vladyslav Krapyvtsov (Dnipro-1 Dnipro).

Defenders: Taras Mykhavko, Nazar Balaba, Oleksiy Husiev (all Dynamo Kyiv), Mykola Oharkov, Anton Drozd (both Shakhtar Donetsk), Maksym Melnychenko (Dnipro-1 Dnipro), Kyrylo Dihtyar (Metalist Kharkiv).

Midfielders: Viktor Tsukanov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Daniil Vashchenko (Oleksandriya), Andriy Matkevych (Dynamo Kyiv), Samuel Obinaya (Metalist 1925 Kharkiv), Ramik Hadzhyiev (Dnipro-1 Dnipro), Hennadiy Synchuk (Metalist Kharkiv), Oleksandr Fetko (Karpaty Lviv), Danylo Krevsun (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Maksym Derkach (RFSH, Latvia), Timur Tutierov (Sunderland, England), Christian Shevchenko (Watford, England).

Forwards: Matviy Ponomarenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Dmytro Bohdanov (Dynamo Dresden, Germany).

The official squad for EURO 2024 will include three goalkeepers (one as a reserve) and 18 outfield players.

EURO 2024 (U-19)

Group A: Northern Ireland, Norway, Italy, Ukraine.

Group B: Denmark, Turkey, France, Spain.

Group A

15.07.2024

Italy vs. Norway (17:30, Belfast)

Northern Ireland vs. Ukraine (21:00, Larne)

18.07.2024

Norway vs. Ukraine (17:30, Belfast)

Northern Ireland vs. Italy (21:00, Larne)

21.07.2024

Norway vs. Northern Ireland (21:00, Belfast)

Ukraine vs. Italy (21:00, Larne)

25.07.2024

Playoff for a spot in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup

A3 vs. B3 (18:30, Belfast)

Semi-finals

A1 vs. B2 (16:00, Belfast)

B1 vs. A2 (21:00, Belfast)

28.07.2024

Final

Winner 1 vs. Winner 2 (21:00, Belfast)

Match times are in Kyiv time.

It's worth noting that on March 26, our team splendidly concluded the elite round of Euro 2024 (U-19) qualification with a victory over Switzerland (3:0). Before that, Dmytro Mikhaylenko's wards defeated North Macedonia (2:0) and Latvia (3:0). The blue-yellows won their group with the maximum points and earned a spot in the final tournament of the European Championship, which will take place from July 15 to 28 in Northern Ireland, with the participation of eight national teams.

The two best teams from each quartet will advance to the semifinals. The final for the main trophy will be held on July 28 at Windsor Park in Belfast. There is no match scheduled for the third place, but the fifth-place match will take place, as Europe will delegate five representatives to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be held in Chile with 24 national teams participating. Therefore, the winner of the match between the third-placed teams in the groups will join the four semifinalists. Like the semifinals, it is scheduled for July 25.

It's also worth mentioning that this will be the eighth final tournament for the Ukraine U-19 team in the European Championship. In 2019, Ukraine won gold at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.