After the COVID blow, Ukraine is bringing in a 45-year old retired goalkeeper to face France!

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Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, the former Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine goalkeeper retired in 2016. He could make his return to play the match for Ukraine against France on Wednesday. The goalkeepers tested coronavirus positive in the squad has been ruled out except one goalkeeper, whose test result is yet to come.

Oleksandr Shovkovskiy could pick up his gloves again for Ukraine

Andriy Shevchenko has no options left but to have 45-year-old Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, who is the assistant coach of Ukraine National team in the squad when they take on France in a friendly fixture on Wednesday.

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After the COVID blow, Ukraine is bringing in a 45-year old retired goalkeeper to face France! - THE SPORTS ROOM

However, he will not be the obligatory participant. Oleksandr Glivinsky, the Press Secretary of Football Federation of Ukraine(FFU) has explained that since one healthy goalkeeper is left in the National squad, Oleksandr Shovkovsky, who is the assistant coach, has been included in the team.

After the COVID blow, Ukraine is bringing in a 45-year old retired goalkeeper to face France! - THE SPORTS ROOM

The governing body said, “It is taken into account that UEFA regulations allow players who do not have a professional contract with any club, but are citizens of the country represented by the team, to be included in the list of match participants.”

It also mentioned that “His entry can only be possible if the PCR test of the team goalkeeper Georgy Bushchan, who passed it with other players of the national team this morning, turns out to be positive or if Georgy, for example, is injured during the match.”

After the COVID blow, Ukraine is bringing in a 45-year old retired goalkeeper to face France! - THE SPORTS ROOM
 

Oleksandr Shovkovsky played an important role in Ukraine’s journey in FIFA World Cup in 2006. His penalty saves helped his team reach the final eight of the tournament.

His saves also made him the first goalkeeper in FIFA World Cup history not to concede a goal in a penalty shootout.

After the COVID blow, Ukraine is bringing in a 45-year old retired goalkeeper to face France! - THE SPORTS ROOM

He made 92 appearances in the Ukrainian outfit. Shovkovsky represented Ukraine in UEFA European Under-21 Championship but they came up short in the finals against Netherlands and were defeated 3-0.

He could be making his comeback to International football after eight long years. The 45-year-old goalkeeper’s record of minutes played that is 728 minutes without a goal was broken by Andriy Pyatov. The Ukrainian goalkeeper retired from International football in 2012.

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