The Ukrainian national team has announced its roster for Malderi's first matches as head coach
Andrea Maldera, the newly appointed head coach of the Ukrainian national soccer team, has finalized a 26-player roster that will prepare for the team’s upcoming friendly matches.
This was reported on the official website of the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF).
The updated roster of the “blue-and-yellows” includes both experienced team leaders and promising potential debutants.
The roster decision made by the Italian coach reflects his desire to rely on the team’s time-tested core during the first training camp.
The head coach, appointed on Monday, will rely on proven players. In particular, Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and experienced winger Andriy Yarmolenko of Dynamo Kyiv have returned to the Ukrainian national team.
At the same time, two potential debutants made the list—defender Oleksandr Romanchuk of Universitatea Craiova in Romania and midfielder Hennadiy Synchuk of Montreal in Canada.
The balance between players from the domestic league and those playing abroad is nearly even on the current roster, underscoring the careful evaluation of all candidates.
Fourteen players from the Ukrainian Premier League and 12 foreign-based players received call-ups to the national team.
Shakhtar Donetsk (six players) and Dynamo (five) have the largest representation. Polissya Zhytomyr has sent three players to the national team.
The coaching staff has carefully mapped out every position, inviting four goalkeepers and seven defenders to ensure reliable rotation.
Goalkeepers: Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica), Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid), Dmytro Riznyk (Shakhtar), Ruslan Neshcheret (Dynamo).
Defenders: Illia Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain), Mykola Matvienko, Valerii Bondar (both Shakhtar), Taras Mykhavko (Dynamo), Eduard Sarapii (Polissya), Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton), Oleksandr Romanchuk (Universitatea Craiova).
Midfielders: Oleg Ocheretko, Artem Bondarenko, Yegor Nazarina (all — Shakhtar), Oleksandr Nazarenko, Oleksiy Hutsulyak (both — Polissya), Mykola Shaparenko, Andriy Yarmolenko (both — Dynamo), Yegor Yarmolyuk (Brentford), Georgiy Sudakov (Benfica), Viktor Tsygankov (Girona), Gennadiy Synchuk (Montreal), Ruslan Malinovskyi (Genoa).
Forwards: Roman Yaremchuk (Lyon), Matviy Ponomarenko (Dynamo), Artem Dovbyk (Roma).
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