In the opening round of qualification, Serhiy Rebrov's charges in Wroclaw conceded to France (0:2). In this match, national team debuts were made by Artem Bondarenko and Nazar Voloshyn, who shared their impressions with the press service of the UAF after the game.

Artem Bondarenko (halfback): "We expected that it would be such a game where France would create opportunities. But we also had half-chances, which unfortunately we did not capitalize on. There were both positive and negative aspects. But nothing bad happened, we need to overcome the next opponents. Everything is in our hands. We move forward. 

My debut? Fantastic emotions! I am very happy that I managed to fulfill my childhood dream! It was difficult to come on as a substitute in such a match. There was no nervousness, but before my appearance the second goal was conceded, and the intrigue somewhat disappeared. It would have been better to come out with a 0:1 score.» 

Nazar Voloshyn (halfback): "I was nervous, but not too much. I came on for five minutes, but honestly it was difficult to come on as a substitute in such a match. I hadn't warmed up yet, while everyone else was already in action. A tough game for the national team, but there were moments when we controlled the game and had good opportunities to score.

Our team made many runs both offensively and defensively, we tried to play compactly. We need to analyze the game, review it. There were a lot of good moments».

Composition of the Ukraine National Team

Goalkeepers: Georgii Bushchan («Polesye» Zhytomyr), Anatoliy Trubin («Benfica» Lisbon, Portugal), Dmytro Ryzhnik («Shakhtar» Donetsk).

Defenders: Ilya Zabarnyi («Paris Saint-Germain» Paris, France), Oleksandr Svatok («Austin», USA), Valeri Bondar, Mykhailo Matviienko, Yurym Konoplyan (all — «Shakhtar» Donetsk), Taras Mikhaylo, Vladyslav Dubynchak (both — «Dynamo» Kyiv), Bogdan Mykhailichenko («Polesye» Zhytomyr).

Halfbacks: Oleksandr Zinchenko («Nottingham Forest», England), Yegor Yarmoluk («Brentford», England), Ivan Kaluzhnyi («Metalist 1925» Kharkiv), Mykhailo Shaparenko, Nazar Voloshyn (both — «Dynamo» Kyiv), Oleksii Ocheretin, Artem Bondarenko (both — «Shakhtar» Donetsk), Oleksiy Hutsulyak, Oleksandr Nazarenko (both — «Polesye» Zhytomyr), Georgii Sudakov («Benfica» Lisbon, Portugal), Oleksandr Zubkov («Trabzonspor» Trabzon, Turkey).

Forwards: Artem Dovbyk («Roma» Rome, Italy), Vladyslav Vannat («Girona», Spain).

Reserve List

Yevhen Cheberko («Columbus Crew», USA), Oleksandr Pichalok, Volodymyr Bragazko (both — «Dynamo» Kyiv).