Serhiy Sapronov: "We decided not to invite players from abroad to the Ternopil training camp"

13.09.2024 16:15

The Ukraine WU-17 women's team is preparing for the EURO 2025 qualifiers. Recently, they completed a week-long training camp in Ternopil, which included two friendlies against the WU-19 women's team of Ukraine.

Head coach Serhiy Sapronov shared his thoughts on the September training phase with the UAF official website:

— There's no reason to complain. We accomplished everything we planned, and importantly, there were no injuries. The core of the team consisted of players who participated in the UEFA Development Tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina in April. We decided not to invite players from abroad to the Ternopil camp for trials, focusing instead on the girls playing in the Ukrainian championship. I gathered the necessary information about their abilities.

— The camp included two friendlies against the WU-19 women's team...

— The competition was balanced, and although my players lost both matches narrowly — 1:2 and 2:3 — I believe the teams were evenly matched.

— Which positions still need strengthening?

— I would like to see more activity from the wingers. There is still time to reinforce these positions as the scouting work continues. I am satisfied with the performance of the central midfielders and forwards. For instance, Karina Lespukh, who played at the forefront of the attack, contributed a goal and an assist.

— The matches in the group, where the Ukrainian team will compete in mid-November, will be hosted by Malta. Do you already have information about the opponents?

— Besides the hosts, we will face the Romanian and Moldovan teams. The dossier on our opponents is gradually expanding. We hope to have another preparation phase at the beginning of November, where we will focus on training specific strategies against our particular opponents.

Ukraine WU-17 Roster:

Goalkeepers: Anastasiya Chubak (EMS-Podillya Vinnytsia), Mariya Vakulko (Litsei Kostopil), Ulyana Solovyova (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih).

Defenders: Anastasiya Bielkina, Iryna Oliynychenko (both - Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Veronika Derevyanko (EMS-Podillya Vinnytsia), Valeriya Kazina (CYSS Podil Kyiv), Kateryna Derkach (Pohoryna Kostopil), Mariya Osadcha (SeaSters Odesa), Daryna Ivasko (Mynai).

Midfielders: Milena Ivanchenko, Anna Avramenko, Darya Kolodiy (all - Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Evelina Kuptsova (Metalist 1925 Kharkiv), Maria Kuts (Vorskla Poltava), Darya Artemenko, Viktoriya Savkina, Zoryana Hladun (all - Ladomyr Volodymyr).

Forwards: Sofiya Konovalova (Ladomyr Volodymyr), Karina Lespukh (Mynai).

Yuriy Sapronov’s team is preparing for Round 1 of the EURO-2025 (WU-17) Qualifiers, where they will compete in Group B2 against Romania, Malta, and Moldova.

Malta will host the matches in our group in November. The Blue and Yellow will face Moldova on the 13th, Malta on the 16th, and Romania on the 19th. To move up to the higher division, our team needs to either secure first place or be the best of the six second-placed teams.

League A

Twenty-eight teams will compete in League A, including the current champion, Spain, and seven teams promoted from League B based on the results of the 2023/2024 Euro Round 2. The participants were divided into seven groups. Each group will play in a mini-tournament format hosted by one of the participants.

Teams that finish in fourth place will continue the season in the Round 2 in League B. The seeding of participants for Round 2 will depend on their first-round group standings. The Faroe Islands will also participate in the competition despite having a direct ticket to the finals as hosts.

League B

Twenty-one teams will compete in League B (including teams relegated from League A in the 2023/2024 Euro Round 2). These teams will compete for promotion to League A in six groups. The group winners and the best second-placed team (considering results against their groups' first and third-placed teams) will be promoted to the higher division.

Advancement to the Final Stage

Round 2 will take place at the beginning of 2025. Based on the League A competition, seven teams will join the Faroe Islands in the final stage.

EURO 2025 (WU-17). Round 1

League A

Group A1: Portugal, Switzerland, Wales, Slovenia.

Group A2: Belgium, Germany, Turkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group A3: England, Netherlands, Czechia, Faroe Islands.

Group A4: Poland, Scotland, Iceland, Northern Ireland.

Group A5: France, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria.

Group A6: Spain, Austria, Denmark, Ireland.

Group A7: Norway, Finland, Greece, Belarus.

League B

Group B1: Slovakia, Montenegro, Latvia, Georgia.

Group B2: Ukraine, Romania, Malta, Moldova.

Group B3: Hungary, North Macedonia, Lithuania, Andorra.

Group B4: Kosovo, Israel, Albania.

Group B5: Serbia, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan.

Group B6: Sweden, Estonia, Kazakhstan.