Ukraine national football team

The Ukraine national football team (Ukrainian: Збірна України з футболу) represents Ukraine in men's international football, and is governed by the Ukrainian Association of Football, the governing body for football in Ukraine. Ukraine's home ground is the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv. The team has been a full member of UEFA and FIFA since 1992.

Ukraine
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Синьо-жовті (The Blue and Yellow)
Збірна (The National Team)
AssociationUkrainian Association of Football (UAF)
Українська Асоціація Футболу
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachSerhiy Rebrov
CaptainAndriy Yarmolenko
Most capsAnatoliy Tymoshchuk (144)[a]
Top scorerAndriy Shevchenko (48)
Home stadiumVarious
FIFA codeUKR
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 24 Decrease 2 (20 June 2024)[1]
Highest11 (February 2007)
Lowest132 (September 1993)
First international
 Ukraine 1–3 Hungary 
(Uzhhorod, Ukraine; 29 April 1992)
Biggest win
 Ukraine 9–0 San Marino 
(Lviv, Ukraine; 6 September 2013)
Biggest defeat
 France 7–1 Ukraine 
(Saint-Denis, France; 7 October 2020)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2006)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2006)
European Championship
Appearances4 (first in 2012)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2020)
Websiteuaf.ua

After Ukrainian independence, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992. The team reached the quarter-finals in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, their debut in the finals of a major championship.[3] Apart from Russia, Ukraine is the only post-Soviet state to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals.

As the host nation, Ukraine automatically qualified for UEFA Euro 2012.[3] Four years later, Ukraine finished third in their qualifying group for Euro 2016 and advanced via the play-off route to reach a UEFA European Championship tournament through the qualifiers for the first time. This marked the first time in Ukraine's six play-off appearances that it managed to win such a tie, having lost previous play-off ties for the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup, the 2010 World Cup and the 2014 World Cup, and would lose again in the 2022 World Cup play-offs.

Ukraine's best performances in the UEFA European Championship and in the World Cup were in 2020 and 2006 respectively, in both cases reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

History

Ukrainian SSR (1924–1990)

The national team was formed in the early 1990s and was recognized internationally soon afterwards. It is not widely known, however, that Ukraine previously had a national team in 1924–1935.[4][5] Just like the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic had its own national team. The national team included the players Andriy Ponomarenko, Ivan Privalov, Volodymyr Fomin, H. Syrota, Mykola Fomin, Anatoliy Lisnyi, Oleksandr Shatokha (goalkeeper), Dmytro Kyryllov, Dmytro Starusev, Serhiy Kopeiko, Petro Parovyshnykov (first team); Valentyn Prokofyev, Fedir Tyutchev, H. Yakubovskyi, Ivan Vladymyrskyi, Serafim Moskvin (goalkeeper), Kazymyr Piontkovskyi, Mykhailo Pashuta, Vasiliy Yepishin, Adam Bem, K. Us, Volodymyr Prasolov (second team).[6][7]

The earliest record of games played by Ukraine can be traced back to August 1928. A championship among the national teams of the Soviet republics as well as the Moscow city team was planned to take place in Moscow; at the All-Soviet tournament, Ukraine reached the final where it lost to Moscow 1–0, after defeating Belarus and Transcaucasus.

In 1929, Ukraine beat Lower Austria in an exhibition match in Kharkiv 4–1, and played in another Soviet tournament. Ukraine lost to Transcaucasus 3–0.

Official formation

Before 1991, Ukrainian players were represented by the Soviet Union national team. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia took place in the qualifying tournament for the 1994 World Cup. The national team of Ukraine did not manage to enter the tournament[8] on account of it not yet being admitted to FIFA. Meanwhile, some of the best Ukrainian players of the beginning of the 1990s (including Andrei Kanchelskis, Viktor Onopko, Sergei Yuran, Yuriy Nikiforov, Ilya Tsymbalar and Oleg Salenko) chose to play for Russia. At that time Vyacheslav Koloskov was the only top official from the former Soviet Union and later Russia who served as a vice-president of UEFA in 1980–1996 and represented the Soviet Union and later the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Valeriy Lobanovskyi was Head Coach of the National Team in 1979 and between 2001 and 2002

The Soviet Union's five-year UEFA coefficient, despite being earned in part by Ukrainian players (for example, in the final of the last successful event, Euro 1988, under the direction of Valery Lobanovsky, 7 out of the 11 starting players were Ukrainians[9]), were transferred to the Russia national team. As a result, a crisis was created for both the national team and the domestic league.

Another reason for the occurred harsh crisis in the Ukrainian football was lack of adequate funding of teams,[10] due to the general economic crisis that has affected all of the CIS countries.[10] There also was a reverse influx of players;[10] Viktor Leonenko agreed on transfer from Dynamo Moscow to Dynamo Kyiv. The Russian club did not want to release him, but Leonenko did not want to continue to play in Moscow.[10]

In the following years, the Ukrainian team improved, showcasing talents like Andriy Shevchenko, Serhiy Rebrov, and Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.

