More than two months left for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2009 finals to kick off in Finland from August 23 to September 10. Ukraine side have first ever entered the elite company list. Head coach of Ukraine Women’s team Anatoliy Kutsev spoke about the preparation process on the way to the EURO campaign.

Win over Russia
We remind that Ukraine secured a berth to Finland in November 2008 after gaining 3:0 and 2:0 wins over Slovenia in play-off. After that the ‘blue-yellows’ gathered in the training camp for a friendly. Since a February game against England was cancelled, the coaches had to wait until May for an encounter with Russia who, by the way, suffered a 0:2 defeat.

Refuse from Poland
The next friendly game has been scheduled on July 23, but the future rival is rather obscure. A preliminary deal was agreed with Poland, but after the draw revealed Ukraine and Poland in the opposition in one group of the 2011 World Cup qualifier, our neighbors refused from July game.

Camp in Chernigiv and Kyiv
Anatoliy Kutsev is set to call out his footballers prior to the EURO campaign for the camp in Chernigiv on August 8. After a five-day training spell and two day-offs the ‘blue-yellows’ will relocate to Kyiv to proceed their preparation. And finally, the flight to Finland is booked on August 21, two days ahead of the championship opening.

Strong competitors
The coach of our team underlines that there are no easy opponents among the participants of the final tournament. “For example let’s take the other teams in Group A. Finland is a host of EURO 2009, the Netherlands are debutants at the European Championship, but in spite of this they are at their best now, because it is a real boom of women’s football in their country,” Kutsev mentions. We also know Denmark well. This team is supposed to be one of the strongest in Europe.

Maximum task
The coach remembers that at the first gathering of the team two years ago he set a task before his footballers to get to EURO 2009. “I warranted them that they are already ready for subduing a new peak and that just they have to prepare for the maximum result. It is a function of a coach to turn the players to the right direction, to help them realize their potential,” Kutsev mentions.

Preference for stability
Anatoliy Kutsev says that while building a team he shows a preference for stability. In spite of some new players were invited to the team during the EURO 2009 qualification, the first squad of the team and its tactics hasn’t changed cardinally. “As a result, now we have got the collective of adherents with whom it is possible to win a serious trophy,” the coach of ‘blue-yellows’ resumes.

Women. EURO 2009
Group A. Finland, Ukraine, Denmark, Netherlands.
Group B. Germany, Iceland, Norway, France.
Group C. Switzerland, England, Russia, Italy.

Group stage
August 23. Ukraine − Netherlands, Finland − Denmark.
August 26. Ukraine − Denmark, Netherlands − Finland.
August 29. Finland − Ukraine, Denmark − Netherlands.

Play-off
September 3-4. Quarter-finals
September 6-7. Semi-finals
September 10. Final