Ukraine Include 45-year-old Goalkeeping Coach In Squad For France Game

First choice goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov was not named in the squad after testing positive for the virus last week while alternatives Andriy Lunin and Yuriy Pankiv have recently had to leave the squad after also returning positive tests.

Georgiy Bushchan remains the only available goalkeeper for manager Andriy Shevchenko ahead of the game against the world champions but Shovkovskiy will be drafted in as the reserve goalkeeper for the game.

Shovkovskiy is a former Ukraine international but retired from professional football in 2016. He earned 92 caps for his country and was first choice between the sticks when Ukraine qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2006, making it all the way to quarterfinals in Germany before losing to eventual winners Italy.

Shovkovskiy will however only make it to the field if the starting goalkeeper sustains an injury or returns a positive test ahead of the game.

Confirming the news in a statement on their official website, Ukraine’s football association said: 'Due to the fact that there is only one healthy goalkeeper left in the national team of Ukraine, the coaching staff of the blue-yellows decided to include in the application for a friendly game with France the assistant head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskiy.

'Note that the UEFA regulations allow to include in the list of participants of the match, including players who do not have a professional contract with any club, but are citizens of the country represented by the team.'

‘Oleksandr Shovkovskiy ended his professional career as a player in December 2016, but keeps himself in good physical shape, constantly conducting individual training.

‘The coaching staff of the national team of Ukraine emphasises that it does not consider Oleksandr Shovkovskiy as a mandatory participant in today's match.’