EURO 2025 (U-21): Ukraine U-21 ends qualifying campaign with defeat to Serbia

15.10.2024 23:36

Today, on October 15, the Ukraine U-21 team played their final match in the EURO 2025 (U-21) qualifying tournament against Serbia.

Leading up to this match, Unai Melgosa's team had achieved eight victories in nine matches, already securing their spot in the final tournament despite a loss to England (1:2). To finish first in the group, the Blue and Yellows needed to defeat Serbia away in Stara Pazova.

The hosts struck early, taking a shot on target in the very first minute of the match. Later, Ukraine managed to put the ball in the net, but Krasnopir did so from an offside position. Yarmolyuk and Varfolomeyev also tested the Serbian goalkeeper. In the 21st minute, the Balkans took the lead when Aleksic intercepted the ball just outside our penalty area, combined with a teammate, and fired past Neshcheret. Before the break, Slivic had a chance to score, but his shot was blocked at the last moment by Yarmolyuk. Ukraine also had a chance from a set piece when Voloshyn fired a shot on target.

At the beginning of the second half, the Ukrainians pressed their opponents in their half but failed to find the net. In the 66th minute, Serbia responded with a shot on target from Slivic. The Blue and Yellows continued to threaten the goal but lacked accuracy. Kvasnytsia squandered a golden opportunity, failing to hit the target after a brilliant shot from Rubchynskyi. Later, the Serbian goalkeeper saved a shot from Khlan.

In the end, the hosts secured a 1:0 victory. Our team finished second in the group and advanced to EURO 2025 (U-21) as one of the three best second-placed teams.

As of today, along with Ukraine, the following teams have qualified for the tournament, which will take place from June 11 to 28, 2025, besides the hosts, Slovakia: Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain. Three more participants will be determined in the playoff matches scheduled for November 11-19. The playoff pairings will be formed on October 17, and the draw for the final tournament, featuring 16 teams (four groups of four), will take place on December 3 in Bratislava.

EURO 2025 (U-21) Qualifying Tournament. Group F

Serbia (U-21) — Ukraine (U-21) — 1:0 (1:0)

Goal: Aleksic (21).

Serbia (U-21): Kalicanin, Djurdjevic, Milicic, Popovic, Lazic (c), Aleksic (Krstic, 90+2), Stepanovic, Slivic (Trifunovic, 78), Radojevic (Vukicevic, 90+2), Milosevic (Petkovic, 13), Mijatovic.

Substitutes: Lieskic, Stevanovic, Achimovic, Pavlovic, Velichkovic.

Coach: Ljubinko Drulovic.

Ukraine (U-21): Neshcheret, Roman, Salyuk, Melnychenko, Smolyakov (Khlan, 72), Rubchynskyi, Varfolomeyev (Ocheretko, 53), Yarmolyuk (c) (Fedor, 72), Bragaru, Krasnopir (Kvasnytsia, 53, Horbach, 90), Voloshyn.

Substitutes: Krapyvtsov, Vivcharenko, Mykhavko, Yatsyk.

Coach: Unai Melgosa.

Referee: Robert Jenkins (Wales).

Booked: Lazic (40), Mijatovic (45+2), Aleksic (45+2), Slivic (45+3) — Melnychenko (31), Varfolomeyev (40), Smolyakov (45+2).

October 15. Stara Pazova. FSS Sports Center.

EURO 2025 (U-21) Qualifying Tournament. Group F

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

September 10, 2024

Northern Ireland - Ukraine - 1:2

Azerbaijan - Serbia - 0:2

October 11, 2024

England - Ukraine - 2:1

October 12, 2024

Northern Ireland - Azerbaijan - 5:0

October 15, 2024

Luxembourg - Northern Ireland - 0:0

England - Azerbaijan - 7:0

Serbia - Ukraine - 1:0

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).