Serhiy Sapronov: "We achieved our goal and now await the Round 2 draw"

22.11.2024 10:00

The Ukraine WU-17 team has returned from Malta as winners of Round 1 of the EURO-2025 qualifiers in League B.

Head coach Serhiy Sapronov spoke to the UAF official website about whether there were any doubts during the tournament that his team could finish first in their group:

— No, the Ukrainian girls were dominant throughout, and they performed convincingly. Only in the opening match against Moldova, there was some nervousness due to a lack of information about the opponents, which led to some frustrating ball losses. At halftime, I asked the girls to play more calmly and to use long passes to find Karina Lespukh, who was making great runs forward. They listened and, in the second half, we scored five goals without conceding any...

— But in the second match, even that remarkable goal-scoring streak was surpassed. Against the hosts, we secured a crushing 10:0 victory...

— By then, we had enough information on the Maltese team after watching their opening match against Romania. We played our usual 4-3-3 formation, using vertical passes in the attacking third, something the hosts were unprepared for.

— In the final match against Romania, the Ukrainian team could have secured first place even with a draw due to the advantage in the additional criteria...

— Of course, no one was planning to play defensively. A quick goal gave us confidence, but after that, the ball stubbornly refused to go into the Romanian net. Only Karina Lespukh missed two one-on-one opportunities with the goalkeeper. Nevertheless, in injury time, the relentless Karina scored again, settling the result. Early in the second half, the score became overwhelming after an own goal from Romania...

— Which players stood out the most for you?

— Anna Avramenko, Zoryana Hladun, and Viktoriya Savkina were the oldest and led by example. I'm also satisfied with Karina Lespukh, who scored five goals.

The main thing is that we achieved our goal of earning a spot in League A and now we are awaiting the draw for Round 2, which will take place on December 6. Then we'll find out who our next opponents will be, as we prepare to compete against them next spring.

Ukraine Women’s U-17 Squad:

Goalkeepers: Anna Kharchenko (Vorskla Poltava), Ulyana Solovyova (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Oleksandra Strilchenko (Yunist Chernihiv).

Defenders: Anastasiya Bielkina (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Veronika Derevyanenko (EMS-Podillia Vinnytsia), Valeriya Kazina (CYSS Podil Kyiv), Kateryna Derkach (Pohoryna Kostopil), Maria Osadcha (SeaSters Odesa), Daryna Ivasko (Mynai).

Midfielders: Milena Ivanchenko, Anna Avramenko, Darya Kolodiy, Polina Nazarenko (all — Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Evelina Kuptsova (Metalist 1925 Kharkiv), Darya Artemenko, Viktoriya Savkina, Zoryana Hladun (all — Ladomyr Volodymyr).

Forwards: Sofiya Konovalova (Ladomyr Volodymyr), Karina Lespukh (Mynai), Varvara Kozlyuk (Polissya Zhytomyr).

EURO 2025 (WU-17). Round 1. Group B2

November 13, 2024

Malta - Romania - 1:4

Ukraine - Moldova - 5:0

November 16, 2024

Ukraine - Malta - 10:0

Romania - Moldova - 3:1

November 19, 2024

Moldova - Malta - 2:1

Romania - Ukraine - 0:3

Standings

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.

It is noteworthy that the Ukraine WU-17 team finished last in their group in this year's European Championship's Round 2 and was relegated to League B. Following the first-round draw, Serhiy Sapronov's team was placed in Group B2, where they will compete against Romania, Malta, and Moldova.

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 EURO 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 second round in League B. The seeding of participants for the second round 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 EURO 2023/2024 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

The second qualifying round 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.