Yuriy Moroz: "The squad for the Euro qualifying round is nearly finalized"

14.09.2024 16:07

The head coach of the Ukraine U-16/17 team, Yuriy Moroz, has summarized the recent training camp.

From September 2 to 11, the U-16/17 team held a training camp, during which they played two friendly matches — against Rukh U-19 (1:2) and Karpaty U-19 (1:3). Yuriy Moroz shared his thoughts about the camp with the UAF official website.

— The coaching staff is satisfied with the work done, — said Moroz. — The players tried to meet all the requirements. The only negative aspect was the results in the friendlies. We conceded a lot, both from set pieces and open play.

However, we are very pleased to have had the chance to play such test matches. Rukh and Karpaty are very strong, dynamic, and solid teams. We want our players to be prepared for endurance and speed in the Euro qualifiers. So these were informative friendlies for us. The players are aware of their mistakes, and we need to address them to be fully prepared for the official matches. Our main concern is the concentration near our own goal.

In the recent games, I liked the team in the first halves. The players showed structured play and good ideas on the pitch. But as soon as the team got a bit tired, problems arose. Still, I believe we will address these shortcomings.

Regarding the squad for the Euro qualifiers, there will only be minor adjustments. The squad is nearly finalized.

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.