The match against the Macedonians in the Euro 2023 (U-21) qualifying tournament was strategically important for Ukraine's national team because a victory would have allowed our team to pull ahead of this rival in the standings.

And from the first minutes of the match, it became clear that the Ukrainians came onto the field with the intention of winning. The ball rarely visited the half of the blue-and-yellow side. Although there were no dangerous moments near their goalposts, this could be called a peculiar reconnaissance, searching for weaknesses in the Macedonians.

And from midway through the match, moments began to appear near Denkovsky's goalposts. The only pity was that accuracy was an issue for the Ukrainians. Kryskiv and Mudyk (in one episode a half-back hit the crossbar) could have scored, but the ball did not go into the net. And then the central defender took the initiative into his own hands. On the 43rd minute after a corner kick from Mudyk, Syrota jumped higher than everyone else in the penalty area and headed the ball home. 0:1.

Photo ffm.mk

The start of the second half was also completely in favor of the Ukrainians. The Macedonians had no chance to play, but a pointless mistake in defense led to an equalizer. On the 58th minute, hero of the first half Syrota slipped, passing a cross to Batagov. The ball was intercepted by Grozdanovsky, who outmaneuvered Trubin in close combat. 1:1. This was the Macedonians' first shot on target.

It cannot be said that this upset the players of Ruslan Rotan, but the attack clearly lost its rhythm. However, when Vanat failed to score from a corner kick on the 74th minute, open football began. The ball was hardly held in midfield. And towards the end of the match, the Ukrainians launched an assault on the Macedonian goalposts. On the 90+3rd minute, Bondarenko hit the crossbar. Sadly, that's where it ended. 1:1.

Photo ffm.mk

EURO-2023 (U-21). Qualifying Tournament 

Group H

North Macedonia (U-21) — Ukraine (U-21) — 1:1 (0:1)

Goals: Grozdanovsky (58) — Syrota (43).

North Macedonia (U-21): Denkovsky, Haydari, Manev, Mladenovskiy, Antonovskiy (Vosha, 72), Fazlagic, Ali (Todorovskiy, 90+5), Shei, Grozdanovsky (Ramadani, 73), Gyorgevskiy (Ilievskiy, 53), Rustemovskiy (Stankovskiy, 54).

Ukraine (U-21): Trubin, Sych, Syrota, Batagov, Vycharenko, Bondarenko, Kryskiv (Zhelizko, 70), Sudakov (Mikhailenko, 81), Nazarenko (Ochereteko, 70), Mudyk (Alefirenko, 86), Vyunnik (Vanat, 70).

Yellow cards: Manev (3), Mladenovskiy (25), Ali (41).

Referee: S. Kringsstad (Norway).

November 11. Skopje. Training center of the FFPF.

France — Armenia — 7:0

Standings

November 12, 2021

Serbia — Faroe Islands

6th round 

November 16, 2021

North Macedonia — France

Ukraine — Serbia 

7th round 

March 24, 2022

Armenia — Ukraine

Serbia — North Macedonia

France — Faroe Islands 

8th round 

March 29, 2022

Ukraine — France

Serbia — Armenia

North Macedonia — Faroe Islands 

9th round 

June 2, 2022

Faroe Islands — Ukraine

North Macedonia — Armenia

June 3, 2022

France — Serbia 

10th round 

June 7, 2022

Armenia — France

Ukraine — North Macedonia

Faroe Islands — Serbia 

In the final stage of Euro 2023 (U-21), sixteen teams will participate — Romania and Georgia as hosts, plus fourteen national teams that qualify through the qualifying rounds (nine group winners, the best team among second-place finishers, and four playoff winners).

Playoff: September 2022.

Final tournament: June/July 2023.

The sixteen-team tournament will be hosted by four stadiums in Romania (two in Cluj-Napoca and two in Bucharest) and four in Georgia (in Batumi, Poti, and two in Tbilisi). The opening match will take place in Romania, while the final will be held in Georgia.