The first representatives of the national team of Ukraine are gathering today in the capital of Poland and will hold a preparatory training session as part of their preparation for three September matches of the 2022/2023 Nations League.

On the eve, a delegation of blue and yellow departed from Kyiv under the leadership of head coach Oleksandr Petrakov. Included are assistant coaches Andriy Annenkov and Oleksandr Shovkovsky, goalkeeper trainer Vyacheslav Kernozenko, goalkeepers Dmytro Ryndak and Yevhen Volynets, as well as medical and administrative staff.

Before leaving Kyiv, the national team had an impromptu meeting with children from the "Locomotive" (Kyiv) youth club, who just returned victorious from an international tournament. Children of different age groups asked head coach Oleksandr Petrakov about his path in football, tactical schemes, and were interested in news about the team. And one of the young boys boldly offered his services to the national team for the near future, stating that he is ready to strengthen the squad!

With a good mood, photos, and autographs as souvenirs, the blue and yellows bid farewell to the children, wishing them success in the Nations League matches.

Photos by Oleksandr Glyvinsky

Upon arriving in the capital of Poland around 10:00 am Central European Time, the Ukrainians immediately headed to the Marriott hotel, which will be their residence for three days.

Before lunch, representatives from three Ukrainian participants in European competitions—the "Shakhtar," "Dnipra-1," and "Dynamo" clubs—will arrive at the team's accommodation. They have already played their matches in continental tournaments. Also today, Andriy Yarmolenko of the Emirate club "Al-Ain" will join the squad: the OAE league has entered a calendar break.

After lunch and rest, the blue and yellows will head to their first training session during this gathering. The practice will take place on the field of the "Hutnik Warsaw" stadium. Today's workload for players will vary because Dynamo Kyiv and Dnipra-1 players only played yesterday for their clubs, while the rest of the national team members played earlier. So it is expected that the boys will work in two groups.

In Warsaw, the blue and yellows will train for another two days—on September 17th and 18th—and on the morning of the 19th they will fly to Glasgow. There, representatives from foreign clubs will join the team. Then, on Monday evening, the national team is scheduled to hold a full training session.

Ukraine National Team Roster

Goalkeepers: Dmytro Ryndak ("Vorskla" Poltava), Andriy Lunin ("Real Madrid," Spain), Anatoliy Trubin ("Shakhtar" Donetsk), Yevhen Volynets ("Kolos" Kovalivka).

Defenders: Oleksandr Karavaev, Oleksandr Timchyk, Illia Zabarnyi (all—«Dynamo» Kyiv), Mykhailo Matviyenko, Serhiy Krivosheyov, Valeriy Bondar, Bohdan Mikhaylichenko (all—"Shakhtar" Donetsk), Vitaliy Mykolenko ("Everton," England), Taras Kachariaba ("Slavia," Czech Republic), Eduard Sobolev ("Brugge," Belgium).

Midfielders: Taras Stepanenko, Mikhaylo Mudryk, Oleksandr Zubkov (all—"Shakhtar" Donetsk), Serhiy Sydorchuk, Viktor Tsygankov (both—"Dynamo" Kyiv), Oleksandr Pichalok (SK "Dnipro-1" Dnipropetrovsk), Andriy Yarmolenko ("Al-Ain," UAE), Ruslan Malinovskyi ("Atalanta," Italy), Viktor Kovalenko ("Spezia," Italy), Danilo Igнатенко ("Bordeaux," France).

Forwards: Roman Yaremchuk ("Brugge," Belgium), Artem Dovbyk (SK "Dnipro-1" Dnipropetrovsk).

Reserves: Artem Besedin ("Dynamo" Kyiv), Oleksiy Hutsulyak, Eduard Sarapay (both—SK "Dnipro-1" Dnipropetrovsk), Yegor Nazarina ("Zorya" Luhansk).

Oleksandr Glyvinsky, press secretary of the national team of Ukraine