Before the opening match of the Ukrainian U-21 national team in the qualification tournament for Euro-2027 against Lithuania, which will take place on September 5 in the city of Druskininkai at LSK "Druskininkai Stadium," the head coach of the team Unai Melgosa answered several questions.
Unai Melgosa (photo: uaf.ua)
— What were the main criteria you considered when forming the list of 24 players for the start of the Euro-2027 qualifiers?
— The criteria for selecting players have remained unchanged. First and foremost, we focus on athletes who can go through a certain journey with us and have the potential for further growth. At the same time, their current situation in their clubs and other circumstances, including the interest in testing them in the team’s dynamic, are taken into account.
— Lithuania will be our first opponent in the qualifying cycle. How do you see this team and what will be the key to success in the match in Druskininkai?
— It was not easy for us to find enough material on Lithuania, especially considering the transition of players from U-19 to U-21. In any case, this is an organized team that has certain potential in attack. We must not underestimate our opponent. At the same time, our tasks go beyond a specific result. Many players are making their debut in the U-21 team, and we must lay the foundation for their adaptation while also continuing to work on the individual progress of the players. It is important to see what the team can demonstrate during this training camp, not just in the match against Lithuania.
— How important is it to start the qualifying tournament well, and how might that affect the further course of the competition?
— A successful start is very important. We understood this well after the previous Euro. Of course, a positive result at the beginning will help us in this cycle, especially given the compactness of the group. In any case, it is important that these days leave a positive mark, and that this team and these players are able to develop together throughout the cycle while also strengthening the national team. This was the case with the previous generation, which included Brazhko, Yarmolyuk, Ocheretko, Mykhavko, Voloshin… They were called up not only because of their qualities but also because being in the U-21 team gave them the right impulse for development.
— The team includes both newcomers and players with experience at the international level. How do you plan to combine their abilities to achieve results?
— I hope that each of them will contribute. It is very important that everyone arrives with the desire to work and develop. This factor will be decisive in forming the collective.
— Does the team have a clearly defined goal for this qualifying cycle, and how do you see Ukraine’s prospects in the battle for a spot in the Euro-2027 final tournament?
— Our tasks have several levels. We aim to qualify and get the opportunity to play in the Euro-2027 final tournament, as well as to create conditions for the players’ progress. At the same time, we are developing a playing style that matches the DNA of the national team. Step by step, we will look at our prospects. I do not like to make premature predictions, but our aspirations are as high as possible.