First official games (Prokopenko)

Soon after being accepted to FIFA and UEFA as a full member in 1992, Ukraine selected its first manager by members of a coaching council which consisted of Anatoliy Puzach (manager of Dynamo Kyiv), Yevhen Kucherevskyi (FC Dnipro), Yevhen Lemeshko (Torpedo Zaporizhzhia), Yukhym Shkolnykov (Bukovyna Chernivtsi) and Viktor Prokopenko (Chornomorets Odesa). Later, they were joined by Valeriy Yaremchenko (Shakhtar Donetsk). The circle was narrowed to three specialists; Prokopenko eventually became the manager.[11]

Viktor Prokopenko, the first official manager of the national team

Ukraine played their first match on 29 April 1992 against Hungary in Uzhhorod at the Avanhard Stadium, losing 3–1 with the sole Ukrainian goal scored by Ivan Hetsko. With the creation of "fantom" (transitional) CIS team in place of the Soviet Union playing its own friendly against the England in Moscow in preparation to the UEFA Euro 1992,[12] the Ukrainian team lost some notable players to that team. Following a couple of losses to Hungary and a draw to the United States, Prokopenko resigned and the last season game that year for the national team was led by his assistants Mykola Pavlov and Leonid Tkachenko.

Euro 1996 qualification (Bazylevych)

Ukraine appointed another head coach, Oleh Bazylevych, who made his debut with the national team in the spring of 1993 in Odesa during a friendly against Israel, a 1–1 draw. Less than a month later Ukraine finally won, in Vilnius in an away friendly against Lithuania. During the summer they lost 3–1 to Croatia; Ukraine was later seeded in Group 4 of the UEFA Euro 1996 qualification.

Ukraine was defeated by Israel in March 1994, and drew Bulgaria and the United Arab Emirates. On 7 September 1994, the national team started its first official qualification campaign with a surprising home loss 2–0 to Lithuania.[13] Following the defeat and a weak performance in preceding friendlies Bazylevych was fired and on the tour to South Korea the team was led by the Bazylevych assistants Pavlov and Muntyan as a temporary replacement until Federation signs a contract with Valeriy Lobanovsky. on 24 September, the Football Federation of Ukraine appointed Yozhef Sabo as an acting manager until the end of the year after Lobanovsky signed a contract with Kuwait.

With the new manager, their next home game against Slovenia ended goalless[14] and they then beat Estonia 3–0 gaining their first win in official competitive game.[15] At the beginning of the year the Football Federation confirmed Anatoliy Konkov as the new head coach on 5 January 1995.

Oleg Blokhin two spells in charge of the Ukraine national team

With Konkov the team started with away losses of 4–0 to Croatia and 3–0 to Italy.[16] After that there was a three-game winning streak including a home victory against Croatia and theoretical hopes which were abruptly cut after a loss to Slovenia and the team finished in the fourth place in its first qualification campaign behind Lithuania.

1998–2004: near misses

Following the expiration of a year-long contract with Konkov, in 1996 the Federation appointed Sabo as a head coach and received a preliminary agreement that Lobanovsky will become available following his contract with Kuwait.

Ukraine participated in 1998 World Cup qualification, where the team was drawn into Group 9. Ukraine took second place, only behind Germany and ahead of Portugal but was defeated in a play-off stage 3–1 on aggregate by Croatia. The qualification campaign became notable as the beginning of the international career for Shevchenko as well as more play time for some other players such as Oleksandr Shovkovsky and Serhiy Rebrov.

In UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying, Ukraine, assigned in Group 4, finished above Russia, thanks to an important draw in Moscow and a home victory, but still only qualified for the playoff behind the French side despite being undefeated. Ukraine then fell to Slovenia 3–2 on aggregate. Following the qualification campaign, the Federation finally signed a contract with Valery Lobanovsky, ending Sabo's tenure as a head coach.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification saw Ukraine in Group 5. With Lobanovsky as a head coach, there were expectations of the first qualification to the finals. Yet, Ukraine suffered a home loss to Poland in their opening match, and many draws had resulted in Ukraine qualifying for the playoff again, losing to Germany, 5–2 on aggregate. Under public pressure, particularly the Higher League head coaches who argued that the national team head coach cannot competently serve for both club and national, as well as the health issues of Lobanovsky himself, the Federation decided not to renew a contract with Lobanovsky letting him concentrate on Dynamo Kyiv.

In UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying, Ukraine with the new head coach and another former Dynamo Kyiv star Leonid Buryak was assigned into Group 6, with Spain and Greece. Ukraine failed to qualify.[citation needed]

2006 World Cup

After Euro 2004 qualifying, Ukraine appointed Oleg Blokhin as the national team's head coach. Placed in Group 2, Ukraine went on to qualify as a group winner for their first-ever FIFA World Cup on 3 September 2005 after drawing 1–1 against Georgia in Tbilisi and ahead of Turkey, Denmark and the last campaign rivals Greece among others. This also was the first successful qualification campaign for Ukraine despite a poor home turf performance.

