Ukraine includes retired goalkeeper in squad to face France

Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, 45, was included in the Ukraine football squad to face France in a friendly after three goalkeepers tested positive for COVID-19.

Published : Oct 07, 2020 18:12 IST

Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, who retired in 2016 and has made around 90 appearances for Ukraine, is currently assistant to head coach Andriy Shevchenko (Representative Image).

Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, who retired in 2016 and has made around 90 appearances for Ukraine, is currently assistant to head coach Andriy Shevchenko (Representative Image).

Ukraine has included 45-year-old retired goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy in the squad for Wednesday's friendly against France after three other keepers tested positive for COVID-19, the country's football federation (UAF) said.

Shovkovskiy, who retired in 2016 and has made around 90 appearances for Ukraine, is currently assistant to head coach Andriy Shevchenko.

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The UAF said in a statement that he is in “good physical shape” and will provide emergency backup to Georgiy Bushchan, currently the team's only fit goalkeeper.

Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov, along with midfielder Taras Stepanenko, both missed the trip to Paris after testing positive for COVID-19.

On Tuesday, the UAF said that goalkeepers Andriy Lunin and Yuriy Pankiv had also tested positive.