The coach and players of the women's national team of Ukraine - about the preparation for the matches with Serbia and Poland

19.09.2023 11:41

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

V. o. the head coach and players of the women's national team of Ukraine were told about the team's preparation for participation in the first two matches of the group tournament of the debut draw of the League of Nations. 

From Monday, September 18, the women's national team of Ukraine at the base in Sopot is preparing for the matches of the League of Nations group tournament against Serbia and Poland, combining training with theoretical classes.

Blue-yellow coach Volodymyr Pyatenko and the players talked about their emotions and tasks in the upcoming matches.  

Volodymyr Pyatenko: "It is very important to play for victory in every match, because it is both points in the national team's treasury and the actual result. Each team sets maximum goals for itself, regardless of which group it falls into. It doesn't matter who we play, it's important to play to win."

Daria Apanashchenko: "We are very glad that we were gathered again in the camp of the national team. We have a new coach, with whom I already know, and we are working hard. Everyone is in a good mood. Task? Always be the first. This is for the whole team, and everyone sets individual tasks for themselves."

Victoria Holovach: "We arrived with a great mood. I am glad that I received such an invitation. It is a great honor for me. I feel great. We are preparing for the upcoming games in a good mood. First of all, this is a challenge in advance for me. You need to show yourself and earn a place in this team. And the main thing is to cope with the excitement and demonstrate everything I can."

Yana Kotyk: "We are a little worried, because we are participating in this tournament for the first time, and it is a very big responsibility to represent our country. I am very happy that I was called to the team and I am here." 

As a reminder, the match of the 1st round between Ukraine and Serbia will take place on September 22 in the Polish town of Starogard-Gdański at the city stadium named after Kazimierz Deyna (starting at 16.00 Kyiv time). The match of the 2nd round between Poland and Ukraine will be held on September 26 (19.00 p.m.). It will be hosted by the City Stadium in Gdynia.

The squad of the national women's team of Ukraine

Goalkeepers: Kateryna Samson ("Vorskla" Poltava), Daria Kelyushik ("Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih), Kateryna Boklach ("Marseille", France).

Defenders: Kateryna Korsun, Yana Kotyk, Iryna Podolska, Iryna Kotyash (all "Vorskla" Poltava), Anastasia Voronina ("Colossus" Kovalivka), Lyubov Shmatko ("Galatasaray", Turkey).

Midfielders: Iryna Maiborodina ("Kolos" Kovalivka), Victoria Golovach ("Shakhtar" Donetsk), Anna Petryk, Nikol Kozlova, Veronika Andruhiv ("Vorskla" Poltava), Victoria Girin ("Ladomyr" Volodymyr), Dayana Semkiv ("Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih), Natia Pantsulaya, Darya Apanashchenko (both - "Zhytlobud-1" Kharkiv), Khrystyna Pereviznyk ("Karagyumryuk", Turkey).

Forwards: Yana Kalinina, Roksolana Kravchuk (both from Vorskla Poltava), Olga Ovdiychuk (Fomget, Turkey), Inna Hlushchenko (Nice, France).

Women's League of Nations-2023/2024

Group B3

1 round

22.09.2023

Ukraine - Serbia

Greece — Poland

2 round

26.09.2023

Poland - Ukraine

Serbia — Greece

3 round

27.10.2023

Greece - Ukraine

Poland — Serbia

4 round

31.10.2023

Ukraine - Greece

Serbia — Poland

5 round

01.12.2023

Ukraine - Poland

Greece - Serbia

6 round

05.12.2023

Serbia - Ukraine

Poland — Greece

Women's League of Nations 2023/2024 draw results

League A

Group A1: England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland.

Group A2: France, Norway, Austria, Portugal.

Group A3: Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Wales.

Group A4: Sweden, Spain, Italy, Switzerland.

League B.

Group B1: Ireland, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Albania.

Group B2: Finland, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia.

Group B3: Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Greece.

Group B4: Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus.

League C.

Group C1: Malta, Moldova, Latvia, Andorra.

Group C2: Turkey, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Georgia.

Group C3: Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Cyprus, Faroe Islands.

Group C4: Israel, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Armenia.

Group C5: North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria.

How will the group matches be played?

All matches in the group stage will be played according to the usual format - home and away against each opponent in the group. Three points will be awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss.

Who is leaving? Who will play in the head-to-head matches?

League A

The top two teams in each group remain in League A for the 2025 Women's UEFA European Qualifiers.

The four third-placed teams play head-to-head matches against the second-placed national teams in League B groups. The winner of each tie will play in League A for European qualification; the losing teams will play in League B.

Fourth-placed teams are relegated to League B.

League B

The four group winners advance to League A.

The four second-placed teams play in tie-breaks against the third-placed national teams in League A. The winners will play in League A; the losing teams will play in League B.

The three best third-placed teams play head-to-head matches against the three best second-placed teams in League C. The winners play in League B within the European qualifiers; the losing teams will play in League C.

The lowest-ranked third-placed team and the four fourth-placed teams advance to League C.

League C

The five group winners advance to League B.

The three best second-placed teams play head-to-head matches with the three best third-placed teams in League B. The winners play in League B within the European qualifiers; the losing teams will play in League C.

Other teams remain in League C.

Class promotion/relegation matches

Pairs are formed by drawing lots, matches are played at home and away. The teams that took the third places in their groups are considered seeded and the return matches are held at home.