Ukraine 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup Champions

UKRAINE

Ukraine was part of Russia till 1991. It is the second largest country in Europe. Their capital is Kiev. In popular culture, people are orthodox Christians. It's positioned near Black sea, with countries like Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Russia share borders to it. Famous Carpathian mountains and Danube are borders of Ukraine. All other part of Ukraine are plateaus, plain land.

FOOTBALL IN UKRAINE

Football is the most popular game in the country. Football is managed by Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF). With soviet influence, Ukraine had a long sporting and physical education. By the time it got seperate d from Russia, they had already built hundreds of gyms, stadiums, and swimming pools.

After its separation from Russia, Andrey Shevchenko has been the most famous player who got Ballon D'or. He has been captain of the team for most number of matches 58, from 1995-2012 period. Also, he is the top scorer for the country with 48 goals. He is the current head coach of National team. Senior team got chance to play FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2006, when they reached quarter finals and lost to eventual champions Italy.

Currently Ukraine is 24th ranked in FIFA, and women are 26th ranked. A project is going on for the development of football in the country called "Around Football" , which acts as a social responsibility activity through football. Girls and boys use the good sides of the plan, which helps them in getting match/Tournaments experiences, to visit and watch big clubs, meet big players , helping struggling kids including war effected and refugee kids.
2006 has been their best year, reaching quarter final of World Cup, runners up in U21 European championship and 13th rank in FIFA.

Association along with its collective members regulate and organise all kind of football activities in Ukraine. Collective members include Premier League of Ukraine, Professional Football League of Ukraine, amateur Football League of Ukraine, 27 Regional football federations, women football, association of referees, veterans, students etc.

Ukraine Premier League is the top division league with 12 teams participating. Dynamo Kyiv has been most successful with 12 successfull seasons. Current champions are Shaktar Donetsk. Both these teams has been successful in achieving some success in European level too. In 2015,  club Dnipto reached UEFA Europa league final, lost to Sevilla 3-2. Professional Football League is the second and third division professional leagues in Ukraine.

TEAMS

Ukraine have U16,U17,U18,U19,U21,Senior Men and women teams. U19 team plays in European championships to get qualification to U20 World Cup and form a special U20 team for the tournament. U18 players are immediate reserves to U19 team.

U17 team have never qualified for FIFA U17 World Cup. Their best performance in European championships came in 1994, when they acquired 3rd position.

U19 team were European champions in 2009. In 2004 and 2018 they were able to reach semi final. They qualified for the U20 FIFA World Cup 4 times - 2001,2005,2015, and 2019. They were able to reach round of 16 every time. Ukraine's Oleksandr Aliev has won FIFA bronze boot in 2005. Kyrylo Petrov won UEFA Golden player award in 2009. Viktor Kovalenko was top scorer of 2015 U20 World Cup. Also won fair play award from FIFA in 2015.

U21 team mainly plays to qualify for Olympics. They were able to become runner up in 2006 European championships. But never were able to qualify for Olympics.

Senior team have qualified for FIFA World Cup only once, 2006. They were defeated by eventual champions Italy in Quarter Finals. They participated in Euro 3 times with group stage playing as best results.

THE COACH

Oleksandr Petrakov

62 year old Oleksandr Petrakov was a defender during his time. Most of his playing experience was  in Ukraine. Ukraine had plan of World cup and appointed Petrakov in 2011 as U16 coach, then continued with same team till 2015 world cup as U17, U18,U19 and eventually U20 coach. In New Zealand, they reached second round and lost to Senegal in penalties.

In 2015, he was again appointed as U16 coach started making this team. As his experience goes, his team was based on defensive strengths, defensive midfielders were used to plan attack, sending long balls deep into opposite team half, and attack from wings.

Ukraine gave second chance for Petrakov believing him that he would give them the desired result. In the U19 European Championships, they were looking strong, before they were thrashed badly by Portugal 5-0. But, then defense became stronger. They had never conceded more than one goal in matches after that.

Now , he has been appointed again as U16 team coach. They are again eyeing the top result in 2013 for sure.

Serhiy Nahornyak

Serhiy was U19 coach who was with Petrakov in World cup time. He was more of attacking mentality person, who has got a vast playing experience in Ukraine Premier league before becoming coach. He was an attacking midfielder or Stricker in his team's.

FIFA U20 WORLD CUP 2019 Poland

Since 2007, 7 tournaments were held. Everytime, a new team won it. 

2007 Argentina

2009 Ghana

2011 Brazil

2013 France

2015 Serbia

2017 England

Only 2 countries submitted bid to host the tournament, India and Poland. Poland previously have hosted Euro 2012, and U21 European championships in 2017.

Again, for the 6th consecutive time, champion team couldn't qualify, this time it was England. Other missing big names were Brazil, Spain and Germany. Mali again qualified but Ghana couldn't reach Poland, from Africa.

GROUP STAGE

Ukraine were in Group D along with USA, Nigeria and Qatar.

Match 1

Ukraine Vs USA
2-1

Ukraine started the campaign against USA. They scored first goal in 26 min, by Buletsa.
USA replied with a well constructed goal in the 33rd minute. Serbania tapped in from close range after quick passes. But, Ukraine scored again in the 48th minute from a corner. Popov connected well to send ball to the net.

Match 2

Qatar vs Ukraine

0-1

Qatar fought really well. Ukraine came close to scoring couple of times in the first half. They broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, Popov scored his second goal from header in the second match. Qatari captain got red card for a ruthless tackle in the 84th minute.

