To jedna z największych niespodzianek tego mundialu. Ukraina, która na pewno nie była stawiana w gronie głównych faworytów, w półfinale pokonała Włochy 1:0 i awansowała do decydującego meczu mundialu do lat 20. To największy sukces tej drużyny w historii jej udziału w tych rozgrywkach. Wcześniej Ukraińcy trzykrotnie wychodzili z grupy, ale za każdym razem ich przygoda kończyła się na 1/8. Tym razem trwała, a w zasadzie wciąż trwa, o wiele dłużej.
Pierwsza połowa półfinału w Gdyni była bardzo spokojna, nie oglądaliśmy zbyt wielu sytuacji podbramkowych. Nic w tym jednak dziwnego skoro spotkały się dwie najlepsze defensywy tego turnieju. Co więcej, w obu zespołach mamy bramkarzy kandydujących do Złotych Rękawic dla najlepszego golkipera turnieju. Z jednej strony Alessandro Plizarri, a z drugiej Andrij Łunin, dla którego ostatnie dni były bardzo intensywne. Jeszcze przed ćwierćfinałem z Kolumbią bramkarz Realu Madryt został "odwołany" z turnieju U-20, aby zasiąść na ławce seniorskiej kadry Ukrainy w meczach eliminacji EURO 2020. Po tych meczach Łunin wrócił na turniej i znów pomógł Ukrainie.
Decydująca dla losów meczu akcja nastąpiła w 65. minucie, a gola zdobył jeden z najlepszych Ukraińców na tym turnieju - Sierhij Bułeca. Ten zawodnik już w pierwszej połowie miał dobrą okazję, potężnie uderzając z rzutu wolnego, ale wtedy Plizarri jeszcze sobie poradził. W drugim przypadku był już bez szans, a ta bramka dała historyczny awans Ukrainie. Ostatnie minuty Ukraińcy grali w dziesiątkę, po drugiej żółtej kartce dla Popowa, jednego z kluczowych graczy, ale dowieźli zwycięstwo do końca. Wprawdzie w doliczonym czasie Włosi zdobyli wyrównującą bramkę za sprawą Scamacci, ale po konsultacji VAR arbiter jej nie uznał, ze względu na faul jednego z piłkarzy Italii.
- Jestem bardzo zadowolony z tego co pokazali moi zawodnicy. Przygotowywaliśmy się bardzo ciężko do tego turnieju i jestem dumny z tego jak zaprezentowali się w tym meczu - powiedział Oleksandr Petrakow trener Ukrainy.
- W moim odczuciu nie zasłużyliśmy na porażkę, ale trzeba się pogodzić z rezultatem, nawet jeśli nie oddaje on tego, co pokazaliśmy na boisku - tak mecz skomentował opiekun Włochów, Paolo Nicolato.
U20WC 2019: UKR ITA
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![A general view inside the Italy dressing room]()
A general view inside the Italy dressing room
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: A general view inside the Italy dressing room ahead of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![A captain's armband is seen next to the kit of Andrea Pinamonti of Italy]()
A captain's armband is seen next to the kit of Andrea Pinamonti of Italy
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: A captain's armband is seen next to the kit of Andrea Pinamonti of Italy inside the Italy dressing room ahead of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![U20 Italys Alessandro Tripaldelli looks forward]()
U20 Italys Alessandro Tripaldelli looks forward
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: U20 Italys Alessandro Tripaldelli looks forward before the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![A general view inside the Ukraine dressing room]()
A general view inside the Ukraine dressing room
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: A general view inside the Ukraine dressing room ahead of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Valerii Bondar of Ukraine and his team mates walk out to warm up]()
Valerii Bondar of Ukraine and his team mates walk out to warm up
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Valerii Bondar of Ukraine and his team mates walk out to warm up ahead of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Danylo Sikan of Ukraine battles for possession with Enrico Del Prato of Italy]()
Danylo Sikan of Ukraine battles for possession with Enrico Del Prato of Italy
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Danylo Sikan of Ukraine battles for possession with Enrico Del Prato of Italy during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Luca Pellegrini of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine]()
Luca Pellegrini of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Luca Pellegrini of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Yukhym Konoplia of Ukraine falls over Alessandro Tripaldelli of Italy]()
Yukhym Konoplia of Ukraine falls over Alessandro Tripaldelli of Italy
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Yukhym Konoplia of Ukraine falls over Alessandro Tripaldelli of Italy during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Gianluca Scamacca of Italy U20 fights for the ball with Kyrylo Dryshliuk of Ukraine U20]()
Gianluca Scamacca of Italy U20 fights for the ball with Kyrylo Dryshliuk of Ukraine U20
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Gianluca Scamacca of Italy U20 fights for the ball with Kyrylo Dryshliuk of Ukraine U20 during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine U20 shoots on target]()
Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine U20 shoots on target
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine U20 shoots on target during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Andrea Pinamonti of Italy looks on inside the tunnel]()
Andrea Pinamonti of Italy looks on inside the tunnel
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Andrea Pinamonti of Italy looks on inside the tunnel ahead of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Yukhym Konoplia of Ukraine falls over Alessandro Tripaldelli of Italy]()
Yukhym Konoplia of Ukraine falls over Alessandro Tripaldelli of Italy
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Yukhym Konoplia of Ukraine falls over Alessandro Tripaldelli of Italy during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Luca Pellegrini of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine]()
Luca Pellegrini of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Luca Pellegrini of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Salvatore Esposito of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine]()
Salvatore Esposito of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Salvatore Esposito of Italy battles for possession with Oleksii Kashchuk of Ukraine during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine U20 celebrates with teammates after scoring]()
Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine U20 celebrates with teammates after scoring
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine U20 celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine celebrates after scoring]()
Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine celebrates after scoring
11 cze 2019
GDYNIA, POLAND - JUNE 11: Serhii Buletsa of Ukraine celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Semi Final match between Ukraine and Italy at Gdynia Stadium on June 11, 2019 in Gdynia, Poland. (Photo by Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