In the 2006 World Cup, they were in Group H with Spain, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. After losing 4–0 in the first match against Spain, the Ukrainians won the next two matches to face Switzerland in the round of 16. Drawing goalless, Ukraine managed to take Switzerland to a penalty shoot-out where two saves from Oleksandr Shovkovsky secured a positive outcome for his side despite the first kick miss by Andriy Shevchenko. Switzerland which did not lose or yield a single goal was sent home early with Ukraine advancing to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Ukraine, facing Italy, was defeated with two second half two goals from Luca Toni, securing a comfortable 3–0 win for the future 2006 World Cup champions.

2006–2012

After the World Cup, Ukraine was placed in UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group B, along with Italy and France; Ukraine had also performed poorly against Scotland, Georgia and Lithuania, ultimately finishing in fourth place. Due to the bleak performance of the national team Oleg Blokhin resigned and surprisingly signed with the recently established FC Moscow.[17][18]

With another Soviet football star player Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko as the new head coach, 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw Ukraine in Group 6, drawing Croatia and winning against England, sending Ukraine to the playoff. Greece, which had been eliminated by Ukraine in the qualifiers four years earlier, would eventually get revenge.[citation needed] Following the failure to qualify, the Federation decided not to renew the contract with Mykhaylychenko.[19]

Ukraine in 2012
Ukraine before a match against Bulgaria, 14 December 2012

As co-hosts, Ukraine qualified automatically for Euro 2012,[3] marking their debut in the UEFA European Championship. The Federation decided to appoint Myron Markevych to prepare and lead the national team in the Euro finals. However, following a few friendlies Markevych resigned due to the off-pitch politics and having held coaching office of both the national team and Metalist Kharkiv.[20][21] For the next several games in 2010 and 2011 the national team was led by caretaker Yuriy Kalitvintsev who starred for Ukraine back in its first qualification campaign for the Euro 1996.

On 21 April 2011, Blokhin was again appointed head coach of the Ukraine national team signing a four-year contract.[22][23] With Blokhin at helm in their opening game against Sweden, Ukraine won 2–1 in Kyiv. In Donetsk, Ukraine was eliminated after a 2–0 loss to France and a 1–0 defeat to England.

2014–present

Drawn into UEFA Group H for 2014 World Cup qualification, Ukraine qualified for yet another playoff after two wins over Poland and two draws over England, where they would play against France. Ukraine beat France at home 2–0 but suffered a 3–0 loss away. Blokhin stepped down due to health concerns in the autumn of 2012 soon after the first home game against England and was replaced by Andriy Bal[24] and later Oleksandr Zavarov. While considering hiring a first foreign specialist, the Federation finally appointed Mykhailo Fomenko as a head coach by the end of 2012.[25] Even though Fomenko did not manage to qualify for the World Cup, the Federation decided to retain his services until the end of 2015.[26]

Ukraine in 2015

With the ongoing Russian aggression, Ukraine in Euro 2016 qualifying was drawn against Spain, Slovakia, Belarus, Macedonia and Luxembourg. Despite having won all matches apart from those against Spain and Slovakia, they finished third due to the results against the top two teams in the group. They defeated Slovenia in the playoff, marking the first time they qualified for a major tournament through the playoffs.

Ukraine lost all three games at Euro 2016 without scoring a goal; a 2–0 loss to Germany, a 2–0 loss to Northern Ireland, and Poland 1–0.

Following the Euro 2016, Fomenko was replaced with Andriy Shevchenko as a head coach who served as his assistant during the Euro finals.[27] Seeded in the UEFA Group I, Ukraine started with a home draw to Iceland in 2018 World Cup qualifying and an away draw to Turkey. This was followed by two home wins, 3–0 against Kosovo and 1–0 against Finland. After a 1–0 away loss to Croatia, they beat Finland 2–1 away and Turkey 2–0 at home, they lost 2–0 away to Iceland and won a 2–0 away win against Kosovo. Losing to Croatia at home, they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying and in all its previous World Cup qualifications.

In the inaugural UEFA Nations League, Ukraine was drawn with the Czech Republic and Slovakia in League B. They beat the Czech Republic 2–1 away and Slovakia 1–0 at home, before earning a promotion to League A with a 1–0 home win to the Czech Republic.

Ukraine was placed in a group with Euro 2016 champions Portugal as well as Serbia. In its opening game of the qualifying campaign Ukraine visited Portugal which was led by returning star Cristiano Ronaldo. The match ended 0–0. The second game, against Luxembourg, ended up as a 2–1 win, preceding Ukraine's 5–0 win against Serbia, along with a narrow 1–0 win against Luxembourg. Two matches—away and home against Lithuania (winning 3–0 and 2–0 respectively) saw Ukraine with 16 points and in need of only a point against Portugal. Ukraine won 2–1 and the group before drawing Serbia 2–2.

