Koval makes Ukraine squad World Soccer Shop

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin has finalised his 23-man squad for Euro 2012, with Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper Maksym Koval making the cut.

Koval: Retained in Ukraine squad

The co-hosts are facing a goalkeeping crisis heading into the tournament, with first-choice Olexandr Shovkovsky ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Andrey Dykan suffered head and facial injuries in a Russian Premier League match, while Oleksandr Rybka was suspended for using a banned diuretic.

Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov, who has 24 caps, is therefore considered to be the first-choice custodian, while Metalist Kharkiv man Olexandr Horyainov and Dynamo's inexperienced teenager Koval have been named as cover.

Oleksandr Bandura misses out along with defender Vitaly Mandzyuk and midfielder Taras Stepanenko as coach Blokhin cuts his initial 26-man party down to 23.

Ukraine, who are co-hosting the tournament with Poland, warmed up with a 4-0 friendly win over Estonia on Monday.

They will take on Austria in another friendly on Friday before finishing their preparations against Turkey on June 5.

Blokhin's men open their Euro campaign against Sweden on June 11, with England and France also in Group D.

Final Ukraine squad for Euro 2012:

Goalkeepers: Pyatov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Horyainov (Metalist Kharkiv), Koval (Dynamo Kiev).

Defenders: Kucher (Shakhtar Donetsk), Rakitskiy (Shakhtar Donetsk), Shevchuk (Shakhtar Donetsk), Khacheridi (Dynamo Kiev), Mykhalyk (Dynamo Kiev), Selin (Vorskla), Butko (Illichivets).

Midfielders: Aliev (Dynamo Kiev), Garmash (Dynamo Kiev), Gusiev (Dynamo Kiev), Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kiev), Konoplyanka (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Rotan (Dnipro), Nazarenko (Tavriya), Tymoshchuk (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Milevskiy (Dynamo Kiev), Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev), Devic (Metalist Kharkiv), Voronin (Dynamo Moscow), Seleznyov (Shakhtar Donetsk).

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17394/koval_makes_ukraine_squad

International friendly: Ukraine 4 Estonia 0

Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine put in an impressive display to thrash Estonia 4-0 in an international friendly on Monday.

Oleh Blokhin’s men poured forward at every opportunity and opened up Estonia’s defence with ease, netting three times in the first half in Kufstein, Austria.

Ukraine, whose quality has been questioned ahead of the European championships, netted through Andriy Yarmolenko, Oleh Husyev and Andriy Voronin, before Artem Milevskiy completed the scoring early in the second half.

The hosts took the lead in the ninth minute when Yarmolenko burst into the penalty area and hammered Serhiy Nazarenko’s cutback into the top corner.

Yarmolenko also played a part in Ukraine’s second goal, fouled in the box by Estonia captain Ragnar Klavan in the 34th minute.

Husyev sent goalkeeper Mihkel Aksalu the wrong way to score from the spot.

Ukraine took a 3-0 lead into half-time thanks to a goal from former Liverpool forward Voronin four minutes before the break.

The home side again attacked down the right with Marko Devic providing the overlapping run, and Aksalu could only parry the attacker’s cross, leaving Voronin to head home.

Estonia’s chances of getting back into the game were ended just five minutes into the second half.

Andriy Shevchenko, who came on at the start of the second half, collected the ball on the right side of the area and twisted past two defenders, before setting up fellow substitute Milevskiy for a simple tap in.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/international-friendly-ukraine-4-estonia-0/95417/