Home away from home suits Yakovenko

Pavlo Yakovenko took his squad to a Kyiv monastery before flying out to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, so it is hardly surprising the Ukraine coach and his players have quickly settled into their Denmark base.

With two group games in Herning to come, Ukraine elected to make the nearby village of Vildebjerg their home for the tournament, and though it means an hour-long drive to Viborg to face the Czechs in Sunday's Group B curtain-raiser, Yakovenko is convinced his team will feel the benefit.

"The pitch at the training ground is in excellent condition. With our hotel nearby, this is a very peaceful and quiet place, the ideal conditions for our preparation ahead of each match," said the former USSR international, who is in his second spell in charge of his country's Under-21 side. "My team are well prepared mentally and physically for the beginning of this tournament. We have looked at how the Czech team play and have studied their tactics. We will try to do our best."

While the homework Yakovenko's men have been doing will give them an idea of how best to approach their rivals, it will also have demonstrated the scale of the task in hand. The Czechs were the only team to go through qualifying unbeaten, and boast the competition's top scorer en route to Denmark in Tomáš Pekhart. However, after a two-day mini-break in the build-up to the finals, Yakovenko said his charges were ready for the challenge.

"Before coming to Denmark, the boys had some time at home. They just eased themselves in on the first day they came back," said the ex-FC Dynamo Kyiv player, who will have captain Taras Stepanenko available after a groin problem. "The players didn't feel 100% on the second day, but Friday's training session showed they're in good shape."

Jakub Dovalil also has a full-strength squad to choose from as the 2002 champions aim to get their tournament off to a flier by registering a third win in four meetings with Ukraine at U21 level. "The first game is important for us as it is for everyone," said Dovalil, who teasingly suggested he "may spring a surprise" in his selection before confirming FC Slovan Liberec midfielder Bořek Dočkal as captain, with FK Viktoria Žižkov goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík the last line of defence. "There's the habitual pre-tournament feelings, but not any great nerves. Anyway, there's not much that can be done now. What we had to do, we've already done."

Given their impressive qualification, during which they dropped just two points, and an attention-grabbing 5-0 aggregate triumph over Greece in the play-off to reach the finals, it is unsurprising the Czechs come here with enough quiet confidence to be able to enjoy the idyllic surroundings of their base in Viborg. "We are ready and looking forward to the tournament," added Dovalil, who – at 37 – is the championship's youngest coach. "I'm sleeping well. Our hotel is right next to a lake and when you open the window, you breathe some great fresh air."