---
title: "Ukraine U-19 advances to Euro 2026 semi-finals with a perfect record: Italy eliminated from the tournament"
description: "Ukraine U-19 concluded the Euro 2026 group stage with a perfect record! 🇺🇦⚽ Thanks to a goal by Bohdan Olichenko, the Ukrainians defeated Italy (1:0) and took first place in the group. In the semi-finals, the \"blue-and-yellows\" will play against Germany, while the Italians were sensationally eliminated from the tournament."
date: 2026-07-05T16:58:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-u-19-advances-to-euro-2026-semi-finals-with-perfect-record
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukraine U-19 advances to Euro 2026 semi-finals with a perfect record: Italy eliminated from the tournament

![Ukraine U-19 players celebrate victory over Italy and advancement to Euro 2026 semi-finals](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/06/ukraina-u-19-vyshla-v-polufinal-evro-2026-s-idealnym-rezultatom/ukraina-u-19-vyshla-v-polufinal-evro-2026-s-idealnym-rezultatom-1.webp)

The Ukrainian U-19 national football team concluded the group stage of Euro 2026 triumphantly. In the final match of the quartet, the Ukrainians defeated the Italian team with a score of 1:0 and took first place in Group A with a perfect record — 9 points in three games.

### Strategy before the decisive match

Before the opening whistle, Dmitry Mykhaylenko's team was already two points ahead of the Italians. This meant that a draw was enough for the Ukrainians to guarantee first place. Winning the group had strategic significance: it allowed them to avoid a semi-final meeting with the favorite — the Spanish national team. Instead, the "blue-and-yellows" were set to face Germany, who took second place in the parallel group.

Given that the main task was practically solved automatically, the coaching staff conducted an active rotation of the squad. Six key players who played in the first two rounds stayed on the bench to save energy for the semi-final battle.

### Match progression: from Italian pressure to Olichenko's masterpiece

The first minutes of the match were dictated by the opponent. The Italians dominated in the center of the field, actively used the wings, and earned four corner kicks in the first 15 minutes. Already in the 4th minute, Elimogale took a dangerous shot from outside the penalty area, but the ball flew centimeters past the post. In the 16th minute, Marello executed a beautiful free-kick, clearing the wall, but the crossbar saved the Ukrainian goal.

The Ukrainians responded to the pressure with a long-range shot by Lusin in the 20th minute, but the visiting goalkeeper Pessina played reliably.

The turning point occurred in the 30th minute. Midfielder Bohdan Olichenko performed a true football masterpiece: picking up the ball, he sprinted across half the field, dribbled past the entire defensive line of the opponent, skillably lobbed the ball between a defender's legs, and powerfully struck the bottom corner of the Italian goal. The score became 1:0.

### Final surge and perfect result

In the second half, the Italians tried to organize pressure but acted too straightforwardly. Closer to the end of the match, the opponent went for a final surge, creating several sharp moments. However, the Ukrainian goalkeeper Marchenko delivered a brilliant performance: in the 81st minute, he made a luxurious double save, deflecting the second shot while already lying on the turf.

The Ukrainians also had chances to increase the score. Excellent opportunities were missed by Bohdanov and Sykut, but the minimal victory was enough to achieve the main goal.

### Group results and semi-final draw

For the Italian national team, the defeat was fatal. In the parallel match, Croatia crushed Serbia with a score of 3:0. Thanks to this, the Croatians equaled the Italians in points but surpassed them in goal difference, sensationally eliminating the "Azzurri" from the tournament.

The Ukrainian national team, as the winner of Group A, advanced to the semi-finals, where they will meet Germany. The decisive match for a spot in the Euro final, led by Dmitry Mykhaylenko's team, will take place on Wednesday, July 8, at 21:00 Kyiv time. In the other semi-final, Spain and Croatia will clash.