Sergiy Rebrov has finalized Ukraine's squad for their upcoming friendly match against Canada. The head coach revealed his selection on match day as the team completes preparations for the tournament fixture on Canadian soil.
"We've assembled a strong group of players who represent Ukrainian football across Europe's top leagues," Rebrov might say ahead of this important test for his squad.
The coaching staff has included three goalkeepers in the roster: Andriy Lunin from "Real Madrid", Anatoliy Trubin representing "Benfica", and Dmytro Riznyk from "Shakhtar". Lunin's recent Champions League experience could give him the edge for the starting position. Will he get the nod?
In defense, "Shakhtar" duo Mykola Matviyenko and Valerii Bondar feature alongside Illia Zabarnyi from Premier League side "Bournemouth". The backline also includes players from "Dynamo Kyiv", "Oleksandriya", and MLS club "Columbus Crew".
The midfield looks particularly stacked. Four "Dynamo" players made the cut – Mykola Shaparenko, Mykola Mykhailenko, Oleksandr Pikhalionok, and Vladyslav Kabaev. They're joined by three "Shakhtar" representatives and several European-based stars.
Interestingly, Premier League fans will recognize Oleksandr Zinchenko from "Arsenal", while La Liga followers will spot Viktor Tsygankov from "Girona" among the midfield options.
Up front, the sole striker named is Roman Yaremchuk from Greek champions "Olympiacos" – a surprising tactical choice by Rebrov. Is this a hint at the formation he plans to deploy?
The match kicks off at 22:30 on June 7, giving Ukrainian fans a chance to see how their national team performs against the World Cup 2026 co-hosts. By the way, this friendly serves as valuable preparation for both nations ahead of their respective competitive fixtures later this year.
Can Ukraine secure a positive result on Canadian soil? This test against CONCACAF opposition should provide some interesting answers about where Rebrov's team currently stands.
