Nations League 2024/2025: Oleksandr Nazarenko and Ivan Kalyuzhnyi reflect on their initial call-ups
On October 7, the Ukraine national team began preparations for two home matches in the Nations League 2024/2025 in Group B1 — against Georgia and Czechia.
A group of players from the Ukrainian Premier League, along with head coach Serhiy Rebrov, departed from Kyiv by train to Poland. This group included two players who received their first call-up to the national team: midfielders Oleksandr Nazarienko and Ivan Kalyuzhnyi. Both players shared their thoughts on this significant event.
"To be honest, I don’t feel like I’m in the national team yet. I’m a bit in shock and haven’t fully realized it all. How did this happen? There was a match for Polissya, after which we were given two days off, and I planned to go home. I had already bought tickets to Dnipro and arrived at the train station, but then I got a call saying: 'It’s canceled, you’re going to the national team.' I almost dropped my phone. Right now, I’m nervous but very happy.
Did I expect this call-up? I just wanted to demonstrate my level in the Ukrainian league and gave my all in every match. I started scoring and providing assists. Yes, there were rumors that I might make the national team reserve. And that’s exactly what happened.
Now I have two teammates from my club in the national team, which helps. When I arrived, Bohdan Mykhailichenko greeted me right away. Plus, Oleksiy Hutsulyak is here. It’ll be easier for me with them.
For now, I want to calm down a bit, collect my thoughts, and starting tomorrow, I’ll focus on working hard to secure my place in the team. I hope this won’t be my last call-up," said Oleksandr Nazarienko.
Photo by Dan Balashov
"I'm gradually starting to get used to being in the national team, but I think the full feeling will come during the first training session. When I received the call saying I was being called up, I was excited, of course. This has been my dream. I worked hard and tried to do everything on the pitch to get here.
My teammates and the coach were the first to hear about my call-up. They were the first to congratulate me. Honestly, I already knew many of the national team players. We’ve crossed paths at Dynamo Kyiv and the Metalist Academy. With Roman Yaremchuk, Bohdan Mykhailichenko, and Oleksandr Tymchyk. I know many, but I haven’t spoken to them in a while.
During this training camp, I want to show myself, train hard, and help the national team. I’ve already received my playing number — 18. Everything is going very well," noted Ivan Kalyuzhnyi.
It’s worth mentioning that in October, Serhiy Rebrov’s team will play two home matches in Group B1 of the Nations League 2024/2025 in Poland. On October 11, the Blue and Yellows will host Georgia at ENEA Stadion in Poznań, and on October 14, they will face Czechia at Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław.
Ukraine National Team Squad:
Goalkeepers: Georgiy Bushchan (Dynamo Kyiv), Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica Lisbon, Portugal), Dmytro Riznyk (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Defenders: Mykola Matviyenko, Yukhym Konoplya, Valeriy Bondar (all - Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleksandr Tymchyk (Dynamo Kyiv), Bohdan Mykhaylichenko (Polissya Zhytomyr), Illia Zabarnyi (Bournemouth, England), Maksym Talovierov (LASK Linz, Austria), Oleksandr Svatok (Austin, USA)
Midfielders: Mykola Shaparenko, Vitaliy Buyalskyi, Vladyslav Kabaiev, Andriy Yarmolenko (all - Dynamo Kyiv), Taras Stepanenko, Georgiy Sudakov, Dmytro Kryskiv, Oleksandr Zubkov (all - Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleksiy Hutsulyak (Polissya Zhytomyr), Oleksandr Nazarenko (Polissya Zhytomyr), Ivan Kalyuzhnyi (Oleksandriya), Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea London, England).
Forwards: Artem Dovbyk (Roma Rome, Italy), Roman Yaremchuk (Olympiacos Piraeus, Greece), Vladyslav Vanat (Dynamo Kyiv).
Reserve List: Oleksandr Martynyuk (Oleksandriya), Artem Bondarenko, Danylo Sikan (both - Shakhtar Donetsk).