Former Dynamo and Ukrainian youth team midfielder Taras Mikhalyk reminisces about the Ukrainian youth team’s remarkable journey to the Euro 2006 final. In their debut appearance, the team secured second place after defeating their Dutch counterparts in the group stage but falling short in the final. Mikhalyk shares a story about the team’s recovery strategy between games, including a surprising role that a bottle of beer played in their victory against Serbia in the semi-finals. This article provides insights into the team’s experience and Mikhalyk’s career, which spanned several clubs and 32 appearances for the national first team.
Former Dynamo and Ukrainian youth team midfielder Taras Mikhalyk shares his memories of our youth team’s sensational run to the Euro 2006 final.
In 2006, the Ukrainian national team led by Oleksiy Mikhailichenko reached the finals of the Junior Euro for the first time and immediately took second place. At the group stage, our players beat their peers from the Netherlands (2:1), but lost to them in the final (0:3).
Taras Mikhalik recalled the story of how the team recovered between games. By the way, the tournament was held in Portugal, where the climate is much different from ours.
“According to the regime, everything is more or less. There is a story, but I don’t know if I can tell it. We have a “recovery”, as they say (laughs). I think it is after Denmark (2:1). After the match, everyone was exhausted, losing a lot of strength in the heat. You can’t drink too much water.”
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The ex-footballer said that Oleksiy Mikhailichenko allowed the players to drink a bottle of beer at dinner, which ultimately helped them defeat Serbia in the semi-finals (0:0 and 5:4 on penalties).
“We came for dinner, no one really wanted to eat there, because they did not climb. And then they brought in an ice basin, and there were 0.3 beers each. Mikhailichenko said: “I allow you a bottle.” And all people are afraid to take it, they are waiting. pause. I don’t remember who was the first, but the others were also brave. You see, after the match, we “recovered” with 0.3 beers each and went out and beat Serbia,” Mikhalik said in interview with Football Ukraine.
- During his career, Mikhalik played for CSKA Kyiv, Zakarpattia, Dynamo, Lokomotiv Moscow, Volyn and finished his career at Lutsk Votrans in the summer of 2021.
- Taras played 32 matches for the national first team throughout his career.
