"We’ll show who the real Cossacks are": Ukraine U-19 players discuss team’s preparation for EURO 2024

14.07.2024 13:00

The players of the Ukraine U-19 team have shared their impressions of the preparations for EURO 2024 and outlined the tasks ahead.

“The mood in the team is very good, and everyone feels great. Of course, we’ve arrived in another country, so the climate and time zone are a bit different. But we’re adapting and looking forward to the first match. I didn’t participate in the qualifying matches, but it just so happened that I was called up for the final tournament. It’s very nice to be noticed. I hope the team shows its best. On paper, Italy is the favorite, but we haven't analyzed anyone yet. We’ll see closer to the game,” said Markian Bakus.

“First and foremost, we are proud to have made it this far in the European Championship. We’re focused on success and don’t want to stop at what we’ve achieved. We will do everything possible and impossible to win this Euro. I’m grateful to the coaching staff for calling me up to the national team. We are optimistic and will prepare for our upcoming opponents. All our rivals are solid teams. I’ve watched their past matches, and they will all put up a fight. But we are no worse — we will show who the real Cossacks are,” added Ivan Yermachkov.

“This is a great opportunity to show ourselves, as Euro is a big tournament. It’s also a chance to demonstrate the strength of our country, the quality of our football, and the promising youth we have. The mood in the team is excellent, and preparations are coming to an end. I am confident that the guys are ready, and we will show our maximum. There will be no easy opponents here. However, we won't focus on names and will give our all from the very first match,” concluded Ramik Hadzhyiev.

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.