In the morning, 22 players who participated in a friendly match had a run and stretching exercises (muscle stretches). Since all outfield players and the goalkeeper played an entire match on the field yesterday, today's training lasted about half an hour. Shaparenko is already ready for group training, but since there are no game training sessions planned for Friday, Mykola worked separately with fitness coach Ivan Bashchov.

Photos by the UAF press service

The half-back's exercises were more intense, as he needs more physical strain than the boys who received enough yesterday. Denis Popov continues individual running work; his integration into team training is expected day by day.

Photos by the UAF press service

And in the evening, at the Football Federation of Slovenia training center where blue-and-yellow have been training for almost a month, there was a very warm Ukrainian meeting. Nearly 150 children who were forced to leave their homeland due to Russia's invasion arrived as guests of the Ukraine national team. About 40 of these children are from the Center for Resettlement of Ukrainian Refugees in Logatec. The kids brought drawings that they gifted to players and coaches.

Photos by the UAF press service

Young Ukrainians depicted not only on paper (one of the works was painted on canvas) what they feel most strongly now — their desire for Ukraine's victory and wish to return home.

Photos by the UAF press service

Almost every work had blue-and-yellow colors. It was noticeable that the team members were touched by this moment of children's attention. Our guests also did not go without gifts — boys signed their autographs on UAF balls, blue-and-yellow flags and photo cards, as well as took photos with anyone willing. Before the meeting, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia Mykhailo Brodovich and General Secretary of the Football Federation of Slovenia Martin Kozel addressed the crowd, wishing our team success in playoff matches and expressing hope that blue-and-yellow are satisfied with the training conditions in Breg.

Photos by the UAF press service

In response, head coach of Ukraine's national team Oleksandr Petrakov thanked everyone in Slovenia for their warm welcome to Ukrainians who are far from home: "We are very grateful for your support, attention and care. We know that our compatriots really want to return home, but it is still dangerous in Ukraine, especially for children and women. So I wish all of our Ukrainians patience. We believe in our armed forces which will bring peace back to our land. We are going to play in Glasgow and I can assure you: the boys will do everything to qualify for the World Cup."

Photos by the UAF press service

On behalf of the team, captain Andriy Pyatov thanked the children and their parents for their support: "We are happy to give a smile to the kids' faces and wish us all peaceful skies and only victories. Ukraine is above everything!"

Photos by the UAF press service

The warm atmosphere of Ukrainian unity filled the meeting, leaving unforgettable impressions that will remain in the hearts of its participants for a long time. And children's drawings will become talismans for Ukraine's national team and accompany them during decisive matches.

Oleksandr Hlyvinskyi, press secretary of the national team

Photos by the UAF press service

List of players in Ukraine's national team

Goalkeepers: Georgiy Bushchan ("Dynamo" Kyiv), Andriy Pyatov ("Shakhtar" Donetsk), Dmytro Rytsnik ("Vorskla" Poltava), Andriy Lunin ("Real", Spain).

Defenders: Oleksandr Karavayev, Illia Zabarnyi, Oleksandr Syrota, Denis Popov (all — "Dynamo" Kyiv), Mykola Matviyenko, Valeriy Bondar (both — "Shakhtar" Donetsk), Vitaliy Mykolenko ("Everton", England), Eduard Sobolev ("Brugge", Belgium), Taras Kachariaba ("Slavia", Czech Republic).

Midfielders: Taras Stepanenko, Mykhailo Mudryk (both — "Shakhtar" Donetsk), Serhiy Sydorchuk, Viktor Tsygankov, Mykola Shaparenko (all — "Dynamo" Kyiv), Oleksandr Pichalok (SK "Dnipro-1"), Andriy Yarmolenko ("West Ham", England), Oleksandr Zinchenko ("Manchester City", England), Ruslan Malinovskiy ("Atalanta", Italy), Oleksandr Zubkov ("Ferencváros", Hungary).

Forwards: Artem Dovbyk (SK "Dnipro-1"), Roman Yaremchuk ("Benfica", Portugal), Danilo Sikan ("Hansa Rostock", Germany).