Yuriy Moroz: "In the Lviv training camp, we aim to coordinate all tactical preparation processes"

02.09.2024 16:30

The Ukraine U-16/17 team (players born in 2008 or later) continues its preparations for the EURO 2025 (U-17) qualifying round.

From September 2 to 11, the team will hold a training camp in Lviv, during which they will play two friendly matches — against Rukh U-19 on September 7 and Karpaty U-19 on September 10. Ahead of the camp, the team's head coach, Yuriy Moroz, answered questions from the UAF official website.

— Mr. Moroz, what are the goals set by the coaching staff for this camp?

— The goals remain unchanged. This is the final stage of preparation for the European Championship qualifying round. Once again, we aim to gather maximum information about the players' readiness for the official matches, set a direction for our work, and coordinate all processes in tactical preparation.

— After this stage, will the selection be finalized?

— Yes. I believe that about 95% of the squad for the Euro qualification has been determined.

— Are the opponents in the friendlies challenging?

— Definitely. We will play against Rukh and Karpaty, teams that are two years older. This will be a valuable experience for our players.

— Are you already studying the opponents in the qualifying round?

— Yes. We already have information on the teams of Belgium, Kosovo, and Kazakhstan. During our current work, we will thoroughly familiarize the team with our opponents for the official matches.

— The first match of the Euro qualifiers is scheduled for October 9. Do you know when the final preparations for the tournament will begin?

— There are certain nuances related to our players' participation in various tournaments, but I would very much like the preparations to begin on October 2, to have as much time as possible to get ready for the competition.

Let us remind you that following the draw, Ukraine's U-17 team was placed in Group 4 alongside Belgium, Kosovo, and Kazakhstan. The mini-tournament in this group will take place in Belgium, with matches scheduled for October 9, 12, and 15.

Ukraine U-16/17 roster:

Goalkeepers: Maksym Royenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Kyrylo Khadasevych (Wolfsburg, Germany), Yehor Kravtsov (Espanyol, Spain).

Defenders: Dmytro Konovalov (Dynamo Kyiv), Nikita Kalyuzhnyi, Yehor Kostyuk, Yaroslav Mylokost, Ivan Verhun (all — Shakhtar Donetsk), Arsen Zalypka, Dmytro Solomon (both — Rukh Lviv), Oleksandr Boyko (Gent, Belgium), Nazar Khlivnyuk (Fortuna, Germany).

Midfielders: Pavlo Lyusin (Dynamo Kyiv), Oleksandr Sereda (Shakhtar Donetsk), Muhammad Dzhurabaiev, Danylo Slyva (both — Rukh Lviv), Maksym Tlumak (Karpaty Lviv), Illia Khrunyk (CYSS Prykarpattya Ivano-Frankivsk).

Forwards: Ivan Andreyko (Dynamo Kyiv), Artem Zubriy (Shakhtar Donetsk), Rolan Mustafaiev (Rukh Lviv), Andriy Korol (Metalist 1925 Kharkiv), Dmytro Zudin (Hajduk, Croatia), Illia Menshykov (Austria, Austria).

Note that on May 3 in Nyon, the draw for the first qualifying round of Euro 2025 (U-17) took place. As a result, the Ukraine U-16/17 team, led by Yuriy Moroz, has been placed in Group 4 alongside Belgium, Kosovo, and Kazakhstan. The mini-tournament for our group will be held in Belgium, with matches scheduled for October 9, 12, and 15.

Results of the EURO 2024/2025 U-17 qualifying round draw

Group 1: England, Sweden, Latvia, Malta.

Group 2: Poland, Slovenia, Georgia, Armenia.

Group 3: Netherlands, Croatia, Albania, Faroe Islands.

Group 4: Belgium, Ukraine, Kosovo, Kazakhstan.

Group 5: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Liechtenstein.

Group 6: Hungary, Greece, Romania, Azerbaijan.

Group 7: Germany, Czechia, Belarus, Andorra.

Group 8: Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Lithuania.

Group 9: Italy, Norway, Wales, San Marino.

Group 10: Switzerland, Israel, Montenegro, Moldova.

Group 11: France, Slovakia, Cyprus, Gibraltar.

Group 12: Spain, Iceland, North Macedonia, Estonia.

Group 13: Serbia, Turkiye, Bulgaria.

Group 14: Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg.

The top two teams from each group advance to the second round of qualifiers. Following this, 28 teams will compete in seven groups in League A in spring 2025 for seven spots in the final tournament, to be held in Albania in the summer. The host team automatically qualifies, although they will still participate in the qualifiers.

The remaining teams in the second round will compete in League B, aiming for spots in League A of the first qualifying stage for Euro 2027 (U-19).

It's worth noting that Euro 2024/2025 (U-17) serves as UEFA's qualifying tournament for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, featuring 48 teams in Qatar.