The Limited Times

Against the Blues, Ukraine calls a 45-year-old goalkeeper ... retired for four years

10/7/2020, 11:51:07 AM


LE SCAN SPORT - Decimated by the Covid-19, the Ukrainian selection called Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, retired since 2016, to face the Blues.

The Covid-19 health crisis and the multiplication of positive cases sometimes force football teams to go to the youth sections to compose their group for a few weeks.

For Ukraine, which faces the France team this Wednesday evening at the Stade de France in a friendly match, the development of this has turned into a real headache.

Faced with a sector of the guards decimated by the contaminations of Lounin and Pankiv, the Ukrainian staff was obliged to call on a guard of 45 years and retired since 2016! 

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The Ukrainian Federation has decided to include on the scoresheet Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, Dynamo Kyiv legend and international between 1994 and 2012 but whose last meeting in competition dates back to March 20, 2016. He now occupies the post of assistant to the coach Andriy Shevchenko.

UEFA regulations allow the selection of players who do not have a professional contract with a club.

eight coronavirus positive players

Ukraine will therefore be able to light a candle and hope that Georgi Bouchtchane, the titular goalkeeper, does not get injured during the meeting this Wednesday evening in Saint-Denis.

A tile that would require the coach to bring in his veteran goalkeeper, a last-minute troubleshooter to save the Jovto-Blakytni (the yellows and blues) deprived of 14 players, including eight due to the coronavirus epidemic.

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