Ukraine was drawn with Switzerland, Spain, and Germany in the next Nations League. The Ukrainians started their campaign by overcoming Switzerland at home 2–1 to temporarily take first place. However, their next opponent Spain won 4–0. Germany then won 2–1 in Kyiv. Ukraine then defeated Spain for the first time with a 1–0 win. Germany swept Ukraine after a 1–0 deficit was canceled for a 3–1 victory.

As the COVID-19 crisis in Ukraine worsened, eight players from the starting squad tested positive (including one positive SARS-CoV-2 test upon arrival to Lucerne), and as a result, the entire delegation was put into quarantine by the Department of Health of the Canton of Lucerne.[28][29] Their game against Switzerland away was subsequently cancelled. Ukraine faced relegation if the game was to be awarded 3–0 to Switzerland, or if the result is decided by a drawing of lots and Switzerland was to be handed a 1–0 victory. Eventually, UEFA decided that the match result would be 3–0 in favour of Switzerland and the CAS subsequently upheld the result, meaning that Ukraine had been officially relegated after just one year in League A.[30][31]

Ukraine managed to qualify for the knockout stages in the European Championship for the first time in the 2020 tournament, postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19, as one of the best third-placed teams. They beat Sweden 2–1 in the round of 16, after Artem Dovbyk scored the winning goal in the first minute of the second half in extra time. They were then defeated by England in the quarter-final, recording their best finish at a major tournament since 2006.

Ukraine drew 1–1 in both games against France in 2022 World Cup qualifying.[32] Ukraine would then qualify for the playoff after breaking the record set by Australia for the most consecutive draws in World Cup qualification, with five straight draws.[citation needed] After five years and under the spell of draws in the recent campaign, Shevchenko announced his resignation in August 2021[33] and was replaced with Oleksandr Petrakov who had recently led the Ukraine U-20 team to the World Cup victory.[34] Ukraine eventually picked up a much-needed victory over Finland, ending their run of draws and giving them a two-point lead over Bosnia and a three-point lead over Finland. However, both Bosnia and Finland had a game in hand over Ukraine, who managed to qualify for the playoffs after a 2–0 win over Bosnia and a Finnish loss to France. Ukraine faced Scotland in the Group A playoff semifinals, postponed in March 2022 to June after Russia invaded the country in February,[35] winning 3–1 at Hampden Park, but ultimately losing 1–0 to Wales in an emotional playoff final at the Cardiff City Stadium.[36]

Ukraine, who were relegated to League B in the 2nd Nations League due to their last-place finish (2 wins to 4 losses), failed to gain promotion to League A in the following Nations League, finishing 2nd in their group in the 3rd Nations League, beaten by Scotland against whom they lost in Glasgow in contrast to the play-off semi-final (0–3) and unable to beat the Tartan Army on neutral ground in the return leg (0–0).

In the qualifiers for the Euro 2024, Ukraine finished third in their highly competitive group, with four wins, two draws and two defeats. However, Italy finished ahead of the Zbirna only thanks to a favourable head-to-head record despite having the same number of points, while in the decisive Ukraine/Italy match (0–0) on neutral ground in Leverkusen, Germany, a refereeing error was made to the Ukrainians' disadvantage with a penalty not whistled for an Italian foul at the end of match.[37]

Eligible for the play-offs as the best non-group winner, Ukraine initially defeated Bosnia 2–1 away in the semi-finals of the Path B play-offs on March 21, 2024.[38] Five days later, on March 26, 2024, Ukraine qualified for Euro 2024 in Germany, beating Iceland 2–1 in the play-off final at the Wrocław Stadium in Poland.[39][40] In this decisive final, as in the semi-final against Bosnia, Ukraine conceded the opening goal on each occasion and managed to turn the match around, winning by a narrow margin at the very end.

Stadiums

Most matches are held at Kyiv's Olimpiyskyi National Sports Complex.

During the Soviet era (before 1991), only three stadiums in Ukraine were used in official games, the Olimpiysky NSC in Kyiv (known then as Republican Stadium), the predecessor of Chornomorets, BSS Central Stadium in Odesa, and the Lokomotiv Stadium in Simferopol.

Since May 2022, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, home game matches have been taking place in Łódź.[41]

Home venue record

Since Ukraine's first fixture (29 April 1992 vs. Hungary) they have played their home games at 11 different stadiums.

VenueCityPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAPoints per game
Olimpiyskiy National Sports ComplexKyiv6229211288521.74
Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo StadiumKyiv20135238152.2
Arena LvivLviv1411303362.57
Metalist Oblast Sports ComplexKharkiv137242191.77
Ukraina StadiumLviv66001453
Chornomorets StadiumOdesa6420732.33
Donbass ArenaDonetsk5014290.2
Dnipro-ArenaDnipro4310522.5
Shakhtar StadiumDonetsk2011020.5
Slavutych-ArenaZaporizhzhia1100103
Meteor StadiumDnipro1010221
Avanhard StadiumUzhhorod1001130
Totals1357437242121081.92
Last updated: 11 November 2021. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.

Kits and sponsors

Kit history and evolution

On 29 March 2010, Ukraine debuted a new Adidas kit.[42] This replaced the Adidas kit with a yellow base and the traditional Adidas three stripe with a snake sash which was used in 2009.[43]Before 5 February 2009 Ukraine wore a Lotto kit. In 2009 the official team kit was produced by German company Adidas which has a contract with the Ukrainian team until 31 December 2016. Joma manufactured the kits beginning in 2017.[44]

Former crest

Sponsors

Marketing for the Football Federation of Ukraine is conducted by the Ukraine Football International (UFI).

Former title and general sponsors included Ukrtelecom, Kyivstar,[48] Nordex (Austria),[49][50] and Geoton.

Kit supplierPeriod
Umbro1992–1997
Puma1998–2002
Lotto2003–2008
Adidas2009–2016
Joma2017–present

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2023

v  England
9 September UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Ukraine  1–1  England Wrocław, Poland
18:00 (19:00 UTC+3)
  • Zinchenko 26'
Report
Stadium: Wrocław Stadium
Attendance: 39,000
Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria)
v  Ukraine
12 September UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Italy  2–1  Ukraine Milan, Italy
20:45
ReportStadium: San Siro
Attendance: 58,386
Referee: Alejandro Hernández (Spain)
v  North Macedonia
14 October UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Ukraine  2–0  North Macedonia Prague, Czech Republic
15:00 (16:00 UTC+3)ReportStadium: Stadion Letná
Attendance: 12,939
Referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
v  Ukraine
17 October UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Malta  1–3  Ukraine Ta' Qali, Malta
20:45
Report
Stadium: National Stadium
Attendance: 3,547
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)
v  Ukraine
16 November Unofficial friendly Lechia Gdańsk 0–2  Ukraine Gdańsk, Poland
16:00 CEST (UTC+2)Stadium: Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk
v  Italy
20 November UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Ukraine  0–0  Italy Leverkusen, Germany
20:45 (21:45 UTC+2)ReportStadium: BayArena
Attendance: 26,403
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain)

2024

v  Ukraine
21 March UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs Bosnia and Herzegovina  1–2  Ukraine Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
20:45ReportStadium: Bilino Polje
Attendance: 10,992
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
v  Ukraine
3 June Friendly Germany  0–0  Ukraine Nuremberg, Germany
ReportStadium: Max-Morlock-Stadion
Attendance: 42,500
Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria)
v  Ukraine
7 June Friendly Poland  3–1  Ukraine Warsaw, Poland
20:45Report
Stadium: National Stadium
Attendance: 47,013
Referee: Andrew Madley (England)
v  Ukraine
11 June Friendly Moldova  0–4  Ukraine Chișinău, Moldova
19:00ReportStadium: Zimbru Stadium
Referee: Andrei Chivulete (Romania)
v  Ukraine
17 June UEFA Euro 2024 Romania  3–0  Ukraine Munich, Germany
15:00ReportStadium: Allianz Arena
Attendance: 61,591
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
v  Ukraine
21 June UEFA Euro 2024 Slovakia  1–2  Ukraine Düsseldorf, Germany
15:00ReportStadium: Merkur Spiel-Arena
Attendance: 43,910
Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
v  Belgium
26 June UEFA Euro 2024 Ukraine  0–0  Belgium Stuttgart, Germany
18:00ReportStadium: MHPArena
Attendance: 54,000
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
v  Albania
7 September 2024–25 Nations League Ukraine  v  Albania Prague, Czechia[b]
20:45Stadium: Stadion Letná
v  Ukraine
19 November 2024–25 Nations League Albania  v  Ukraine Tirana, Albania
20:45Stadium: Arena Kombëtare

Coaching staff

Currently approved:[52]

PositionName
Head coach Serhiy Rebrov
Assistant coach
Vicente Gómez
Alberto Bosch
Hlib Platov
Goalkeeping coach Rustam Khudzhamov
Fitness coach Javier Lurueña
Vitaliy Kulyba

