The day before the starting match of Ukraine's youth national team in the Euro 2027 (U-21) qualifying tournament against Lithuania, which will take place on September 5 in the city of Druskininkai at LSK "Druskininkai Stadium",— head coach Unai Melgosa answered several questions from the press service of the UAF.

— What were the main criteria you considered when forming a list of 24 players for the Euro 2027 qualifiers?

— The selection criteria remained unchanged. First and foremost, we orient ourselves towards footballers who can go through a certain path with us and have potential for further growth. At the same time, their current situation in clubs and other circumstances are taken into account, including interest in testing them in the dynamics of working with the national team.

— Lithuania will be our first opponent in the qualifying cycle. How do you see this team and what will be key to success in the match in Druskininkai?

— It was not easy for us to find enough material on Lithuania, especially considering the transition of players from U-19 to U-21. Nevertheless, it is an organized team with some potential in attack. We should not underestimate our opponent. At the same time, our tasks go beyond a specific result. Many players are making their debut in the youth national team, and we need to lay the groundwork for their adaptation as well as continue working on individual progress of footballers. It is important to see what the team can demonstrate throughout this camp, not just in the match against Lithuania.

— How important is it to start the qualifying tournament successfully, and how might this impact the course of competition?

— A successful start has great significance. We understood this well after the previous Euro. Of course, a positive result at the beginning will help us in this cycle, especially considering the compactness of the group. In any case, it is important that these days leave a positive impression and that this team and these players can develop together throughout the cycle while strengthening the national team. This was the case with the previous generation, from which Brazyko, Yarmoluk, Ocheretnyk, Mykhavko, Voloshin… emerged. They were called up not only due to their qualities but also because being in the youth national team gave them the right impulse for development.

— The squad includes both newcomers and players with international experience. How do you plan to combine their strengths for achieving results?

— I hope that each of them will make a contribution. It is very important that everyone arrives with the desire to work and develop. This factor will be decisive in forming the collective.

— Is there a clearly defined goal for this qualifying cycle, and what do you see as Ukraine's prospects in the fight for qualification to the Euro 2027 finals?

— Our tasks have several levels. We aim to qualify and get the opportunity to play in the final stage of Euro 2027, as well as create conditions for players' progress. Simultaneously, we are developing a style of play that fits the DNA of the national team. Step by step, we will look at our prospects. I do not like making premature predictions, but our aspirations are maximally high.

Composition of Ukraine's youth national team

Goalkeepers: Vladyslav Kravivtsov («Girona», Spain), Illia Popovich («Kiskunhad», Hungary), Ivan Paholyuk («Kolos» Kovalyovka).

Defenders: Illia Krups'kyi («Metalist 1925» Kharkiv), Vyacheslav Kulbachuk («Debrecen», Hungary), Mykola Kyrichok («Karpaty» Lviv), Andriy Kitela, Vitaliy Holod (both — «Ruh» Lviv), Mykola Ogarkov («Oleksandria»), Serhii Korniychuk («Polesia» Zhytomyr), Daniel Vernattus («Metalist» Kharkiv).

Midfielders: Oleh Fedor, Artur Shah (both — «Karpaty» Lviv), Roman Salenko («Zorya» Luhansk), Ramik Gadzhiev («Metalist 1925» Kharkiv), Timur Tutyerov («Sunderland», England), Hennadiy Sinchuk («Montreal», Canada), Danylo Krevsun («Borussia» Dortmund, Germany), Maksym Melnychenko («Polesia» Zhytomyr), Artem Gusol («Kolos» Kovalyovka), Ivan Varfolomeev («Lincoln City», England).

Forwards: Artem Stepanov («Nuremberg», Germany), Matvii Ponomarenko («Dynamo» Kyiv), Oleksandr Pyshchur («Debrecen», Hungary).

Schedule of Group N matches in the Euro 2027 (U-21) qualifiers

05.09.2025. Lithuania — Ukraine

09.09.2025. Lithuania — Hungary

09.09.2025. Turkey — Croatia

10.10.2025. Ukraine — Hungary

10.10.2025. Turkey — Lithuania  

14.10.2025. Croatia — Ukraine

14.10.2025. Hungary — Turkey

13.11.2025. Croatia — Lithuania

14.11.2025. Turkey — Ukraine

18.11.2025. Lithuania — Turkey  

18.11.2025. Hungary — Croatia

27.03.2026. Ukraine — Lithuania

31.03.2026. Hungary — Ukraine

31.03.2026. Croatia — Turkey

26.09.2026. Ukraine — Turkey

26.09.2026. Croatia — Hungary

01.10.2026. Hungary — Lithuania

02.10.2026. Ukraine — Croatia

06.10.2026. Turkey — Hungary

06.10.2026. Lithuania — Croatia

Draw for the Euro 2027 (U-21) qualifiers

Group A: Spain, Romania, Finland, Kosovo, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group B: Portugal, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Scotland, Azerbaijan, Gibraltar.

Group C: France, Switzerland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Estonia.

Group D: England, Ireland, Slovakia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Andorra.

Group E: Italy, Poland, Sweden, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Armenia.

Group F: Germany, Georgia, Greece, Northern Ireland, Latvia, Malta.

Group G: Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group H: Ukraine, Croatia, Hungary, Turkey, Lithuania.

Group I: Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Belarus.

Nine groups were formed: in six of them there will be six national teams and in three — five.

In the final stage of Euro 2027 (U-21), 16 teams will participate: Albania, Serbia, and another 14 teams that join them based on qualifying results (nine group winners, the best team among second-place finishers, and four playoff winners from a tournament featuring eight second-place finishers).

Windows for matches in the group stage of qualification

2025:

• March 17—25;
• June 2—10;
• September 1—9;
• October 6—14;
• November 10—18.

2026:

• March 23—31;
• September 21 — October 6;

Playoffs: November 9—17, 2026.

Euro 2027 (U-21) is planned to be held on four stadiums in Albania (Tirana, Shkoder, Elbasan, Rrogozhina) and four — Serbia (Novi Sad, Ljusic, Leskovac, Zajecar). The opening match will take place in Serbia, the final — in Albania. It is worth noting that based on Euro 2027 (U-21) results, UEFA Olympic qualifiers will be determined.