Tomorrow the Ukrainian U-19 team starts at the 2024 European Youth Championship
Head coach Ukrainian youth team Dmitry Mykhailenko answered journalists’ questions before the team’s start at the 2024 European U-19 Youth Championship. According to him, the blue-and-yellows expect to be among the tournament’s top four teams.
“As always, we can’t be completely satisfied. But the preparation went great, there were really good conditions for training, we had a friendly. However, unfortunately, now is the off-season, and the players started training again not so long ago. The guys worked fully for only two weeks, of course, they lack the game tone. But everyone is on equal terms, so there is no point in complaining. Every day I see that the players’ condition is improving – both physically and psychologically, and in terms of how we want to show ourselves here.”
“Our goal is to get into the top four teams. We hope for this and will do everything possible to go as far as possible. Then everything will depend on our condition, on how we play.”
“I am sure there will be pressure, there will be fans in the stands. Regardless of what part of the UK the teams play in, they are supported madly. There will be whistles and shouts, and we must be ready for this. Just as we must be ready for any external circumstances, for the wind, for the fact that the Northern Ireland players will be super motivated. We must respond with calm when we have the ball, aggressiveness, if necessary, press in every part of the field and be confident in ourselves and our game. Each player feels the responsibility and importance of the opening match in such tournaments as the European Championship,” said Mikhaylenko.
The Ukrainian U-19 team will play in Group A at the 2024 European Youth Championship, where its opponents will be Northern Ireland (the tournament hosts), Norway and Italy. In Group B, the youth teams of Denmark, Turkey, France and Spain will compete for a place in the semi-finals.
The schedule of matches of the Ukrainian U-19 team at the upcoming European Youth Championship 2024 has already been determined. The blue-yellows will play all three games in Larne. The first opponent of Dmitry Mykhailenko’s team will be the host team of the event – Northern Ireland, the match against which will take place on July 15.
Two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. In addition, since the continental championship will also serve as UEFA’s qualifier for the 2025 World Cup (U-20), the teams that finish third in their groups will play for the fifth European spot at the World Cup. The final match of the 2024 U-19 European Championship will be held on July 28.
Source: Sportarena
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
