Head coach of the U-17 youth team of Ukraine Oleksandr Sytnyk shared his thoughts on the upcoming team gathering and talked about expectations from official matches.
The U-17 youth national team of Ukraine (players not older than 2008) will soon begin preparations for the second qualifying round of Euro-2025 (U-17). The blue and yellow are in Group A1 along with Italy, Croatia, and Slovakia. The matches of this mini-tournament will take place from the 19th to the 25th of March in Croatia. Only the group winner will advance to the final stage.
On the eve of the gathering, head coach of the Ukrainians Oleksandr Sytnyk answered questions from the official UAF website.
— Mr. Oleksandr, when does your team’s gathering start?
— On the evening of the 15th, we will depart from Kyiv by train, and I hope to arrive at our destination in Croatia, near Zagreb, in about a day. We will have only two training days to prepare as best as possible for the tournament.
— Did you have any problems determining the squad for the upcoming competition?
— There are always nuances in this regard. This includes injuries to players and illnesses. For example, we are missing Dynamo player Ivan Andriyko, who underwent surgery. Due to his absence, we encountered certain problems in this position. However, we hope that the other guys will give no reason for doubt about their skills.
We closely monitored some players in clubs until the last moment to ensure confidence in the future. After all, there is also a problem with the application, as only 20 players can be included (18 field players and two goalkeepers). Our coaching staff, while determining the squad, tried to consider all aspects in case, once again, of injuries or suspensions.
— There are now three goalkeepers on the list...
— That's right. One of them will be, as they say, on standby. In case of force majeure, UEFA's medical department is considering the possibility of replacing a player in the application. It's more complicated with field players, but with goalkeepers, it's more realistic.
— Are two central forwards enough?
— Again, we cannot have two players for one position, so, as I mentioned earlier, we selected players in a way that allows for flexibility in the lineup. The same Dmytro Zudin can play both in the center of attack and as a winger. And Maksym Kucheravyy can act from deeper positions. Nominal midfielder Andriy Hamzyk can also play at the forefront, just like Oleksandr Sereda.
— About a month ago, you mentioned that there was not much information about opponents. How is it now?
— There is generally enough information. Our team played against Croatia at the end of last year, even before my appointment, in two friendlies, and we have video footage. Recently, Slovakia participated in an international tournament in Turkey, and the Italians played friendly matches against the Spaniards and the French. So, there is plenty of material. Moreover, all our opponents competed in the first qualifying round of the European Championship.
We have an understanding of how these teams operate, although it is still difficult to talk about their lineups and who will be among the main players. For us, it is most important to convey all the principles of our game to the players so that we can showcase our best qualities and exploit the opponents' weaknesses.
— Who is the favorite of our group, Italy or the host Croatia?
— It’s hard to say, as psychology takes precedence in youth football, and whoever manages this better will win. Although, of course, we like to compare teams by the names of the senior teams of their countries. But I will say this: Italy, Croatia, and Slovakia are teams of good level. Perhaps they do not have distinctly bright stars, but all the opponents are balanced, both in attack and defense. Probably, on paper, Croatia has slightly higher chances because they are playing at home, but only the matches will show the outcome. At the same time, I don’t think we should underestimate Ukraine and Slovakia.
— In what status is the Ukrainian national team heading to this tournament?
— In modern football, there are probably no more secrets. Although, of course, we are unlikely to be considered potential tournament winners. Whether this is an advantage or disadvantage for us will be shown over time. I can say one thing: the Ukrainian national team has a great desire to go to the European Championship. It is important that our players do not fear serious opponents. We will go from match to match and fight for results in each of them.