Today, February 17, the Ukrainian U-18 youth team (players born in 2008) within the training camp in Rome played their first of two friendly matches against the host nation – Italy's U-18 national team.

The first half was spectacular and goal-filled. At the 14th minute, Tsymbalyuk scored the first goal with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area after catching the ball on the rebound. The Italians replied at the 22nd minute following a corner kick from the left flank: Fogliaro scored from close range.

The Ukrainians went ahead again in stoppage time of the first half. After a throw-in executed by Melnik, Luzin contested for the ball inside the Italian penalty area, won the aerial duel and shot under the near post – 2:1.

The second half saw Italy dominate the game, but our team was saved by goalkeeper Hadashevych in key moments. The match-winning moment came in stoppage time as the referee added six minutes to the full-time whistle and awarded a penalty kick to the Italians. Baraly confidently converted from 11 meters, setting the final score – 2:2.

It is worth noting that this camp in Italy is part of preparations for the first round of Euro-2027 (U-19) qualifying where Ukraine will face Czech Republic, Finland, and Estonia.

The second match against Italy will take place on February 19 at 12:00.

Friendship match between youth teams

Italy (U-18) – Ukraine (U-18) – 2:2 (1:2)

Goals: Fogliaro (22), Baraly (90+3, from a penalty) – Tsymbalyuk (14), Luzin (45+1).

Italy (U-18): Longoni, Idrissa (Costabele, 82), Marinì (Paratici, 69), Cascadei (Pavese, 46), Borasio (Ballanti, 46), Macaroni (Dotori, 87), Prisco (c) (Baraly, 46), Padgio (Mariani, 46), Elimogale (Reite, 69), Espozito (Lomonaco, 69), Fogliaro.

Coach: Massimiliano Favò.

Ukraine (U-18): Kyrylo Hadashevych («Wolfsburg», Germany), Fedir Tkachenko («Betis», Spain).

Defenders: Yevhen Kostyuk, Nikita Kaluzhnyi, Yaroslav Mylokhost, Oleksandr Balakai (all – «Shakhtar» Donetsk), Danylo Ogorodnik («Dynamo» Kyiv), Arsen Zalipka («Ruh» Lviv), Volodymyr Halyi («Poliisi» Zhytomyr), Yevhen Sherstyuk («Metallist» Kharkiv), Mykita Melnik («Napoli», Italy).

Midfielders: Artem Zubryi («Shakhtar» Donetsk), Pavel Luzin, Arseniy Fedorenko (both – «Dynamo» Kyiv), Pavlo Dzurabey («Ruh» Lviv), Illia Kutsya («Gaiduk», Croatia), Maxim Tsymbalyuk («Vysla», Poland).

Forwards: Ivan Andreyko («Dynamo» Kyiv), Mykhaylo Bodnyi («Kryvbas» Kryvyi Rih), Dmytro Zudyn («Gaiduk», Croatia), Vitaliy Glut («Chicago Fire», USA), Kirill Serdyuk («Stuttgart», Germany).

It is worth noting that in the first round of Euro-2027 (U-19) qualifying, the blue and yellow will play Group A3 together with Czech Republic, Finland, and Estonia. The tournament for our group will take place from March 25 to March 31 in Finland.

Europa League 2027 (U-19). First round of qualifying

Liga A

Group A1: Belgium, Slovenia, Sweden, Cyprus.

Group A2: Italy, Ireland, Poland, Scotland. 

Group A3: Czech Republic, Finland, Ukraine, Estonia.

Group A4: Germany, Austria, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group A5: England, Croatia, Spain, Bulgaria.

Group A6: Portugal, Serbia, Greece, Kazakhstan. 

Group A7: France, Switzerland, Hungary, Wales.

Liga B

Group B1: Denmark, Romania, Andorra, Liechtenstein.

Group B2: Turkey, Kosovo, Armenia, Gibraltar.

Group B3: Slovakia, Belarus, Latvia, San Marino.

Group B4: Norway, Albania, Luxembourg, Malta.

Group B5: Netherlands, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Moldova.

Group B6: Northern Ireland, Lithuania, Azerbaijan.

Group B7: Iceland, Montenegro, Georgia.

Qualification to the second round

After the first round, teams will proceed as follows:

• Teams that occupy 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Liga A will remain in Liga A for the second round.
• Teams that occupy 4th place in Liga A will move to Liga B for the second round.
• Winners of groups in Liga B will be promoted to Liga A for the second round.
• Teams that occupy 2nd, 3rd and 4th place in Liga B will remain in Liga B for the second round.

Teams that played against each other in the first round will not meet again in the second round.