Coaching history

As of 26 June 2024.[53][54]
No.ManagerNationUkraine careerGWDLGFGAGDWin %Qualifying cycleFinal tour
1Viktor Prokopenko 1992301225−3000.00
CMykola Pavlov
Leonid Tkachenko
1992101011+0000.00
2Oleh Bazylevych 1993–1994114341314−1036.361996
CMykola Pavlov
Volodymyr Muntyan
1994200203−3000.00
CYozhef Sabo 1994211030+3050.001996
3Anatoliy Konkov 19957304813−5042.861996
4Yozhef Sabo 1996–199932151164426+18046.881998, 2000
5Valeriy Lobanovskyi 2000–2001186752020+0033.332002
6Leonid Buryak 2002–2003195681823−5026.322004
7Oleg Blokhin 2003–2007462114116540+25045.652006, 20082006
8Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko 2008–20092112543116+15057.142010
9Myron Markevych[55] 2010431093+6075.00
CYuriy Kalytvyntsev[56] 2010–201181521013−3012.50
10Oleg Blokhin[22] 2011–2012187382728−1038.8920142012
CAndriy Bal[57] 2012201101−1000.002014
COleksandr Zavarov 2012110010+1100.00
11Mykhaylo Fomenko[58] 2012–20163724676722+45064.862014, 20162016
12Andriy Shevchenko 2016–2021512513137161+10049.022018, 2020, 20222020
13Oleksandr Petrakov 2021[c]–2023156722313+10040.002022
CRuslan Rotan 2023100102−2000.002024
14Serhiy Rebrov 2023–168442217+5050.0020242024

Players

Current squad

The following 26 players were called up for UEFA Euro 2024.[59]

Caps and goals updated as of 26 June 2024, after the match against Belgium.[60][61][62][63]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
11GKHeorhiy Bushchan (1994-05-31) 31 May 1994 (age 30)180 Dynamo Kyiv
121GKAnatoliy Trubin (2001-08-01) 1 August 2001 (age 22)130 Benfica
231GKAndriy Lunin (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 25)130 Real Madrid

22DFYukhym Konoplya (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 (age 24)151 Shakhtar Donetsk
32DFOleksandr Svatok (1994-09-27) 27 September 1994 (age 29)70 Austin
42DFMaksym Talovyerov (2000-06-28) 28 June 2000 (age 24)40 LASK
132DFIllya Zabarnyi (2002-09-01) 1 September 2002 (age 21)391 Bournemouth
162DFVitaliy Mykolenko (1999-05-29) 29 May 1999 (age 25)421 Everton
212DFValeriy Bondar (1999-02-27) 27 February 1999 (age 25)40 Shakhtar Donetsk
222DFMykola Matviyenko (1996-05-02) 2 May 1996 (age 28)680 Shakhtar Donetsk
242DFOleksandr Tymchyk (1997-01-20) 20 January 1997 (age 27)201 Dynamo Kyiv
262DFBohdan Mykhaylichenko (1997-03-21) 21 March 1997 (age 27)80 Polissya Zhytomyr

53MFSerhiy Sydorchuk (1991-05-02) 2 May 1991 (age 33)623 Westerlo
63MFTaras Stepanenko (1989-08-08) 8 August 1989 (age 34)854 Shakhtar Donetsk
73MFAndriy Yarmolenko (captain) (1989-10-23) 23 October 1989 (age 34)12246 Dynamo Kyiv
83MFRuslan Malinovskyi (1993-05-04) 4 May 1993 (age 31)647 Genoa
103MFMykhailo Mudryk (2001-01-05) 5 January 2001 (age 23)232 Chelsea
143MFHeorhiy Sudakov (2002-09-01) 1 September 2002 (age 21)202 Shakhtar Donetsk
153MFViktor Tsyhankov (1997-11-15) 15 November 1997 (age 26)5513 Girona
173MFOleksandr Zinchenko (1996-12-15) 15 December 1996 (age 27)669 Arsenal
183MFVolodymyr Brazhko (2002-01-23) 23 January 2002 (age 22)70 Dynamo Kyiv
193MFMykola Shaparenko (1998-10-04) 4 October 1998 (age 25)342 Dynamo Kyiv
203MFOleksandr Zubkov (1996-08-03) 3 August 1996 (age 27)342 Shakhtar Donetsk

94FWRoman Yaremchuk (1995-11-27) 27 November 1995 (age 28)5316 Valencia
114FWArtem Dovbyk (1997-06-21) 21 June 1997 (age 27)3110 Girona
254FWVladyslav Vanat (2002-01-04) 4 January 2002 (age 22)70 Dynamo Kyiv

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GKDmytro Riznyk (1999-01-30) 30 January 1999 (age 25)20 Shakhtar Donetskv.  Germany, 3 June 2024 RES

DFDenys Popov (1999-02-17) 17 February 1999 (age 25)30 Dynamo Kyivv.  Germany, 3 June 2024 RES
DFOleksandr Karavayev (1992-06-02) 2 June 1992 (age 32)493 Dynamo Kyivv.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 21 March 2024 PRE
DFVladyslav Dubinchak (1998-07-01) 1 July 1998 (age 26)00 Dynamo Kyivv.  Italy, 20 November 2023
DFSerhiy Kryvtsov (1991-03-15) 15 March 1991 (age 33)340 Inter Miamiv.  North Macedonia, 14 October 2023 INJ
DFArseniy Batahov (2002-03-05) 5 March 2002 (age 22)00 Zorya Luhanskv.  England, 9 September 2023 RES

