Ukraine's squad for the World Cup finals in Germany comprises the following 22 players:.
A replacement for injured defender Serhiy Fedorov will be announced on Sunday, May 28, to bring the squad up to 23.
(Statistics up to and including May 25 2006)
GOALKEEPERS
1-Oleksander Shovkovsky (Dynamo Kiev) Born: 2.1.75 Caps: 64 goals: 0
Undisputed number one who is hoping to make a full recovery for the June finals after breaking his collarbone in a game on Jan. 17 and has already resumed play in the Ukrainian league.
The veteran keeper has a wealth of experience in Champions League matches and internationals. Made his international debut in a 3-0 win against Estonia in February 1994.
Along with Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko, Shovkovsky is the team's spiritual leader on and off the pitch.
23-Bohdan Shust (Shakhtar Donetsk) Born: 4.3.86 Caps: 1 Goals: 0
He started his career in Karpaty (Lviv) and moved to Shakhtar in January 2006. He played only one game with the national team and is unlikely to feature, but is regarded as one for the future.
12-Andriy Piatov (Vorskla Poltava) Born: 28.6.84. Caps: 0 Goals: 0
Called up after a series of impressive club performances, but has yet to make his international debut and unlikely to feature unless an emergency arises.
DEFENDERS
2-Andriy Nesmachny (Dynamo Kiev) Born: 28.2.79 Caps: 45 Goals: 0
Experienced left back, made his national team debut in a friendly against Bulgaria in April 2000. Played in all but one 2006 World Cup qualifiers.
13-Dmitro Chigrinsky (Shakhtar Donetsk) Born: 7.11.86. Caps: 11. Goals: 2
Tall, mobile defender. Started his career in Metallurg (Zaporizhya) in 2004 and then moved to Shakhtar. Still a teenager who has already played 11 times for Ukraine and likely to establish himself in the national side within the near future.
6-Andriy Rusol (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk) Born: 16.1.83 Caps: 18 Goals: 1
Central defender quickly established himself as one of Ukraine's key players after making his national team debut in a friendly against Macedonia in March 2004. One of only two players, along with goalkeeper Shovkovsky, to play in all 12 of his team's World Cup qualifiers.
5-Volodymir Yezersky (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk) Born: 15.11.76 Caps: 19 Goals: 0
Mobile right back, returned to the national team fold this year after overcoming various injuries. Earned his first international cap in a friendly against Poland in July 1998.
17-Vladislav Vashchyuk (Dynamo Kiev) Born: 2.1.75 Caps: 54 Goals: 1
One of the elder statesman in the team, the central defender returned to the international fold after three years in the wilderness. Was regarded as one of the best Ukraine players of the last decade. Made his national team debut in a friendly against Moldova in April 1996.
22-Vyacheslav Svidersky (Saturn Ramenskoye, Russia) Born: 1.1.79 Caps: 2 Goals: 0
Broke into the national team last year, making his Ukraine debut in a World Cup qualifier at home to Denmark in March.
MIDFIELDERS
4-Anatoly Tymoshchyuk (Shakhtar Donetsk) Born: 30.3.79 Caps: 52 Goals: 1
The defensive midfielder has become a mainstay in the national team since making his Ukraine debut in a friendly against Bulgaria in April 2000.
Has a powerful shot and is known for tireless work at both ends of the pitch. Known as an uncompromising tackler, a reputation which gets him plenty of yellow and red cards.
14-Andriy Husin (Krylya Sovietov Samara, Russia) Born: 11.12.72 Caps: 60 Goals: 9
Versatile half back, can play any position in midfield. Considered one of Ukraine's leaders on and off the pitch. Scored key goals for his team in a 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign: against Denmark (1-1), Albania (2-0) and Greece (1-0).
Made his national team debut in a friendly against Croatia in June 1993. Spent most of his career with Dynamo Kiev.
9-Oleg Gusev (Dynamo Kiev) Born: 25.4.83 Caps: 22 Goals: 1
The right winger is one of the up-and-coming players in the squad. Excels in both attack and defence. Earned his first international cap in a friendly against Romania in August 2003.
8-Oleg Shelayev (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk) Born: 5.11.76 Caps: 14 Goals: 0
Defensive half back, can play in central and right side midfield. Made his national team debut in a friendly against Slovakia in April 2004.
21-Ruslan Rotan (Dynamo Kiev) Born: 29.10.81 Caps: 15 Goals: 3
Talented playmaker who has quickly became one of the leaders in the team since making his international debut in a friendly against Turkey in February 2003. Has a good understanding of the game and is a precise passer with a dangerous shot.
18-Serhiy Nazarenko (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk) Born: 16.2.80 Caps: 11 Goals: 1
Speedy left winger who can tie up opposition defences with quick runs up and down the field. Made his national team debut in a friendly against Macedonia in October 2003.
19-Maxim Kalinichenko (Spartak Moscow, Russia) Born: 26.10.79 Caps: 17 Goals: 1
Gifted winger with good technique and a powerful shot who is enjoying a renaissance in his career after battling various injuries for several years. Made his national team debut in a friendly against the former Yugoslavia in May 2002.
FORWARDS
7-Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan, Italy) Born: 29.9.76 Caps: 63 Goals: 28
The Ukraine captain, voted the European Footballer of the Year in 2004, is the heart and soul of the national team. One of the most feared strikers in the world, he has scored more than 100 goals in Serie A over the last six seasons and helped AC Milan to win the Champions League in 2003 and the Italian title in 2004.
After winning five domestic league titles with Dynamo Kiev he joined Milan in July 1999 for a record $25-million transfer fee in the former Soviet Union.
Made his national team debut at the age 18 in a friendly against Croatia in March 1995 and this year became the highest ever goalscorer in the history of the European Cup/Champions League.
15-Artem Milevsky (Dynamo Kiev) Born: 12.1.85. Caps:0. Goals: 0
The youngest striker in the national team, he started his career with Dynamo in 2002. He does not have a lot experience of big matches but is seen as talented, quick and speedy.
10-Andriy Voronin (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) Born: 21.7.79 Caps: 28 Goals: 3
Mobile, speedy forward, good in the air. Works well with strike partner Shevchenko in the Ukraine attack. Made his national team debut in a friendly against Romania in March 2002.
16-Andriy Vorobei (Shakhtar Donetsk) Born: 29.11.78 Caps: 48 Goals: 5
A third-choice striker who can play on both wings. Usually comes in for either Shevchenko or Voronin. Made his Ukraine debut in a friendly against England in May 2000.
20-Olexiy Belik (Shakhtar Donetsk) Born: 15.2.81 Caps: 9 Goals: 2
One of the younger attacking players, good in the air but has a hot temper and a tendency to pick up yellow and red cards. Made his international debut in a friendly against Romania in March 2002.
11-Serhiy Rebrov (Dynamo Kiev) Born: 3.6.74 Caps: 69 Goals: 14
Formerly Shevchenko's strike partner at Dynamo Kiev, Rebrov, who made his Ukraine debut in a friendly against the United States in June 1992, returned to the international fold this year after two years in the wilderness.
In June, he rejoined his old club Dynamo after a troubled five-year spell in English football. Moved to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in June 2000 for a club record fee of 11 million pounds ($20.11 million) but after a promising start he fell out of favour at White Hart Lane. He was loaned to Turkey's Fenerbahce in January 2003, returned to England to play for West Ham then returned home. Despite being out of Kiev for five years, Rebrov is still Dynamo's all-time leading scorer with 128 goals in 260 games.
