Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov gives injury updates ahead of the EURO 2024 qualifier at San Siro and expects Italy to show ‘great intensity’ in a must-win match.
It kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan on Tuesday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
They are coming off an impressive 1-1 draw with group leaders England, but lost Oleksandr Tymchyk to injury, while Ruslan Malinovskyi and Mykola Shaparenko had already pulled out.
There were concerns for Mykola Matvienko, who went off at half-time against England, so he could be on the bench.
“We have a few problems, but everyone trained today. We have 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers, so choices must be made, but everyone in the squad is available to play,” said Rebrov in his press conference.
“Andriy Yarmolenko is training, he is not at 100 per cent, but did work with the others over the last three or four days.”
Italy were only able to scrape a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia, as Ciro Immobile’s goal was cancelled out by an Enis Bardhi free kick.
That means a win at San Siro would put the Azzurri on the same number of points as Ukraine, but with a game in hand.
“It’s true that Italy drew in Skopje, but also that it was difficult to play football on that pitch. The Italian team showed great intensity, they wanted to win and I am sure they’ll be just as strong tomorrow.”
San Siro was for many years home to Ukraine legend and former coach Andriy Shevchenko, though the ex-Milan striker is now covering an even more important role raising funds for his country after 566 days of the Russian invasion.
“He supports everyone, not just us. For what he is doing and for how he played in Italy, Shevchenko set the example as a great Ukrainian,” added his former teammate Rebrov.
“We are here thanks to our armed forces in Ukraine and we live for them too. Our players know what we are playing for and the spirit we showed against England was also down to that.”
This is effectively a head-to-head for qualification, as while Italy are guaranteed at least a play-off spot after winning their Nations League group, only the top two are automatically qualified for EURO 2024.
“It is a very important game for them, but also for us. Italy are a top team and it has never been easy to play against them, but we must be confident of getting a positive result at San Siro.
“I don’t understand why people are so critical of Italy, seeing the way they play and their level. They didn’t win against North Macedonia, but are still playing good football. I saw the changes Luciano Spalletti brought and how his Napoli played.
“We have great respect for Italy, but must show our own strength. We know football is not the most important thing in our country right now, but the fans appreciated our show of character against England. Millions of Ukrainians will watch the game tomorrow and we are playing for them.”
Ukraine squad
Goalkeepers: Georgiy Bushchan (Dynamo Kyiv), Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica), Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid)).
Defenders: Mykola Matvienko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Yukhym Konoplia (Shakhtar Donetsk), Denys Popov (Dynamo Kyiv), Vitaly Mykolenko (Everton), Ilya Zabarny (Bournemouth), Serhii Kryvtsov (Inter Miami), Bohdan Mykhailichenko (Dynamo Zagreb).
Midfielders: Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Vitaly Buyalskyi (Dynamo Kyiv), Oleksandr Karavaev (Dynamo Kyiv), Taras Stepanenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleksandr Zubkov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Georgy Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Yehor Nazarina (Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleksandr Pikhalyonok (Dnipro), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal), Viktor Tsygankov (Girona), Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea), Serhii Sydorchuk (Westerlo).
Forwards: Roman Yaremchuk (Valencia), Artem Dovbyk (Girona), Vladyslav Vanat (Dynamo Kyiv).
Backup list: Oleksandr Svatok (Dnipro), Arseniy Batagov (Zorya Luhansk), Danylo Sikan (Shakhtar Donetsk).