MFVitaliy Buyalskyi (1993-01-06) 6 January 1993 (age 31)130 Dynamo Kyivv.  Germany, 3 June 2024 RES
MFVladyslav Kabayev (1995-09-01) 1 September 1995 (age 28)00 Dynamo Kyivv.  Germany, 3 June 2024 RES
MFYehor Yarmolyuk (2004-03-01) 1 March 2004 (age 20)00 Brentfordv.  Germany, 3 June 2024 RES
MFOleksiy Hutsulyak (1997-12-25) 25 December 1997 (age 26)10 Polissya Zhytomyrv.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 21 March 2024
MFOleksandr Pikhalyonok (1997-05-07) 7 May 1997 (age 27)80 Dynamo Kyivv.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 21 March 2024 PRE
MFYehor Nazaryna (1997-07-10) 10 July 1997 (age 26)20 Shakhtar Donetskv.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 21 March 2024 RES

FWDanylo Sikan (2001-04-16) 16 April 2001 (age 23)71 Shakhtar Donetskv.  Germany, 3 June 2024 RES
FWNazariy Rusyn (1998-10-25) 25 October 1998 (age 25)00 Sunderlandv.  Italy, 20 November 2023 RES

Notes
  • U21 = Called up from national U21 squad.
  • WD = Withdrew from squad for reason other than injury.
  • INJ = Not part of the current squad due to injury.
  • RES = Reserve squad (replaces a member of the squad in case of injury/unavailability).
  • RET = Retired from the national team.
  • PRE = Preliminary squad/standby.

Previous squads

Player records

As of 26 June 2024.[60][64][62][63]
Players in bold are still active with Ukraine.

Most appearances

Andriy Yarmolenko is Ukraine's second most capped player with 121 appearances.
RankPlayerCapsGoalsPeriod
1Anatoliy Tymoshchuk[a]14442000–2016
2Andriy Yarmolenko122462009–present
3Andriy Shevchenko111481995–2012
4Andriy Pyatov10202007–2022
5Ruslan Rotan10082003–2018
6Oleh Husiev98132003–2016
7Oleksandr Shovkovskyi9201994–2012
8Yevhen Konoplyanka87212010–2023
9Taras Stepanenko8542010–present
10Serhiy Rebrov75151992–2006

Top goalscorers

Andriy Shevchenko is Ukraine's top scorer with 48 goals.
RankPlayerGoalsCapsAveragePeriod
1Andriy Shevchenko481110.431995–2012
2Andriy Yarmolenko461220.382009–present
3Yevhen Konoplyanka21870.242010–2023
4Roman Yaremchuk16530.32018–present
5Serhiy Rebrov15750.21992–2006
6Viktor Tsyhankov13550.242016–present
Oleh Husiev13980.132003–2016
8Serhiy Nazarenko12560.212003–2012
9Yevhen Seleznyov11580.192008–2018
10Artem Dovbyk10310.322021–present

Most capped goalkeepers

As of 26 June 2024.

RankPlayerGamesWinsGAAv GAPeriod
1Andriy Pyatov10251830.8142007–2022
2Oleksandr Shovkovskyi9238800.871994–2012
3Heorhiy Bushchan185301.6672020–present
4Andriy Lunin137110.8462018–present
Anatoliy Trubin135141.0772021–present
6Oleh Suslov127151.251994–1997
7Vitaliy Reva93101.1112001–2003
8Andriy Dykan85111.3752010–2012
Maksym Levytskyi81101.252000–2002
10Denys Boyko73712014–present
Dmytro Tyapushkin71111.5711994–1995

Captains

As of 26 June 2024.[66]

RankPlayerCaptain CapsTotal CapsPeriod
1Andriy Shevchenko581111995–2012
2Anatoliy Tymoshchuk[a]411442000–2016
3Oleh Luzhnyi39521992–2003
4Andriy Yarmolenko281222009–present
5Ruslan Rotan241002003–2018
Andriy Pyatov241022007–2022
7Yuriy Kalitvintsev13221995–1999
Oleksandr Holovko13581995–2004
9Oleksandr Shovkovskyi12921994–2012
10Oleksandr Kucher8572006–2017

