EURO 2025 (U-21): Ukraine U-21 players reflect on win over Serbia and upcoming clash with Northern Ireland
On September 10, Ukraine’s U-21 team will play their next match in the EURO 2025 (U-21) qualifiers against Northern Ireland.
In their previous game on September 6, Ukraine defeated Serbia 2:1 in Riga. Midfielders Nazar Voloshyn and Yehor Yarmolyuk shared their thoughts on the victory and their preparations for the clash with Northern Ireland.
"We played very well and achieved a positive result. I’m very happy that we won and earned three points. However, the first 20 minutes didn’t go as planned. England’s draw helps us in the group standings, but we’re focused on our game and progressing with each match. We want to win every time. It was indeed surprising to see England finish 0:0," said Nazar Voloshyn.
"We’re preparing for Northern Ireland. I expect it to be a tough game with many challenges, but we’re aiming for the win," he added.
"I’m happy with the win, earning three points, and moving forward. The opponent didn’t surprise us, as we focused on playing our style and dictating the tempo. England’s draw makes things easier for the group, but we rely only on ourselves. Against Northern Ireland, we hope to show our game on our terms. We’re ready for the fight," echoed Yehor Yarmolyuk.
The EURO 2025 (U-21) qualifying match between Northern Ireland and Ukraine will take place on September 10 in Ballymena, with kick-off at 21:45 Kyiv time.
Ukraine U-21 Squad
Goalkeepers: Ruslan Neshcheret (Dynamo Kyiv), Kiril Fesyun (Shakhtar Donetsk), Yakiv Kinareykin (Karpaty Lviv).
Defenders: Arseniy Batagov (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Volodymyr Salyuk (Metalist 1925 Kharkiv), Roman Didyk, Vitaliy Roman (both Rukh Lviv), Taras Mykhavko, Kostyantyn Vivcharenko (both Dynamo Kyiv), Illia Krupskyi (Vorskla Poltava), Artem Smolyakov (Polissya Zhytomyr).
Midfielders: Ivan Varfolomeyev (Slovan, Czech Republic), Maksym Melnychenko, Oleh Ocheretko (both Karpaty Lviv), Valentyn Rubchynskyi, Nazar Voloshyn, Maksym Bragaru (all Dynamo Kyiv), Yehor Yarmolyuk (Brentford, England), Oleksandr Yatsyk (Zorya Luhansk), Oleh Fedor, Illia Kvasnytsia (both Rukh Lviv), Maksym Khlan (Lechia, Poland).
Forwards: Ihor Krasnopir (Rukh Lviv), Ihor Horbach (Zorya Luhansk).
September 7, 2023
Northern Ireland - Luxembourg - 0:1
September 11, 2023
Luxembourg - England - 0:3
September 12, 2023
Ukraine - Northern Ireland - 1:0
Serbia - Azerbaijan - 2:0
October 12, 2023
Azerbaijan - Northern Ireland - 0:1
Luxembourg - Ukraine - 0:3
England - Serbia - 9:1
October 16, 2023
Ukraine - England - 3:2
Northern Ireland - Serbia - 1:2
October 17, 2023
Azerbaijan - Luxembourg - 3:2
November 17, 2023
Ukraine - Luxembourg - 4:0
November 18, 2023
Serbia - England - 0:3
November 21, 2023
Ukraine - Azerbaijan - 1:0
Serbia - Luxembourg - 2:0
England - Northern Ireland - 3:0
March 23, 2024
Azerbaijan - England - 1:5
Luxembourg - Serbia - 1:1
March 26, 2024
Azerbaijan - Ukraine - 0:3
Serbia - Northern Ireland - 1:2
England - Luxembourg - 7:0
September 6, 2024
Luxembourg - Azerbaijan - 2:0
Northern Ireland - England - 0:0
Ukraine - Serbia - 2:1
| Team | M | W | D | L | GD | P | |
| 1 | Ukraine | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17—3 | 21 |
| 2 | England | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 32—5 | 19 |
| 3 | Serbia | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10—18 | 10 |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6—23 | 7 |
| 5 | Northern Ireland | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4—8 | 7 |
| 6 | Azerbaijan | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4—16 | 3 |
September 10, 2024
Northern Ireland vs. Ukraine
Azerbaijan vs. Serbia
October 11, 2024
England vs. Ukraine
October 12, 2024
Northern Ireland vs. Azerbaijan
October 15, 2024
Luxembourg vs. Northern Ireland
England vs. Azerbaijan
Serbia vs. Ukraine
Play-offs: November 11-19, 2024.
In the final stage of EURO 2025 (U-21), 16 teams will compete: Slovakia and 15 other national teams that will join based on the qualification results (nine group winners, three best teams among the second-place finishers, and three play-off winners among the six second-place finishers).
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