U-21: Ukraine and Italy finish level in friendly match
As part of their preparation for the final EURO 2025 (U-21) tournament, Ukraine's U-21 national team played a friendly match against Italy today on the road.
On November 15, Unai Melgosa's team drew 3:3 against Portugal U-21 in Alverca do Ribatejo. Today, in La Spezia at the Alberto Picco Stadium, the Blue and Yellows faced Italy.
The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute when Giovanni Fabbian met a cross from the right flank and struck the ball into Ruslan Neshcheret’s net on the volley.
Photo by Andriy Yushchak
However, just two minutes later, Ukraine equalized. Illia Kvasnytsia intercepted the ball on the opponent's half, advanced to a shooting position, and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner, making it 1:1.
Photo by Andriy Yushchak
Still, Italy regained the lead before halftime. Pio Esposito rose highest to meet a corner kick and headed the ball past the Ukrainian goalkeeper.
In the second half, Ukraine’s head coach made several substitutions to intensify the game, which paid off. Two second-half substitutes, Anton Tsarenko, and Ihor Krasnopir, combined brilliantly for the latter to score the equalizer in the 83rd minute.
Thus, Unai Melgosa’s side recorded their second consecutive away draw in friendlies against top U-21 teams, both of which have also qualified for EURO 2025 (U-21).
Friendly Match. U-21 National Teams
Italy (U-21) - Ukraine (U-21) - 2:2 (1:1)
Goals: Fabbian (26), P. Esposito (45) – Kvasnytsia (28), Krasnopir (83).
Italy (U-21): Zacchi (Sassi, 46), Palestra, Bertola, Gilardi, Turicchia (Ruggeri, 74), Casadei (Volpato, 74), Prati, Miretti (Gnonto, 58), Pafundi (Ndour, 58), Fabbian, P. Esposito (Ambrosino, 74).
Ukraine (U-21): Neshcheret, Kuzyk (Khlan, 61), Batagov, Kozik, Krupskyi, Yatsyk (Melnychenko, 66), Varfolomieyev, Fedor (Tsarenko, 58), Bragaru, Kvasnytsia (Veleten, 46), Vyunnyk (Krasnopir, 81).
Referee: Theouli Chrisovalantis (Cyprus).
Booked: Bertola (33).
November 19. La Spezia. Alberto Picco Stadium.
It is worth noting that the Blue and Yellows secured an early qualification for the EURO 2025 (U-21) final tournament, finishing in second place in their qualifying group.
In addition to Ukraine, 12 teams have qualified for the tournament, which will take place from June 11 to 28, 2025, across eight cities (Bratislava, Trnava, Dunajská Streda, Košice, Žilina, Trenčín, Nitra, Prešov), along with the host nation, Slovakia. Three more participants will be determined after the playoff matches, scheduled for November 15 and 19.
The draw for the final tournament, which will feature 16 teams (four groups of four), will take place on December 3 in Bratislava.
EURO 2025 (U-21) participants: host — Slovakia, group winners — Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Romania, England, Portugal, Slovenia, Denmark, best second-place teams — Ukraine, France, Poland.
Playoff contenders (other second-place teams): Finland vs. Norway, Belgium vs. Czechia, Georgia vs. Croatia.
Ranking of second-placed teams (excluding results against sixth-placed teams in the groups): Ukraine — 18 points (goal difference +9), France — 16 (+16), Poland — 16 (+12), Croatia — 16 (+1), Finland — 14 (+5), Czechia — 14 (+2), Norway — 13 (+6), Belgium — 13 (+3), Georgia — 13 (0).
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
|
|
Team |
M |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
P |
|
1 |
England |
10 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
41—6 |
25 |
|
2 |
Ukraine |
10 |
8 |
0 |
2 |
20—7 |
24 |
|
3 |
Serbia |
10 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
13—18 |
16 |
|
4 |
Northern Ireland |
10 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
10—10 |
11 |
|
5 |
Luxembourg |
10 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
6—23 |
8 |
|
6 |
Azerbaijan |
10 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
4—30 |
3 |
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