Acting head coach and players of the Ukrainian women's national team talk about preparing for the first two matches in the inaugural League of Nations group stage.

Starting from Monday, September 18, the Ukrainian women's national team is training at a base in Sopot to prepare for their upcoming group stage matches against Serbia and Poland. The team combines training sessions with theoretical lessons.

Head coach Vladimir Pyatenko and players shared their emotions and goals for the upcoming games.  

Vladimir Pyatenko: "It's very important to play every match with the goal of winning because these are points in the national team standings, and it’s also about the actual result. Every team sets maximum goals regardless of which group they end up in. It doesn't matter who we're playing against; what matters is that we aim for victory."

Daria Apanshenko: "We are very happy to be called back into the national team again. We have a new coach whom I already know, and we’re working hard together. Everyone is in good spirits. Our goal? Always be first. This applies to the whole team, but individual goals each player sets for themselves."

Viktoriya Golovach: "We arrived with a great mood. I’m glad to have received this invitation; it’s a huge honor for me. I feel great. We are preparing for future games in good spirits. First and foremost, this is an early challenge for me. I need to show myself and earn my place on the team. And most importantly—overcome nervousness and demonstrate everything that I can."

Yana Kotik: "We’re a bit nervous because we are participating in this tournament for the first time, and it’s a huge responsibility to represent our country. I’m very happy to have been called up to the team and am here." 

Recall, the first round match between Ukraine and Serbia will take place on September 22 in the Polish town of Starogard Gdański at Kazimierz Deyna Municipal Stadium (kickoff at 16.00 Kyiv time). The second round match Poland vs. Ukraine will be held on September 26 (19:00) and will take place at Gdynia City Stadium.

Roster of the Ukrainian women's national team

Goalkeepers: Kateryna Samson ("Vorskla" Poltava), Daria Kelyushyk ("Kryvyi Rih" Kryvyi Rih), Kateryna Boklach ("Marseille", France).

Defenders: Kateryna Korsun, Yana Kotik, Iryna Podolska, Iryna Kotyash (all — "Vorskla" Poltava), Anastasiia Voronina ("Kolos" Kovalevka), Lyubov Shmatko ("Galatasaray", Turkey).

Midfielders: Iryna Mayboroda ("Kolos" Kovalevka), Viktoriya Golovach ("Shakhtar" Donetsk), Anna Petrik, Nastya Kozlova, Veronika Andrukhiv (all — "Vorskla" Poltava), Viktoriya Hyrin ("Lodomeria" Volodymyr), Deyana Semkiv ("Kryvyi Rih" Kryvyi Rih), Natiy Panzulaia, Daria Apanshenko (both — "Zhiltobud-1" Kharkiv), Hristina Pereviznik ("Karagümrük", Turkey).

Forwards: Yana Kalinina, Roxolana Kravchuk (both — "Vorskla" Poltava), Olha Ovdiiychuk ("Fomgét", Turkey), Inna Hlushchenko ("Nice", France).

Women's League of Nations-2023/2024

Group V3

Round 1

September 22, 2023

Ukraine — Serbia

Greece — Poland

Round 2

September 26, 2023

Poland — Ukraine

Serbia — Greece

Round 3

October 27, 2023

Greece — Ukraine

Poland — Serbia

Round 4

October 31, 2023

Ukraine — Greece

Serbia — Poland

Round 5

December 1, 2023

Ukraine — Poland

Greece — Serbia

Round 6

December 5, 2023

Serbia — Ukraine

Poland — Greece

Drawing results for the Women's League of Nations-2023/2024

League A

Group A1: England, Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland.

Group A2: France, Norway, Austria, Portugal.

Group A3: Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Wales.

Group A4: Sweden, Spain, Italy, Switzerland.

League B

Group B1: Ireland, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Albania.

Group B2: Finland, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia.

Group B3: Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Greece.

Group B4: Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus.

League C

Group C1: Malta, Moldova, Latvia, Andorra.

Group C2: Turkey, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Georgia.

Group C3: Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Cyprus, Faroe Islands.

Group C4: Israel, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Armenia.

Group C5: North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria.

How will the matches in groups be held?

All group stage matches will be played according to the usual format—home and away against each opponent in the group. Three points will be awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss.

Who will drop out? Who will play in promotion/relegation matches?

League A

The top two teams in each group remain in League A for the European qualification of the 2025 Women's Euro.

Four teams that finish third will play promotion/relegation matches against second-place teams from League B. Winners of these matches will stay in League A; teams that lose will drop to League B.

Teams finishing fourth will drop down to League B.

League B

Four group winners advance to League A.

Four teams that finish second will play promotion/relegation matches against third-place teams from League A. Winners of these matches will stay in League A; teams that lose will drop to League B.

Three best teams finishing third will play promotion/relegation matches against three best teams finishing second in League C. Winners will remain in League B for the European qualification; teams that lose will drop down to League C.

The team with the lowest ranking among those finishing third and four teams that finish fourth will drop down to League C.

League C

Five group winners advance to League B.

Three best teams finishing second will play promotion/relegation matches against three best teams finishing third in League B. Winners will remain in League B for the European qualification; teams that lose will drop down to League C.

Other teams will stay in League C.

Matches for promotion/relegation

Pairs are drawn and matches are played home and away. Teams finishing third in their groups are seeded and play the return leg at home.