2019 World Cup (U-20): we represent the national team of Ukraine - a unique team of Alexander Petrakov

The generation of football players born in 1999 is special. This national team of Ukraine is in the top five, which in its biography played in the final tournaments of the European Championships in both the junior age category (U-17) and in the senior (U-19).

In addition, this team is one of the three of the five that also made it to the U-20 World Cup. The national teams of 1981 (coaches - Anatoliy Buznyk and Anatoliy Kroshchenko) and 1985 (coaches Pavlo Yakovenko and Oleksiy Mykhailychenko) were also born at the world championships. Teams of 1990 (coach Yuri Kalitvintsev) and 1996 (coach Alexander Golovko) years of birth did not have such an opportunity. But Yuri Kalitvintsev's wards won the 2009 U-19 European Home Championships, which also makes them special.

It all started in October 2015 ...

Alexander Petrakov's team began its ascent in October 2015 in Moldova. It was the first stage of qualifying for Euro 2016 (U-17). After a draw with Moldova (1-1, goal by Yaroslav Deda), the Ukrainians defeated Estonia (2-0, Denis Popov and Alexei Khakhlev) and Bosnia (3-0, Alexei Kashchuk, Yaroslav Deda and Andrei Kulakov).

At the stage of the elite round, which took place in England in March 2016, after victories over Finland (3-0, Valery Bondar, Alexei Kashchuk, Sergei Bulets) and Turkey (3-0, Sergei Bulets (2), Yuri Kozirenko) became a duel with the hosts. The goal that Alexei Sich scored brought us a draw (1: 1) and a pass to the final tournament.

In Azerbaijan in May 2016, unfortunately, Petrakov's wards failed to win at least one match: Germany - 2: 2 (Denis Yanakov, Sergei Bulets), Austria - 0: 2, Bosnia - 1: 2 (Andrei Kulakov).

In October 2017, the national team of Ukraine started in a new selection - for Euro 2019 (U-19). The first stage in Albania the team passed without points losses, winning the hosts (1: 0, Vladislav Supryaga), Norway (2: 1, own goal and Vladislav Supryaga) and Montenegro (4: 0, Serhiy Buletsa, Oleksiy Kashchuk (2), Viktor Kornienko).

The elite round in March 2018 in Romania seemed very difficult, but Petrakov's team showed character, and the main characters were defenders: Sweden - 0: 0, Serbia - 2: 1 (Vitaly Mykolenko, Alexander Safronov), Romania - 2: 1 (Alexander Safronov, Valery Bondar). The last match, in which we only needed a victory, went under an incredible scenario, and the Ukrainian players not only played one goal, but also managed to put the hosts on their shoulders in overtime.

Our guys also surprised their rivals in the final tournament, which took place in July 2018 in Finland. In the first match - a victory over the formidable France - 2: 1 (Georgy Tsitaishvili, Sergei Bulets). In the second - a draw with England - 1: 1 (Vladislav Supryaga), in the third - a victory over Turkey - 1: 0 (Sergei Bulets) and reaching the semifinals of Euro 2018. There, however, Ukraine was defeated by Portugal - 0: 5, but the bronze medals of the European Championship were won, and in addition - a pass to the U-20 World Cup in Poland.

Personnel nuances and sparring

It is easy to see that the composition of this team is very stable. Almost all the main actors kept their place in the base, although the competition, of course, no one has canceled. Defenders Tymofiy Sukhar (Zorya) and forward Andriy Kulakov (Shakhtar) did not make it to Poland. At the last moment, one of the leaders of defense Vitaliy Mykolenko (Dynamo) was injured, who in the 2018/2019 season gained extensive experience in the Premier League and Europa League. This is a very serious loss.

Goalkeeper Andriy Kozhukhar (Chornomorets) and attacking midfielder Vladyslav Vakula (Mariupol), who also played for their teams in the UPL, were not included in the bid for the World Cup.

However, the goalkeeper of the national team of Ukraine Andriy Lunin, who spent the season on loan from Real Madrid in Leganes, returned to the team. And the youngest player of the U-20 national team is 18-year-old forward Danilo Sikan, who moved from Karpaty to Shakhtar in the winter of 2019 and then went on loan to Mariupol.

Defenders Danylo Beskorovainy (played in the Slovak championship) and striker Denys Ustymenko from Oleksandriya are also among the newcomers who have only recently established themselves in the squad.

The national team of Ukraine gathered on May 11 to prepare for the World Cup. For three days, on May 14, Oleksandr Petrakov's wards held a sparring match with one of the leaders of the first league of Ukraine - "Kolos" (Kovalivka), which ended in a draw - 1: 1. The goal in the national team was scored by Georgi Tsitaishvili.

The next day, the coaching staff announced its bid for the World Cup, reducing the lineup by four performers. After that it was necessary to make replacement: Oleg Veremienko from "Kalush" (the second league) instead of Vitaly Mykolenko.

And on May 18 the second sparring took place - with the national team of the Republic of South Africa (also a participant of the World Cup), which also ended in a draw - 1: 1. The goal was scored by Victor Kornienko from the penalty spot, and goalkeeper Vladislav Kucheruk parried an 11-meter shot which was punched by the visitors.

To Poland the Ukrainian team left on May 20 - to the city of Bielsko-Biała. There on her expected Andrey Lunin, who played for Leganes in the last two rounds of the Spanish championship (May 12 and 18).

Application of the national team of Ukraine for the 2019 World Cup (U-20)

Goalkeepers

D.B.

Club

№ 1 Andrii LUNIN

11.02.1999

Leganes (Spain)

№ 12 Vladyslav KUCHERUK

14.02.1999

Dynamo

№ 20 Dmytro RIZNYK

30.01.1999

Vorskla

Defenders

D.B.

Club

№ 2 Valerii BONDAR

27.02.1999

Shakhtar

№ 3 Oleksandr SAFRONOV

11.06.1999

Dnipro-1

№ 4 Denys POPOV

17.02.1999

Dynamo

№ 5 Oleh VEREMIYENKO

13.02.1999

"Kalush"

№ 9 Viktor KORNIYENKO

14.02.1999

Shakhtar

№ 13 Danylo BESKOROVAINYI

07.02.1999

Zemplin (Slovakia)

№ 17 Yukhym KONOPLYA

26.08.1999

Shakhtar

№ 19 Ihor SNURNITSYN

07.03.2000

Donetsk

Midfielders

D.B.

Club

№ 6 Maksym CHEKH

03.01.1999

Shakhtar

№ 7 Georgii TSYTAISHVILI

18.11.2000

Dynamo

№ 8 Oleksii KHAKHLYOV

06.02.1999

Alaves (Spain)

№ 10 Serhiy BULETSA

16.02.1999

Dynamo

№ 15 Kyrylo DRYSHLYUK

16.09.1999

Oleksandriya

№ 16 Mykola MUSOLITIN

21.01.1999

Chornomorets

№ 21 Oleksii KASHCHUK

29.06.2000

Shakhtar

Forwards

D.B.

Club

№ 11 Vladyslav SUPRYAHA

15.02.2000

Dynamo

№ 14 Danylo SIKAN

16.04.2001

Mariupol.

№ 18 Denys USTYMENKO

12.04.1999

Oleksandriya

Coach

 

 

Oleksandr PETRAKOV

06.08.1957

 

Recall that at the group stage of the World Cup 2019 (U-20) Ukraine's national team will play in May with the teams of the USA (24th), Qatar (27th) and Nigeria (30th).

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