Ukraine's Squad for Albania Friendly Features Potential Debutant Nescheret

Ukraine Names Squad for Albania Friendly

According to Главком: Ukraine's head coach, Serhiy Rebrov, has selected a 23-man squad for the upcoming friendly match against Albania. The roster includes a potential debutant in goalkeeper Ruslan Nescheret, who plays for Dynamo Kyiv. This match provides a key opportunity for the team to regroup and test new options following their recent World Cup qualifying disappointment. Notably absent from the squad are Boris Krushynskyi, Oleh Ocheretko, and Vladyslav Vanat, with Krushynskyi sidelined due to injury and unable to make his debut during this international break.

Team Roster

The match squad includes the following goalkeepers:

• Anatoliy Trubin
• Dmytro Riznyk
• Ruslan Nescheret

Defenders called up are:

• Yukhym Konoplia
• Illia Zabarnyi
• Oleksandr Svatok
• Valeriy Bondar
• Eduard Sarapii
• Vitaliy Mykolenko
• Oleksandr Tymchyk
• Bohdan Mykhaylychenko

The midfielders selected are:

• Ruslan Malinovskyi
• Yehor Yarmolyuk
• Ivan Kalyuzhnyi
• Heorhiy Sudakov
• Mykola Shaparenko
• Oleksandr Pikhalyonok
• Nazar Voloshyn
• Oleksiy Gutsulyak
• Viktor Tsygankov
• Oleksandr Zubkov

Forwards on the list:

• Roman Yaremchuk
• Matviy Ponomarenko

In other news, the Ukrainian national team has unveiled a new away kit designed by adidas. The kit's design draws inspiration from Ukrainian heraldry and the evolution of the national coat of arms. Notably, the adidas Originals Trefoil logo returns to the shirt after an absence of over 30 years. The jersey features a deep blue color with a geometric pattern across the chest and shoulders.

Ukraine failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, having been eliminated in the playoff semifinal by Sweden with a 3-1 scoreline. The sole goal for Ukraine in that match was scored by debutant Matviy Ponomarenko, while Arsenal's Swedish forward, Jokeres, netted a hat-trick.

In the new UEFA Nations League season, Ukraine has been drawn in League B, Group 2, where they will face Hungary, Georgia, and Northern Ireland. Their Nations League campaign begins with an away fixture against Hungary on September 25. The winner of Group B2 will earn promotion to Nations League Division A.

The upcoming friendly against Albania represents a significant step for Ukraine, offering a platform for new talents like Ruslan Nescheret to make their mark on the international stage. Furthermore, the new kit, which embodies Ukrainian identity, could symbolize a fresh chapter for the team following their World Cup qualifying setback. Despite recent challenges, the Ukrainian players have a chance to showcase their abilities and build momentum ahead of the competitive Nations League fixtures, where the level of competition is expected to be high.

As the Ukrainian national team prepares for this friendly match, it's worth noting the recent unveiling of their new away kit, which was launched by football legends Blokhin and Shevchenko. This kit, inspired by the nation’s heraldry, reflects a fresh chapter for the team as they aim to bounce back from their World Cup qualifying setback. To learn more about the design and significance of the new jersey, click here.