Today, on 20 May, the U-17 national team of Ukraine (players not older than 2007) will play their first match at the European Championship. The match against Serbia will start at 18:00.
Photo: UAF press serviceIn the group stage of the tournament, the blue and yellows will play Serbia, the Czech Republic and Cyprus in Group A. The forum itself, with the participation of 16 national teams, will take place from 20 May to 5 June in Cyprus - at six stadiums in Ahna, Larnaca, Paralimni and Limassol.
The Ukrainian team began direct preparations for the championship on the island on 12 May.
"Unfortunately, there are some losses," said Yuriy Moroz, head coach of the Ukraine U-17 team, "but this does not apply to the legionnaires. Due to injury, Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Volodymyr Ozymai, on whom we were counting heavily, could not come. Otherwise, I believe that today this is the optimal composition of the current national team of Ukraine.
I won't be specific, but I can say for sure that, studying the opponents, I concluded that each of the teams in our group can present a surprise. The matches themselves will show who will be the best. Each of the opponents has about the same chances of success. The Ukrainian national team must be ready to show its best in every game, this is the only way we can achieve the best results.
The final part of the Euro is different from the qualifying or elite round, psychological stability is very important here, there must be a good functional state, and I'm not talking about the team's desire and attitude. In such tournaments, every game is crucial. I would really like the guys to be imbued with our ideas and give at least a little joy to the Ukrainian people in such a difficult time."
It will be recalled that in October 2023, Ukrainian boys born in 2007 under the leadership of Volodymyr Yezersky successfully completed the first stage of the selection (Germany - 0: 1, Finland - 2: 2, Liechtenstein - 7: 0), despite the lack of time for quality training. And in early March, under the leadership of Yuriy Moroz, the elite qualifying rounds were held in one breath (Greece - 2: 0, Switzerland - 3: 0, Slovakia - 3: 0).
In addition, in April, our team held a short-term training camp, during which they played two away sparring matches with their peers from Cyprus (2: 0, 1: 2).
