Journalist Serhiy Tyshchenko commented on the performance of the Ukrainian youth team at Euro-2025 (U-21).
Serhiy Tyshchenko“I do not understand the hate around the Ukrainian youth team and Unai Melgosa. The problem of the team is the players, not the coach.
We got out of the qualifying group where Serbia and England were. We made it to the top 16 youth teams in Europe. It’s just unrealistic to demand more from Unai and this lineup.
We need to thank the youth team for Euro. They wanted it very much, they tried very hard, but they couldn’t jump higher than their heads.
We have two legionnaires - Yarmoluk and Batagov. It’s funny and unnecessary to demand a lot from players in the Ukrainian championship. Just look at the results of our clubs in European competitions.
I understand why Ilya Krupskyi did not want to go to MLS. Artem Smoliakov was really competing with Konstantin Vivcharenko for a spot in the lineup, and after Smoliakov’s move to the USA, there was already a division into starting and backup.
The main hero is Oleg Ocheretko. I hope that he will go to Europe in summer and not continue going through loans. Maksym Braharu jumped somewhere higher than his head. Two goals at this level is a very good indicator.
The main disappointment is Volodymyr Brazhko. Playing against the Netherlands without a defensive midfielder is very difficult. Valik Rubchynskyi did not run far away. I expected more from Yarmoluk and Batagov.
We should be happy that we went to Euro. I am not very confident that the next time will be soon. The 2004-2005 generation is not very talented and has big problems with playing time in adult football.
The coaching staff has only one question - Ilya Krupskyi and Oleksandr Yatsyk in the tournament roster who were not ready to play. Matches were held every three days. Rotation was needed, but there was none.
I would like Unai Melgosa to leave the youth team. He did a great job and deserves a new, bigger challenge. The level of our youth team will decline. At the last Euro, there were players with Champions League experience, but now… in the next call-up, the level of players will be even lower,” Tyshchenko wrote on his telegram channel.
