Yuriy Moroz: "In our group, the favorite is Italy. Cyprus and Ireland are not so authoritative in terms of names, but they can present a surprise"

16.12.2022 14:15

Photo of UAF press service

Head coach of the youth team of Ukraine U-17 Yuriy Moroz commented on the results of the draw of the elite round of Euro-2023 selection.

From March 7 to March 13, 2023, the youth national team of Ukraine (football players not older than 2006) will participate in the elite round of selection for the European Championship. In the course of the draw, it became clear that the blue-yellow team will meet with the teams of Italy, Cyprus (host of the tournament) and Ireland.

The official website of the UAF asked the head coach of the U-17 youth national team of Ukraine Yuriy Moroz to sum up the results of the past year and share his opinion about future opponents in the elite round.

"Last year, in my opinion, was positive for our national team," said Yurii Moroz. — The task that was set before the team was accomplished: we made it to the elite round of the Euro and remain in the fight to get to the final part of the European Championship. I am happy for my football players, who tried to fulfill all the requirements of the coaching staff. I would also like to thank the management of the UAF, which did everything to ensure that our work was carried out at the highest level.

As for the draw, Italy is the favorite in our group because it is a football country. Cyprus and Ireland are not so authoritative by name, but, I am sure, they are capable national teams that can spring a surprise. At this stage of the competition, the opponents are roughly equal, a little luck — and anyone can take first or second place. It is necessary to prepare and tune in to each match as if it were the final.

Training plan? It has not yet been approved. Perhaps it will be possible to make one (selection) gathering in February, as we would like to expand the circle of candidates and look at guys who play abroad, and the second one - right before the elite round. However, it makes no sense to guess so far, given the realities in which we live.

Euro 2023 (U-17). Elite round

32 teams were divided into eight groups, the matches of which will be held in March. At stake are 15 tickets to the final stage, the matches of which will take place between May 17 and June 2, 2023 in Hungary. The eight winners of the groups of the elite round of selection and the seven runners-up with the best results will enter the final tournament. They will be joined by the host country.

Group 1: Serbia, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus.

Group 2: Montenegro, Wales, Scotland, Iceland.

Group 3: The Netherlands, England, Denmark, Northern Ireland.

Group 4: Spain, Germany, Turkey, Finland.

Group 5: Portugal, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia.

Group 6: Italy, Ukraine, Cyprus, Ireland.

Group 7: Belgium, Norway, Croatia, Slovenia.

Group 8: France, Switzerland, Latvia, Albania.

We will remind, in the qualifying round of Euro-2023 (U-17) the youth national team of Ukraine under the leadership of Yuriy Moroz took first place in their group, ahead of the teams of Azerbaijan (5:2), Liechtenstein (7:0) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1:1).