The morning in the Ukraine camp began with greetings. Half-back Viktor Tsygankov became a father this week, so the team congratulated him on the birth of his first child. The head coach of the blue and yellow, Rostislav Rotan, presented Viktor with a celebratory cake, which the newly minted dad, of course, shared with his teammates.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

The day after the friendly match, the national team had a recovery training session. This practice was the last at Brentford FC's base, which provided everything necessary for the blue and yellow team during this working week. The welcoming staff of the club responded positively to every question from the national team’s coaching staff. Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to say that in Brentford, Ukrainian players felt like they were home.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Today, the main group welcomed back Serhiy Sydorchuk, who recovered from a cold. Also participating in all exercises was captain Andriy Yarmolenko—along with Oleksandr Zinchenko, whom coaches gave rest yesterday after an intense club schedule.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

After tactical work, the coaches proposed emotional recovery exercises for the players. The entire team was divided into four groups of six players who competed against each other in a relay race-like challenge. Each member had to score from the penalty spot, hit small goals, curl the ball from the free-kick line into the goal with air, throw the ball into a basket by hand, and head the ball into a small triangle on the field. The team that finished last received punishment in the form of a football barrage from the rest of the group.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Such emotional sprints undoubtedly lifted the players' spirits after yesterday's match, which took place in heavy rain and thus caused physical fatigue. The first month of spring in London is famous for its weather changes. For instance, at lunchtime, a powerful hailstorm suddenly hit the area where the Ukraine team resides, leaving only to be glad that the team was already in the hotel rather than training.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Ultimately, such natural calamities do not affect the mood and mindset of the blue and yellow team for their game against England. Yesterday, the boys started watching Italy vs. England in the bus on the way from the stadium to the hotel and finished it after dinner. And tomorrow—on the eve of the qualifier match at Wembley.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

The Ukrainians will begin their pre-match training at the famous Wembley Stadium at 6 PM local time. Half an hour earlier, head coach Rostislav Rotan and one of the team players will meet with media representatives in Wembley's conference room.

National Team Squad

Goalkeepers: Andriy Lunin («Real» Madrid, Spain), Anatoliy Trubin («Shakhtar» Donetsk), Mykita Shevchenko («Oleksandria»).

Defenders: Oleksandr Karavaev, Dmytro Popov (both — «Dynamo» Kyiv), Mykola Matviyenko («Shakhtar» Donetsk), Vitaliy Mykolenko («Everton» Liverpool, England), Eduard Sobolev («Strasbourg», France), Oleksandr Svytok, Eduard Sarapay (both — «Dnipro-1» Dnipropetrovsk), Dmytro Mykhaylichenko («Oleksandria»).

Midfielders: Taras Stepanenko, Georgiy Sudakov, Artem Bondarenko (all — «Shakhtar» Donetsk), Serhiy Sydorchuk, Vitaliy Buyalskiy (both — «Dynamo» Kyiv), Oleksandr Pichalnyk («Dnipro-1» Dnipropetrovsk), Andriy Yarmolenko («Al-Ain», UAE), Ruslan Malinovskiy («Olympique» Marseille, France), Oleksandr Zinchenko («Arsenal» London, England), Viktor Tsygankov («Girona», Spain), Mykhaylo Mudryk («Chelsea» London, England), Yevhen Konoplyanka («Cracovia» Krakow, Poland).

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

Oleksandr Glyvinetskyi, press secretary of the national team