Dmytro Mykhailenko: "Getting acquainted with the team at the Swiss training camp"

04.09.2024 15:00

The Ukraine U-18/19 team (players born no later than 2006) has gathered for the first time this year to begin collective training.

The youth national team, which will compete in the qualifying round of EURO 2025 (U-19) in November, started their training camp in Switzerland on September 2. During this camp, the Blue and Yellows will play two friendlies against their Swiss counterparts on September 6 and 9.

Head coach Dmytro Mykhailenko shared details of the team's current activities with the UAF official website.

— Mr. Mykhailenko, how have the first days of the Swiss training camp been?

— Everything is going well. Although it took us almost 24 hours to reach our destination, the boys were a bit tired. However, they’re happy to be here and are fully committed to the work.

— This team includes some players who competed in EURO 2024 (U-19), which recently concluded, but for most of the players, this is their first camp under your leadership…

— That’s correct. For our coaching staff, this is an opportunity to get acquainted with the team. I only know many of these boys from video footage, so there’s a lot of work ahead.

— Is this the first and last training camp before the start of the European Championship qualifying round?

— We plan to hold another short camp in October, where we’ll have a chance to assess a few more players born in 2006.

— Can we say that this squad is close to the one that will compete in the official matches in November?

— I’d like it to be as close to the main squad as possible. We don’t want to waste any time. I believe the selection process we’ve undertaken should at least give us the core of the team for November.

— You’ll play two friendly matches against Switzerland during this camp. How do you rate your opponent?

— Without a doubt, they’re a strong team. I have some information about them, and I can say they’re progressing well. The Swiss play modern football, so these will be interesting and valuable matches for us.

— There are still two months until the start of the EURO 2025 (U-19) qualifiers. Do you already know much about your future opponents?

— We have some information, but it’s still a bit early to focus on them. Right now, we need to concentrate more on our work and our players.

Ukraine U-18/19 Roster:

Goalkeepers: Vyacheslav Surkis (Dynamo Kyiv), Markiyan Bakus (Rukh Lviv).

Defenders: Oleksandr Havrylenko (Śląsk, Poland), Vladyslav Zakharchenko, Maksym Korobov, Denys Dykyi (all Dynamo Kyiv), Daniel Vernattus, Yehor Abramov (both Metalist Kharkiv), Vladyslav Shershen (Kolos Kovalivka), Danylo Harazha (Oleksandriya).

Midfielders: Maksym Len (Fortuna, Germany), Fedir Babak (Paderborn, Germany), Kyrylo Osypenko, Danylo Ishchenko (both Dynamo Kyiv), Artem Husol (Kolos Kovalivka), Viktor Tsukanov, Vasyl Bundash (both Shakhtar Donetsk), Vladyslav Kalyn (Chornomorets Odesa), Hennadiy Synchuk (Metalist Kharkiv).

Forwards: Artem Stepanov (Bayer, Germany), Christian Shevchenko (Watford, England), Ruslan Vydysh (Gent, Belgium), Vitaliy Lobko (Dynamo Kyiv).

Reserves: Nazar Makarenko (Oleksandriya), Danyil Denysenko (Kolos Kovalivka), Davyd Bilyi, Matviy Ponomarenko (both Dynamo Kyiv), Kyrylo Dihtyar, Danylo Kaidalov (both Metalist Kharkiv).

This team is preparing for the EURO-2025 (U-19) qualification. According to the draw results, they are in Group 1 alongside Netherlands, Slovenia, and Kazakhstan. The mini-tournament will take place in the Netherlands, with matches scheduled for November 13, 16, and 19.

Results of the UEFA Euro 2025 (U-19) qualifying round draw

Group 1: Ukraine, Netherlands, Slovenia, Kazakhstan.

Group 2: Germany, Hungary, Cyprus, Andorra.

Group 3: England, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania.

Group 4: Turkiye, Poland, Malta, Gibraltar.

Group 5: France, Scotland, Wales, Liechtenstein.

Group 6: Czechia, Finland, Switzerland, San Marino.

Group 7: Ireland, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Moldova.

Group 8: Italy, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro.

Group 9: Norway, Sweden, Georgia, Estonia.

Group 10: Spain, Austria, Kosovo, Faroe Islands.

Group 11: Israel, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Albania.

Group 12: Slovakia, Latvia, North Macedonia, Luxembourg.

Group 13: Serbia, Croatia, Armenia, Belarus.

The locations for the mini-tournaments and specific dates (September 2-10, October 7-15, November 11-19) will be announced later.

The elite round of qualification will include the top two teams from each group of the qualifying round and the best third-placed team. Alongside Portugal, in spring 2025, they will compete in seven groups for seven tickets to the final tournament. Romania received an automatic spot as the host.