Match 3

Nigeria vs Ukraine

1-1

Ukraine took lead after half an hour play, Sikan scored from a cross with his head. Nigeria got a penalty just before half time, but Lunin , goal keeper of Ukraine, saved it. But in the opening minutes of the second half, Ukraine conceded one more penalty , this time for a handball. Tijani converted this one to level the score.

Ukraine became group leaders , USA and Nigeria also reached second round from the group.

In the history of the game, it was first time a top scorer scored all goals from a single match. Norway were out of the tournament in the first round , winning only 1 match against Honduras, when they scored 13 goals, and 9 of them by Erling Haaland.

European champions Portugal and Mexico couldn't make it to the second round.

Round of 16

South Americans vs South Americans
Ecuador vs Uruguay

Asia vs Asia
Japan vs Korea

Africans vs Africans
Senegal vs Nigeria

Europe vs Europe
Italy vs Poland

It might be just accident, or coincidence, that fixtures came like this for the second round.

Ukraine Vs Panama

4-1

Ukraine were too good for Panama. Sikan scored in the 21, 45+1 minutes. Both goal were scored with excellent simple finishing touches. Popov scored his third goal of the tournament in the 41st minute. Agian a header, this time a gift from Panama keeper. Buletsa completed the score in the 83rd minute. Walker scored Panama's consolation goal.

Argentina, Uruguay, Nigeria, France, and Japan were eliminated in the second round.

Quarter Finals

Ukraine Vs Columbia

1-0

Columbia were in Group A, with Senegal , Tahiti and hosts Poland. They defeated Tahiti and Poland, but lost to Senegal. New Zealand were their second round opponents. Spirited New Zealand held them 1-1 till extra time, and lost in a thrilling penalty 5-4.

Ukraine played without their favorites Keeper Lunin, who had to go for senior teams's Euro 2020 qualifier match. 

The decisive goal of the match came in the 11 the minute. Columbia n keeper came too much to the field with ball reachable for Sikan. With ball and Sikan went past beyond Columbian defense, Sikan just had to tap ball into the net. Tsitaishvili got an open chance in the second half, but his shot bounced over the bar.

Mali, USA, Senegal were other teams to return home after quarter finals.

Semi Final

Italy vs Ukraine

0-1

Italy were in Group B alongside Japan, Ecuador, Mexico. They reached second round defeating Mexico, Ecuador and a goal less draw against Japan.

Poland were their second round opponents, Mali in the quarter finals. They were looking very confident and fierce in attack.

Ukraine defense was strong. Especially goal keeper Lunin, who was Real Madrid player, was very confident and strong. He has been phenomenal in Ukraine reaching Semi final.

After a goal less first half, Buletsa scored in the 65th minute, from a right wing ground cross. Sikan got a superb chance in the 75th min, but his shot went just past far post. Popov got red card in the 79th minute and he would miss final match. But, Italy couldn't use the advantage. Meanwhile, Ukraine hit cross bar when Italy keeper was beaten. Capone got best chance of Italy, but his close range left foot shot went above cross bar. Soon, Italy thought they scored but there was a foul just before taking shot.

FINAL

Ukraine Vs Korea Republic

3-1

Korea were in Group F, along with Argentina, Portugal and South Africa. They started with a 1-0 loss to Portugal. But, bounced back defeating South Africa and Argentina. Japan were their opponents in the second round, Korea defeated them 1-0. In a thrilling quarter final match against Senegal, Korea came from behind fighting back , which went into penalties. In semi final, Korea defeated Ecuador challenge.

South Korea were the first to take lead from a penalty in the 5th min. Korean captain Hwang Taehyeon was tackled down in the box, Lee Kangin defeated Lunin without making mistake. Ukraine were determined to make an impact, they kept pressing for the equaliser , which came from a free kick in the 34th min. Bulesta's free kick inside box wasn't cleared properly and Supriaha kicked it from 8 yard into the net.

Supriaha was again fortunate to change score into Ukraine's favour, as he got a deflected through ball in the 53rd min. He took a low right foot shot to send the ball past keeper.

In the 70th minute, Korea turned ball to the goal from a corner, but couldn't beat Lunin , who tipped away the ball to deny an equaliser.

In the 89th minute, while Korea trying to build an attack, Tsitaishvili intercepted a pass from just outside Ukraine box, then ran all the way across the field, deceiving Korean defenders, and sent the ball past the keeper to seal the match.

THIRD PLACE

Ecuador played against Italy and defeated in the extra time to bag third place in the tournament.

AWARDS

Golden Ball - Lee Kangin of Korea Republic

Golden Boot - Erling Haaland Norway

Golden Glove - Andriy Lunin Ukraine

In the history of the game, it was first time a top scorer scored all goals from a single match. Norway were out of the tournament in the first round , winning only 1 match against Honduras, when they scored 13 goals, and 9 of them by Erling Haaland.

Notable Matches

Mali vs Argentina

Argentina vs Portugal

Korea vs Senegal

Italy vs Mali

France vs USA

Mexico vs Italy

Ukraine's success came from a long plan. It is clear that Ukraine football association gave coach enough time with players to develop to the world cup level. When coach got time with  his team, they built strong relation in and off the field. Coach never praised individual talents , but he always emphasised on giving credit to total team. Players like Buletsa, Popov, Sikan and Lunin deserved it, but they also took it as a teams success. They overcame azzuri challenge with this togetherness. Sikan was top scorer for Ukraine with 4 goals. They also got good support from audience in Poland. Ukraine has proved again, Football is anyone's game - with planning, dedication, determination, and hard-work.