The Head of the UAF Women's and Girls' Football Committee, Anastasia Klipachenko, in an interview with the official UAF website, answered pressing questions about the Ukrainian women's national team and spoke about the strategy for the development of women's national teams.

— The national team started the qualification with losses to England and Spain. How does the committee assess the start of the selection?

— The first match was extremely difficult for us. But I want to start on a positive note. Despite the final score of 1:6, we played the first half with the champions of the last two Euros in a 0:0 draw. This is an important indicator. The team played defensively, looking for their own moments for counterattacks. I believe that in the first half we coped with the defensive functions 100%. In the second half, we were a little lacking in physical condition and concentration in the game moments, so the high class of our opponents made itself felt.

The second game was against Spain. I am sure that the Spanish girls expected an easier match. But our team played well: not only defended, but also created very good chances. So, although the defeat was 1:3, I would like to note that in the second half against the reigning world champions, our girls played 1:1 and this is a good indicator of our team and its preparation.

Photo: Dan Balashov

We have a very difficult group, where there is also a stable participant of the Euro team Iceland. But we consider these matches as a useful experience for the future for our team. When we go out on the field and are not afraid of the current world champions, it first of all demonstrates our character. The coaching staff and management were satisfied with many aspects. The indicators from the trackers and the number of useful actions were at a high level.

After the match with England, the girls were very tired, but they emphasized that the most difficult thing was not the functional aspect, but the need for constant concentration. The England team gives a very high pace: you need to think quickly, change direction and adapt to the development of the game. But after the match with Spain, despite the overall result, everyone was in a relatively positive mood. Everyone understood that they played to the fullest and gave their maximum, and that is pleasing.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Unfortunately, in each of the two matches we lost our main players. Daria Ivkova and Nicole Kozlova suffered ruptured cruciate ligaments, and Daria also suffered damaged meniscuses - these are the most serious injuries in sports. We have spoken with them, they have already recovered a little psychologically and are optimistic, although it is very difficult. The Ukrainian Football Association provides them with full support. We have the opportunity to attract assistance from FIFA for players who were injured while playing for the national team. We are helping clubs to draw up all the necessary letters. The dates of the operations have already been determined, we will be there for the entire recovery stage. We wish Nicole and Daria a speedy recovery and return to the national team and to their favorite business!

— Has the new head coach of the national team, Iya Andrushchak, already adapted to her new role?

—A complete change of coaching staff is always a difficult period, because the game and the mood of the team change. However, the girls accepted this challenge very well. I want to note the wonderful atmosphere in the team — everyone was highly motivated.

Iya Andrushchak already has experience working in the national team, as she was previously an assistant to Spanish specialist Luis Cortes. She knows all the girls: she played with some, coached many at Vorskla, with whom she became the champion of Ukraine. Therefore, the adaptation was easy. I saw her confidence and the way she conveys information. There is synergy in the coaching staff - excellent communication between the head coach, assistant, goalkeeper coach and analyst. They have mutual respect and trust, as well as a clear long-term strategic vision, which completely coincides with the vector chosen by the UAF leadership. We constantly communicate, hold meetings and have a common vision of development, for me this is very important. Iya motivates the team wonderfully, I see how the girls' eyes light up - this is the most important thing.

Photo: Dan Balashov

— What is the goal for this World Cup qualifying tournament?

— Of course, we have a clear goal and maybe even a dream — to qualify for the World Cup. If we don't set ourselves the highest goals, then why go out on the field at all? Everyone understands that we need to work to the maximum.

It is very important that in 2025 we managed to win the Nations League group and move up to Division A. Now we are playing in a qualifying group from which it is impossible to be eliminated: the winner of the quartet gets to the World Cup, and the other three teams will have an additional chance in the playoffs. I am sure that the Ukrainian women's national team will fight to the end and has reason to declare its desire to get to the World Cup.

We have a month of preparation ahead of us for the next match against Iceland, which we will host in Poland. The coaching staff emphasized to the players: in these 30 days we cannot radically change everything, but each of them has the opportunity to become better every day by at least 1%. These are very motivating and practical words.

Photo: Dan Balashov

— You mentioned the strategic vector for the development of women's national teams. What does it consist of?

At the beginning of the work, the Women's and Girls' Football Committee, together with the coaching staff, identified priority areas. Our important strategic decision is to combine work with the coaches of the youth and girls' national teams WU-19, WU-17 and WU-15. We strive to build a clear vertical of work for all national teams. Previously, there was a lack of systematicity for a smoother transition from the WU-19 national team to the national team, there was a lack of communication between coaches. Now young players are demonstrating that they are able to adapt to the adult national team already at the age of 20-22.

We have reached a mutual understanding with the coaches of the youth teams, conveyed our philosophy for the development of Ukrainian women's football and are now finalizing the overall strategy together. Now we work in unison not only during training camps and matches, but also outside of them. Coaches regularly exchange experience, vision and plans. Our priority is not just recruiting players, but selecting the best ones who will make the journey from the youth teams to the national team.