The head coach of the U-19 national team of Ukraine Dmytro Mykhailenko shared his thoughts on today's Euro 2024 (U-19) 1/2 final match against France.
Dmitry Mikhailenko"Everything is fine, everyone is ready to play in the semifinals. Fortunately, there are no injured in the team. There are tired players, but no injured ones, and this is a good sign.
As for the disqualified players, it is very difficult that three players miss the match, but we have good performers who will replace them. Everyone is ready to take responsibility, everyone is motivated and wants to play. We will decide on the starting lineup tomorrow.
France is a very worthy opponent, with very strong players who play with high intensity. We have to be ready for high speed. It's important not to lose the one-on-one combat. They may not have any pre-arranged combinations or patterns, but they can easily attack through the center due to the individual skills of the players. We have to be constantly ready to cover our partner.
France has a very strong attacking group: strikers, fast wingers. And the coaches change them. It seems to me that there are no main players as such - they are all of a high level. The guys play for 45-55 minutes, one replaces the other, so they are not tired. The central midfielders are very good - Benama, Atangana.
There are only a few hours between the semifinals. So if there is extra time in the first one (Italy vs Spain, also to be held in Belfast, like the France vs Ukraine match - ed.), we will come and push the Italians and Spaniards to finish faster. But I am sure that the pitch will be fine, because it is a hybrid surface: 70% artificial fibers and 30% grass. That's why it recovers very quickly, and we will play on a high-quality lawn," said Dmytro Mykhailenko.