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place  

FIFA World Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGASquadPldWDLGFGAOutcome
1930 to 1990 as Part of  Soviet Union1930 to 1990 as Part of  Soviet Union
as  Ukraineas  Ukraine
1994FIFA member from 1992. Not admitted to the tournament.[d]FIFA member from 1992. Not admitted to the tournament.[d]1994Qualifying spot not granted by FIFA
1998Did not qualify
1263311919982nd in qualifying group 9, lost to Croatia in play-off
200212462151320022nd in qualifying group 5, lost to Germany in play-off
2006Quarter-finals8th521257Squad1274118720061st in qualifying group 2
2010Did not qualify1264221720102nd in qualifying group 6, lost to Greece in play-off
20141273230720142nd in qualifying group H, lost to France in play-off
20181052313920183rd in qualifying group I
202210361141020222nd in qualifying group D, lost to Wales in play-off
2026To be determinedTo be determined2026
20302030
20342034
TotalQuarter-finals1/75212578038281412262
* Denotes draws include knock-out matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA European Championship

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place  

UEFA European Championship recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGAPldWD*LGFGAOutcome
Part of  Soviet Union and  CIS (1960 to 1992)Part of  Soviet Union and  CIS (1960 to 1992)
as  Ukraineas  Ukraine
1996Did not qualify10415111519964th in qualifying group 4
20001256116720002nd in qualifying group 4, lost to Slovenia in play-off
20048242111020043rd in qualifying group 6
200812525181620084th in qualifying group B
2012Group stage12th310224Host nation2012Qualified as host nation
201624th3003051272317520163rd in qualifying group C, won against Slovenia in play-off
2020Quarter-finals8th520361086201742020Winner of qualifying group B
2024Group stage17th31112410622151020243rd in qualifying group C, won against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in play-offs
2028To be determinedTo be determined2028
20322032
TotalQuarter-finals4/81441910237235191810567

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
SeasonDivisionGroupPldWDLGFGAP/RRK
2018–19B1430155 14th
2020–21A46204513 13th
2022–23B16321104 22nd
2024–25B1To be determined
Total16826202213th

Head-to-head record

World Map of Ukraine's opponents

The following table shows Ukraine's all-time international record, correct as of 26 June 2024.[68][69][70]

Key
Positive balance (more wins)
Neutral balance (equal W/L ratio)
Negative balance (more losses)
AgainstConfederationPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGD
 AlbaniaUEFA6510134+9
 AndorraUEFA4400170+17
 ArmeniaUEFA10730258+17
 AustriaUEFA310245−1
 AzerbaijanUEFA211060+6
 BahrainAFC1010110
 BelarusUEFA9531125+7
 BelgiumUEFA1010000
 Bosnia and HerzegovinaUEFA321052+3
 BrazilCONMEBOL100102−2
 BulgariaUEFA633083+5
 CameroonCAF1010000
 CanadaCONCACAF1010220
 ChileCONMEBOL110021+1
 Costa RicaCONCACAF110040+4
 CroatiaUEFA9135515−10
 CyprusUEFA421195+4
 Czech RepublicUEFA522146−2
 DenmarkUEFA3111220
 EnglandUEFA10136416−12
 EstoniaUEFA5500110+11
 Faroe IslandsUEFA220070+7
 FinlandUEFA431063+3
 FranceUEFA12156823−15
 GeorgiaUEFA9630166+10
 GermanyUEFA100551020−10
 GreeceUEFA622243+1
 HungaryUEFA200225−3
 IcelandUEFA5221550
 IranAFC100101−1
 IsraelUEFA623175+2
 ItalyUEFA10037417−13
 JapanAFC320132+1
 KazakhstanUEFA6420126+6
 KosovoUEFA220050+5
 LatviaUEFA321031+2
 LibyaCAF211041+3
 LithuaniaUEFA10712208+12
 LuxembourgUEFA5500121+11
 MaltaUEFA320142+2
 MexicoCONCACAF100112−1
 MoldovaUEFA6420103+7
 MontenegroUEFA210141+3
 MoroccoCAF1010000
 NetherlandsUEFA301237−4
 NigerCAF110021+1
 NigeriaCAF1010220
 Northern IrelandUEFA632143+1
 North MacedoniaUEFA7511104+6
 NorwayUEFA541050+5
 PolandUEFA103251014−4
 PortugalUEFA421143+1
 Republic of IrelandUEFA211021+1
 RomaniaUEFA72141017−7
 RussiaUEFA211043+1
 San MarinoUEFA2200170+17
 Saudi ArabiaAFC211051+4
 ScotlandUEFA521267-1
 SerbiaUEFA7610163+13
 SlovakiaUEFA105321312+1
 SloveniaUEFA6132770
 South KoreaAFC200203−3
 SpainUEFA7115414−10
 SwedenUEFA431164+2
  SwitzerlandUEFA312043+1
 TunisiaCAF110010+1
 TurkeyUEFA9234911−2
 United Arab EmiratesAFC1010110
 United StatesCONCACAF431051+4
 UruguayCONMEBOL100123−1
 UzbekistanAFC220041+3
 WalesUEFA4121330
Total: 72 nations5/63131448982436269+167

FIFA Ranking history

As of 25 March 2021.[71][72]
199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007
907771594947273445456057401330
200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020202021
152234554718252930352824242425

See also

Notes

References