Today, June 18, the Ukrainian youth team will play a decisive match in the group stage of Euro-2025 (U-21) — against the Netherlands team. We present our opponent.

Coach Michael Raičinger's wards have earned only one point after two matches. They drew with Finland — 2:2, losing initially by a score of 0:2, and lost to Denmark — 1:2.

Netherlands U-21

Number of appearances in the final tournaments of the European Championship (U-21) — 10. Best result in history — Champions of Europe (2006, 2007).

Squad

Goalkeepers: 1. Dany van den Heuvel («Brugge», Belgium), 16. Robin Rufus («Nijmegen»), 23. Calvin Raatsie («Excelsior»).

Defenders: 2. Devin Rensh («Roma», Italy), 3. Ryan Flamengo (PSV), 4. Yorrel Hato («Ajax»), 5. Ian Maatsen («Aston Villa», England), 8. Anass Salah-Eddine («Roma», Italy), 12. Nerysho Kasanviyrio («Rangers», Scotland), 13. Rave van den Berg («Middlesbrough», England), 14. Wouter Guss (AZ), 15. Bjorn Meyer («Brugge», Belgium).

Midfielders: 6. Yuri Reger («Ajax»), 10. Kenneth Taylor («Ajax»), 18. Ezekiel Banzuzi («Leuven», Belgium), 20. Antonie Milambo («Feyenoord»), 22. Luciano Valente («Groningen»).

Forwards: 7. Million Manhuf («Stoke City», England), 9. Noah Oghaiyo («Utrecht»), 11. Ruben van Bommel (AZ), 17. Ernest Poku (AZ), 19. Tom van Bergen («Groningen»), 21. Miron van Brederode («Fortuna» D, Germany).

Head Coach

The Netherlands youth team is coached by a star of European football in the 1990s — former defender of «Ajax», «Milan», and «Barcelona» Michael Raičinger, who played for the national Dutch team from 1994 to 2004 in 72 matches. Winner of the UEFA Champions League (1995), UEFA Cup (1992), UEFA Super Cup (1995, 1997) and Intercontinental Cup (1995), two-time Spanish champion (1998, 1999), four-time Dutch champion (1995, 1996, 2006, 2007).

Raičinger has been coaching for more than ten years — he started with the youth team of Rotterdam's «Sparta», worked as an assistant to the head coach of the club. Then he was in charge of Ajax's youth squad, again held the position of assistant to the first team's head coach. Since July 2023 — head coach of the Netherlands' youth national team.

Leader

The most valuable player in the Netherlands U-21 squad is defender Yorrel Hato of Ajax, valued by Transfermarkt at 35 million euros. The boy turned 19 only in March and already has experience playing for the national team (made his debut at age 17, played six matches) and has appeared in all official tournaments with the main club's squad 111 times. Of those, 29 were in European competitions.

Insiders are sending the best young player of the Dutch league for the season-2024/2025 to London's «Arsenal» — already this summer.

In Euro-2025 (U-21) qualification, Hato played half of the possible ten matches and in the final tournament he has played 90 minutes in both previous rounds.

Path to Euro-2025 (U-21)

Coach Michael Raičinger's team won all ten matches in the qualifying tournament, Group C, with a score of 32:3 and secured an automatic spot in the final stage of Euro-2025 (U-21).

08.09.2023. Netherlands — Moldova — 3:0

12.09.2023. North Macedonia — Netherlands — 0:2

12.10.2023. Georgia — Netherlands — 0:3

17.10.2023. Gibraltar — Netherlands — 0:5

16.11.2023. Netherlands — Gibraltar — 1:0

20.11.2023. Sweden — Netherlands — 2:4

25.03.2024. Moldova — Netherlands — 0:3

05.09.2024. Netherlands — North Macedonia — 5:0

09.09.2024. Netherlands — Georgia — 3:1

14.10.2024. Netherlands — Sweden — 3:0

The match between the Netherlands and Ukraine youth teams at Euro-2025 (U-21) will take place on June 18 in Prešov (kick-off at 7 PM Kyiv time).