The head coach of Ukraine's WU-19 women's national team, Nataliya Yagnatovich, spoke about the final stage of preparing her team for the second qualifying round of Euro 2024 (WU-19).

Based on the draw results, the players under Nataliya Yagnatovich's guidance were placed in Group A4, where they will play against France, Czech Republic, and Norway. Matches in our quartet will take place from April 3-9 in the Czech Republic, in Hmutov and Blšany, at city stadiums. Currently, the blue-and-yellow team is conducting a training camp precisely in Hmutov.

The process of preparing the team for the qualifying tournament was commented on by the head coach of Ukraine's WU-19 women's national team, Nataliya Yagnatovich, to the official website of the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF).

Photo: womensfootball.com.ua

“We are very satisfied with the preparation process. The girls are attentive and work diligently. Everyone is in good shape, there are no injuries. Everything is great; we can only thank the people of the Czech Republic for their warm welcome. The place here is excellent, a pine forest nearby, and fantastic quality grass fields near our hotel. Everything is wonderful, preparation is going well. Unfortunately, we could not allocate as many days to it as we wanted.

Regarding our opponents in the group, we have already analyzed them all. I can say that it will not be easy. The level of opposition in the second qualifying round is completely different from the first one. We will face a more physical style of football here. French women work very well with the ball, while Norwegians tend to play a more physical and combative style. However, they also have weak spots, just like the French team. Whether we can take advantage of them—this is another matter. I am confident that we will not be playing first string. On the contrary, we will try to counterattack. And as the matches progress, we will see what we are capable of.

We set very high goals for our team in this tournament. We want to qualify for the final stage of the European championship. This will be difficult, but we hope so much. In the most challenging match against France, we need to achieve a decent result, concede as few goals as possible and counterattack ourselves. Against Czech Republic, we are definitely going to fight. With Norway, there will also be problems because they have very strong, tall players. We will try to play them at close quarters. Overall—we are preparing for the challenge. The girls really want to show themselves and dream of qualifying for the European Championship finals,”—said Nataliya Yagnatovich.

Photo: womensfootball.com.ua

Roster of Ukraine's WU-19 Women's National Team

Goalkeepers: Varvara Novikova ("Ladomir" Volodymyr), Viktoriya Kanyevska ("Panthers" Uman).

Defenders: Lydia Zaborovets, Sofia Lutsan (both—Shakhtar Donetsk), Daria Krasnobarodko ("Kolos" Kovalevka), Valeriya Gres ("Clotten", Switzerland), Yevgeniya Beleva ("Zurich", Switzerland).

Midfielders: Dilara Bondarchuk, Diana Borovska, Sofia Petrosyan (all—"EMS-Podillya" Vinnytsia), Dana Korotchuk, Myroslava Nevar (both—"Ladomir" Volodymyr), Oleksandra Yanieva ("Shakhtar" Donetsk), Yelyzaveta Likhovid ("Sisters" Odessa), Valeriya Goncharuk ("Ateks" Kyiv), Kateryna Yuzyva ("Mariupol").

Forwards: Victoria Radionova ("Vorskla" Poltava), Liliana Serbuk, Angelina Fedorenko (both—"Kolos" Kovalevka), Marina Ptitsyna ("Hamburg", Germany).

Euro 2024 (WU-19). Second Qualifying Round. Group A4

April 3, 2024

France — Ukraine (16:00)

Norway — Czech Republic (16:00)

April 6, 2024

France — Norway (16:00)

Czech Republic — Ukraine (16:00)

April 9, 2024

Czech Republic — France (17:00)

Ukraine — Norway (17:00)

Match times are in Kyiv time.

In the second qualifying round, seven teams will be determined to join Lithuania in the final stage of the European Championship among women's under-19 teams. Additionally, teams that move from one league to another will also be decided.

In League A, 28 teams will compete across seven groups, including seven teams that advanced from League B after the first round. The seven group winners in League A's second round will secure spots at the finals, which will take place from July 15 to 27, 2024. Teams finishing fourth in their respective groups will start the next season’s first round in League B.

In League B, 23 teams across six groups (five with four participants each and one with three) will battle for promotion to League A's first round of the upcoming tournament. Lithuania will also compete in League B despite having a guaranteed spot at the finals as hosts.

Euro 2024 (WU-19). Second Qualifying Round

League A

Group A1: Spain, Denmark, Greece, Slovenia.

Group A2: Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Croatia.

Group A3: England, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland.

Group A4: France, Czech Republic, Norway, Ukraine.

Group A5: Serbia, Belgium, Belarus, Slovakia.

Group A6: Netherlands, Finland, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group A7: Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Romania.

League B

Group B1: Wales, North Macedonia, Moldova, Lithuania.

Group B2: Scotland, Albania, Cyprus, Liechtenstein.

Group B3: Israel, Kosovo, Gibraltar, Luxembourg.

Group B4: Montenegro, Bulgaria, Latvia, Azerbaijan.

Group B5: Northern Ireland, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Georgia.

Group B6: Turkey, Faroe Islands, Armenia.