Dmytro Mykhailenko: "I’d give Ukraine's team a 4+ for their European Championship run"

31.07.2024 15:00

Head coach of the Ukraine U-19 team, Dmytro Mykhailenko, summarized the team's performance at the recently concluded European Championship.

Ukraine's U-19 team, composed of players born no later than 2005, finished the EURO 2024 tournament in Northern Ireland just short of the final but secured a spot in the World Cup.

In an interview with the official UAF website, Mykhailenko shared his thoughts on the tournament and the team’s journey.

— Mr. Mykhailenko, what are your overall impressions of the European Championship?

— The impressions are only positive because this tournament gathered the best teams and coaches. We saw the highest standards of European football and what we need to strive for. We are satisfied with our performance and look to the future with optimism.

— On a scale of five, what rating would you give Ukraine’s team?

— Considering the challenges we faced and the level of our opponents, I think a solid 4+ is a fair rating. It is rare to be completely satisfied, as both the coaches and the players could have performed better.

— Was Spain rightly considered the best team in the Euro?

— I would highlight not only Spain but also Italy. These teams stood out with their high individual skills and tactical acumen. It’s no surprise their semifinal duel was decided only in extra time. In my opinion, the Italians were more impressive... The French relied more on individual talent, but their team play wasn’t as cohesive.

— Were you worried about the group stage outcome after two goalless draws against Northern Ireland (0:0) and Norway (0:0)?

— Everything still depended on us. I had faith in the boys until the end. The tournament had a generally balanced lineup of participants. Perhaps Northern Ireland seemed a bit weaker, but their preparation and play on artificial turf, with smaller dimensions, helped them level the playing field to some extent.

Norway is a very strong opponent. They reached the Euro semifinals twice in a row. This team was characterized by excellent physical preparation, as their local championship is in full swing. They also have individually strong players. In the first game of the tournament, the Italians miraculously snatched victory from the Norwegians due to their skills.

In our head-to-head game with Norway, all our assumptions were confirmed. We suffered, as they pressed intensely. Only in the second half did it become slightly easier because it’s hard to maintain such intensity for the full 90 minutes. We managed to level the game.

Returning to your question, we knew we would have a chance to score against Italy. We believed in our strengths and prepared with a clear head for the decisive match in the group stage...

Photo by Dan Balashov

— The minimum goal of qualifying for the 2025 U-20 World Cup was achieved ahead of schedule. However, after such an emotional match against Italy (3:2), did your team manage to fully recover for the semifinal against France (0:1)?

— Indeed, the team was emotionally drained. In the match against Italy, when we managed to equalize closer to the middle of the second half, the boys realized that victory was within reach. The victory was needed not only to reach the semifinals of the European Championship but also to secure a spot in the World Cup. We didn’t want to play an additional match where anything could happen. So, the Ukrainian players gave their all, leaving everything on the pitch. For that, they deserve huge thanks.

There was incredible joy and emotion after the game. However, the coaching staff did everything possible to ensure the players were as prepared as possible for the match against France. And had we played a bit better in defense, our chances of reaching the final would have been significantly higher.

— What did you, as a coach, not manage to implement in this tournament?

— I would have liked the team to control the ball and the game better, and not to defend as much as we did. This depends on various nuances. I don’t want to get into tactical details, but after Mykola Oharkov's injury, our ball control left much to be desired. We had to make some changes, so we ended up defending more often. It’s hard to change things drastically during the tournament.

— Ukraine's team was among the best in terms of shots taken. Are you dissatisfied with the finishing?

— Only regarding the first game. We should have beaten Northern Ireland. But here, I would highlight one nuance. It was the first match of the tournament, with nerves and emotions... And in our attacking group, we had three players who were one or even two years younger. Perhaps the extra nerves didn’t allow the boys to make better decisions. But these things are entirely understandable at this age. Of course, you always want better, but I wouldn’t focus too much on it. Overall, the team did well.

— What are the plans for this team?

— Until the 2025 World Cup, there are no competitions where we can test new candidates for the team. We would like to strengthen this team. Therefore, I hope we can gather at least once this year to look at other boys who were on the extended list for the European Championship but didn’t make it. And in 2025, we will hold a camp to finally determine the players who will go to the World Cup in Chile.

Photo by Dan Balashov

EURO 2024 (U-19).

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

15.07.2024

Italy — Norway — 2:1

Northern Ireland — Ukraine — 0:0

18.07.2024

Norway — Ukraine — 0:0

Northern Ireland — Italy — 0:3

21.07.2024

Norway — Northern Ireland — 2:0

Ukraine — Italy — 3:2

Group A standings

Group B: Spain, France, Turkiye, Denmark.

16.07.2024

Denmark — Spain — 1:2

France — Turkey — 2:1

19.07.2024

Denmark — France — 2:4

Turkiye — Spain — 1:1

22.07.2024

Turkiye — Denmark — 3:3

Spain — France — 2:2

Group B standings

25.07.2024

Play-off match for the right to qualify for the 2025 U-20 World Cup

Norway — Turkey - 1:1 (10:9, on pens.)

Semi-finals

Italy — Spain - 0:1 (a.t.)

France — Ukraine - 1:0

28.07.2024

Final

Spain - France - 2:0

Ukraine's Roster for EURO 2024 (U-19)

Note: The statistics provided are from the EURO 2024 (U-19) qualifying round.