Tonight at the "Tarchinsky Arena Wroclaw" in Wroclaw, Poland, the Ukrainian national team will face off against Iceland in the decisive play-off match for the right to participate in Euro-2024. The game starts at 21:45 Kyiv time. This final will be the fifth confrontation in the history of the teams.
In anticipation of the play-off final, on Monday morning, the last preparatory training sessions of our national team began, logically continuing the team's March gathering. After arriving at the hotel in the suburbs of Wroclaw, head coach Serhiy Rebrov conducted a theoretical training followed by lunch and rest time. Considering the distance to the stadium, the team went for the official training in advance, counting on half an hour on the road. The weather in Wroclaw was clear yesterday and slightly warmer – about eight degrees, which was a pleasant bonus for the team after cool rainy days.
The pre-game training on Monday, March 25, included different elements of preparation for the upcoming match: starting with a warm-up and square game, players then moved on to active exercises. All 28 players available to the team participated in the training.
The coaching staff used the game exercises for the final check of the players' readiness, gathering important information for further strategy. Serhiy Rebrov and his assistants, including Rustam Khudzhamov, completed the preparation process for the game, leaving the head coach time until the end of the day to form a list of 23 players for the upcoming match, as well as for the final tactical and psychological tuning.
The morale in the Ukraine national team camp is high. Players are determined to give their all in the upcoming battle, realizing its significance for the whole country and striving to bring joy to the Ukrainian people, who crave positive emotions in these difficult times. Daily attacks by the aggressor leave a deep mark in the players' hearts, fueling their determination to win.
The team also found time for a forty-minute walk around the lake located near the hotel, together with the president of the Ukrainian Football Association, Andriy Shevchenko. Moments of this walk, which took place on Tuesday morning, March 26, are captured in the photos in this material.
In preparation for the match against Iceland, Rustam Khudzhamov, the goalkeeper coach, used the latest Brave GK Venom Black goalkeeper gloves. This model is part of an upcoming collection, with its premiere expected in just a few weeks. These gloves combine the latest developments for maximum efficiency and comfort on the field. They are more durable and long-lasting, meticulously tuned for effective use at the highest level.
The Brave GK Venom Black gloves from the new collection are equipped with a four-millimeter layer of premium SUPREME latex, reinforced with an additional layer of foam of the same thickness, providing the highest level of grip and cushioning. Their unique finger cut, designed according to the Roll Hybrid system, combines comfort and support, allowing the goalkeeper to achieve exceptional ball control.
Thanks to the Fix Fit system, with special silicone inserts inside the palm, these gloves ensure excellent ball control, allowing the goalkeeper to feel more confident under any conditions. The backside of the gloves is made of high-quality neoprene, which provides excellent shock absorption and increases the gloves' durability. The reinforced construction of the gloves, excluding latex on the cuffs, contributes to their strength and reliability in use. A removable Velcro strap for adjustment provides a custom fit, tailoring the gloves to the specific needs of the goalkeeper.
In the design of the Brave GK Venom Black model, black and blue colors are harmoniously combined, giving them a modern and stylish look. The absence of protective inserts makes these gloves especially light and flexible, providing the goalkeeper with the necessary freedom of movement and allowing them to demonstrate the highest technique in the game.
Andriy Lunin, the goalkeeper for the Ukrainian national team, expressed his expectations for the upcoming game against the Iceland team. Summarizing the latest preparations for the key match against the Icelanders, Lunin shared his thoughts on the current state and spirit of the Ukrainian team.
"Everything is top-notch, the training went excellently, we tested the lawn. The quality of the field leaves something to be desired, but considering the time of year, it's normal... Morally, the team is set only for victory, it cannot be otherwise. A key fight stands before us. We need to prepare as well as possible and put all our strength into this game.
Iceland represents a significantly more complicated opponent than Bosnia and Herzegovina, thanks to their discipline, a higher level of physical preparation, and, in my opinion, rich experience. The upcoming meeting promises to be extremely challenging and demanding. But we are ready for it. To earn the right to play at the Euros, we need to beat any opponent.
The complex situation in Ukraine affects us every day. We've already spoken about this several times: when you go to training, all the news is before your eyes. It's not harder for us than for the residents of Ukraine, but it has a special impact. We will make every effort to ensure our country, our people, experience joy. This is of great significance," shared Andriy Lunin his reflections.
1. Heorhiy Bushchan, 2. Yefim Konoplya, 3. Bohdan Mykhaylichenko, 4. Maksym Tymchyk, 5. Serhiy Sydorchuk, 6. Mykola Shaparenko, 7. Heorhiy Sudakov, 8. Ruslan Malinovskyi, 9. Roman Yaremchuk, 10. Mykhailo Mudryk, 11. Artem Dovbyk, 12. Anatoliy Trubin, 13. Illya Zabarnyi, 14. Volodymyr Brazhko, 15. Viktor Tsygankov, 16. Vitaliy Mykolenko, 17. Oleksandr Zinchenko, 18. Vladyslav Vanat, 19. Valeriy Bondar, 20. Oleksandr Zubkov, 21. Oleksandr Tymchyk, 22. Mykola Matviyenko, 23. Andriy Lunin.
Among the footballers staying with the Ukrainian national team, the final list for the game does not include Oleksandr Karavaev, Denys Popov, Oleksandr Pikhalionok, Oleksiy Gutsulyak, and Danylo Sikan.
In the upcoming match, the Ukrainian team will play in yellow, while the Iceland team has chosen a blue kit. In addition to this, two more final games will take place today within the playoffs of the Euro 2024 qualification: Wales will meet Poland on their field, and Georgia will host Greece on their territory.
