The wards of Oleksandr Sitnik are playing in group A1 alongside Italy, Croatia, and Slovakia. Today our team faced the hosts from the Balkans. The game took place in Karlovac.

The first chance came for our squad — Grahorvat pulled back a dangerous shot by Lucin. The Croats responded with their own opportunity when the ball hit the far post after a cross from the left flank. Then, the teams exchanged more chances: Zudin was denied a one-on-one situation against the goalkeeper, while Nico Gorvat missed just wide of the near corner.

At the 22nd minute, the hosts took the lead — after a corner in our penalty area, Kusanovic managed to poke the ball into the net. Later on, Kusanovic completed his brace by finishing off a teammate's cross. Zudin could have narrowed the deficit before halftime but shot straight at the goalkeeper from a good position.

At the start of the second half, another chance was missed by Kusanovic, while Dzhurabaev tested Grahorvat with a shot from the edge of the box. On the 55th minute, our boys scored one back — Kucheriany won a penalty that Lucin converted. The Croats responded with a header from Vojvodich that went wide.

The hosts then focused on holding onto their lead. The final stretch of the match was played in tense conditions. Our boys tried to force a draw. Zudin had the best chance, shooting dangerously close to the post at the 90th minute mark. However, ultimately, Ukraine suffered defeat — 1:2.

The next game for our young team will be on March 22 against Italy's under-17s.

UEFA Euro 2025 (U-17). Second Qualifying Round. Group A1

March 19, 2025

Ukraine (U-17) — Croatia (U-17)— 1:2 (0:2)

Goals: Lucin (55, from the penalty spot) — Kusanovic (22, 31).

Ukraine (U-17): Krapyvin, Melnyk, Milokost, Kostyuk (O. Tkachenko, 89), Kaluzhnyi, Dzhurabaev (Kutyia, 59), Petrovskyi, Lucin (Sereda, 81), Muradyan (Kucherianyi, 46), Zudin, Zubriy (Ghamzik, 59).

Croatia (U-17): Grahorvat, Pajzar (Myiatovic, 90+1), Kumar, Yakirovich, Murić (Kostelac, 82), Vojvodich, Smilianich, Radoš (Burgar, 75), N. Gorvat (Benkotić, 82), P. Gorvat, Kusanovic (Misura, 82).

Yellow cards: Radoš (37), Yakirovich (54), Kumar (57).

Italy — Slovakia — 1:0

Table

March 22, 2025

Italy — Ukraine (Lutsk, 13:00)

Croatia — Slovakia (Karlovac, 16:30)

March 25, 2025

Croatia — Italy (Lutsk, 16:30)

Slovakia — Ukraine (Sevete, 16:30)

All match times are in Kyiv time.

Draw results for the second qualifying round of UEFA Euro 2025 (U-17)

League A

Group A1: Italy, Croatia, Ukraine, Slovakia.

Group A2: Spain, Austria, Germany, Norway.

Group A3: France, Greece, Denmark, Finland.

Group A4: Portugal, Serbia, Netherlands, Hungary.

Group A5: Czech Republic, Switzerland, Turkey, Sweden.

Group A6: Belgium, Poland, Iceland, Ireland.

Group A7: England, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Israel.

28 teams were divided into seven groups of four participants each. The seven group winners in League A will qualify for the final tournament of UEFA Euro 2025 (U-17) hosted by Albania from May 19 to June 1. Seven teams finishing fourth in their respective groups in League A will drop down to League B in the first qualifying round of UEFA Euro 2027 (U-19).

League B

Group B1: Romania, North Macedonia, Scotland, Liechtenstein.

Group B2: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Armenia, San Marino.

Group B3: Montenegro, Latvia, Estonia, Gibraltar.

Group B4: Kosovo, Cyprus, Moldova, Andorra.

Group B5: Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Malta, Faroe Islands.

Group B6: Albania, Wales, Azerbaijan.

Group B7: Lithuania, Georgia, Kazakhstan.

26 teams were divided into five groups of four participants and two groups of three participants. The seven group winners in League B will rise to League A in the first qualifying round for UEFA Euro 2027 (U-19).

It should be noted that UEFA Euro 2025 (U-17) will serve as a qualifier for the 2025 World Cup in the U-17 category, which will feature 48 teams and take place in Qatar.

U-17: how Ukraine's youth team can qualify for the 2025 world cup