Today, March 22, the Ukrainian youth team U-17 (players born in 2008 or later) continued their participation in the second qualifying round of Euro-2025.

Coach Oleksandr Sitnik's wards are playing in Group A1, where they lost to Croatia (1:2) at the start. Today our team faced Italy, which defeated Slovakia (1:0) in their first match. The game took place in the Croatian city of Split.

The first chance was created by the Italians — after Prisco's shot, the Ukrainian defense cleared it. Later, Hadashevych parried Arena's shot from a tight angle. Ukrainians responded with several unsuccessful attempts. However, on the 28th minute, blue-and-yellow took the lead in the score — Bovo sliced the ball into his own net after a cross by Kaliuzhnyi.

Later, Italians created several opportunities: Arena shot over Hadashevych's hands, and shortly afterward missed from an even better position. Zubriy had a chance to score at 44 minutes, but Lonjoly saved it. A moment later, Gamzik failed to convert after a corner kick.

At the start of the second half, Hadashevych saved our team from an attack by Luongo, and shortly afterward Arena shot over the crossbar. Italians continued to press on our goal and create chances. Unfortunately, at the end of the game, "Squadra Azzurra" managed to turn the tide. First, Mambuku scored after a corner kick, and in the next attack Elimogale was able to push the ball into the net. Thus, Ukrainians lost again with a score of 1:2.

Two losses left Ukrainian boys without any chance of advancing to the final tournament. The concluding match of the second qualifying round will be played on March 25 against Slovakia's U-17 team.

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

March 19, 2025

Ukraine — Croatia — 1:2

Italy — Slovakia — 1:0

March 22, 2025

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

Goals: Mambuku (90), Elimogale (90+2) — Bovo (28, own goal).

Italy (U-17): Lonjoly, Amigere (Mambuku, 46), Bovo, Reggiani (Borasio, 75), Gian, Prisco, Steffanonni (Campagnello, 46), Maccaroni, Luongo (Baralla, 69), Arena (Elimogale, 69), Inacio.

Ukraine (U-17): Hadashevych, Melnyk (Muradyan, 46), Milokost, Kostyuk, Kaliuzhnyi, Kutya, Petrovsky, Lysin (O. Tkachenko, 55), Gamzik (Zalypka, 83), Zudin (Kucheravyi, 63), Zubriy (Shishkewich, 63).

Yellow cards: Maccaroni (47), Elimogale (89), Luongo (90+2, for unsporting behavior) — O. Tkachenko (57), Kaliuzhnyi (61), Kostyuk (89).

Croatia — Slovakia — 2:1

Standing Table

March 25, 2025

Croatia — Italy (Split, 16:30)

Slovakia — Ukraine (Sečovce, 16:30)

Match start time is in Kyiv.

Euro-2025 (U-17) Second Qualifying Round Draw Results

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. Seven group winners in League A will earn the right to join the host nation Albania for the final tournament from May 19 to June 1. Seven teams finishing fourth in their respective League A groups will drop down to League B in the first round of Euro-2027 (U-19) qualifying.

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. Seven group winners in League B will rise to League A in the first round of Euro-2027 (U-19) qualifying.

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