Ukraine's youth national team midfielder Volodymyr Brazhko shares his thoughts on the captaincy of the blue and yellows, assesses the chances of reaching Euro 2025 (U-21) and admits that the whole team missed their home stadiums and the fierce support of Ukrainian fans.
Volodymyr Brazhko. Photo: uaf.ua- Volodymyr, the Ukrainian youth national team has gathered for the final qualifiers for Euro 2025 (U-21) this year. Did you miss the boys? What do you talk about during meetings after breaks for club football?
- Of course I miss them! All the guys are waiting for calls to the national team, because there is a special atmosphere here. When we get together, we talk about our head-to-head games. We can argue about who will win and who will lose (smiles). But the atmosphere in the national team is very warm and friendly.
- In the recent classic derby with Shakhtar, you led Dynamo onto the pitch with the captain's armband. Before that, you had the opportunity to do so in the youth team. Is it an honour or additional pressure for a footballer?
- For me, it's primarily an honour. Of course, there will be pressure, but you need to ignore it. I am the captain and I represent the whole team. I have to be a leader and solve all problems both on and off the football field.
- Under the guidance of Unai Melhosa's coaching staff, the youth team has now played three official matches. In your opinion, has the team managed to understand the requirements of the coaches? And do you see any differences from when you worked with Ruslan Rotan's coaching staff?
- We are getting better as a team with each training camp, but, of course, there is still room for growth. We work harder and understand each other better. There are, of course, some changes in the way we work, but the main thing is to fulfil the requirements of the coaching staff.
- Can you highlight any conceptual points that football expects to see from Unai Melgos' youngsters?
- A faster transition from defence to attack, more vertical football, the need to make decisions as quickly as possible.
- In the three opening matches of the Euro 2025 (U-21) qualifiers, the national team won three victories. The home victory over the English was especially valuable. Is this a well-deserved achievement for the blue and yellows?
- Of course, we wanted it! The match with England was crucial, and, in my opinion, we fulfilled the plan for it and beat our opponents. We need to stick to the same line in the matches against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan, and I think everything will be fine for us.
- You have two matches ahead of you - against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan. Both teams have won only once in the current campaign. What do you know about these opponents and what do you expect from the upcoming matches?
- We have recently met with Luxembourg. This is a fairly impregnable team. They try to play football and cover our players. We already know this opponent, we will study it further and try to win the second meeting. As for the Azerbaijani national team, we will receive all the necessary information from the coaching staff and will also prepare for this game.
- You scored for the youth team back in 2021, in a 1-1 friendly with Uzbekistan. When can we expect your next goal? Do you have other key responsibilities in the team game?
- I hope to score in every match. But it depends on how it goes. The main thing is for the team to win! I can still be useful in other game moments.
- How do you assess the chances of the Ukrainian youth national team to qualify for the 2025 European Championships?
- I have already played at the European Championships, but I want to get there again! I think we have good chances because I know the level of the boys and the team as a whole. Perhaps not many people believed that we could beat England, especially after the 9-1 defeat of the Serbs. But we did it and we are not going to relax. We want to reach the European Championship!
- The youth team will play both November qualifying matches in Murcia, Spain. Have you played in Spain before, and which match is the most memorable for you?
- I was in Murcia on a training camp with Dynamo Kyiv. But it was in winter, and it was not as warm as it is now. I feel very comfortable here.
- Due to the Russian full-scale invasion, the youth team has not been able to play on their home soil for over a year and a half. Do you personally miss the stadiums in Ukrainian cities filled with fans? Does the team feel the support of Ukrainians even from a distance?
- We haven't played in Ukraine for a long time, so of course we miss our home stadiums and stands full of our fans. When we play in Poland or Slovakia, a lot of Ukrainians come to the matches, but we still want to play in our home country. I want peace to come to Ukraine and everything to be fine!
The game with the Luxembourg national team will take place today, 17 November, and the meeting with the Azerbaijani team - on 21 November. Both matches start at 20:00 Kyiv time.
