European Championship 2018 (U-19): Ukraine national team starts tournament today

17.07.2018 12:40

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Today the Ukrainian national team (football players not older than 1999 year of birth) will hold their first match for Euro-2018, held in Finland.

Oleksandr Petrakov's wards will start a duel with the French in Vaas at 20.30 pm outside Kyiv. A little earlier, at 18.30 pm, the referee's starting whistle will sound for the meeting of other Group B teams - Turkey and England, which will meet in Seinajoki.

The teams of group A played their matches yesterday. Portugal defeated Norway with a score of 3: 1, and the hosts of the tournament - the Finns lost to the Italians - 0: 1.

On the eve of the start of the tournament, its participants shared their thoughts on the upcoming matches.

Oleksandr Petrakov (head coach of the Ukrainian U-19 national team): “We tried to make the players approach the competition in the best possible condition. We came to Finland to defend the honor of the country. Although it is necessary to understand that in such a difficult time for Ukraine to get to the final part of the European Championship, where there will be no Spain, Holland, Germany, it is already a success ... "

Valeriy Bondar (defender of the Ukrainian U-19 national team): “It is important to play well in the first match of the tournament. Although our opponent is not a pleasant one. However, the French also have weaknesses, so we will try to play on this. The national team of Ukraine really wants to get to the semifinals of the tournament ... "

Sergey Bulets (Ukrainian U-19 midfielder): “We believe in our strength and want to go as far as possible. Although we understand how difficult it will be to do. There are no favorites or outsiders in our group. All national teams are able to reach the semifinals. "

It will be recalled that on July 20, the rival of the national team of Ukraine in the second round of the group tournament will be the team of England, and on the 23rd - the national team of Turkey. Both matches will take place in Seinajoki and will start at 18.30.