The head coach of the Ukraine national team, Andrea Maldera, commented on the physical condition of the team's key strikers at the pre-match press conference ahead of the Nations League encounter with Hungary. The Italian specialist explained why Matvey Ponomarenko missed part of the training session before the match and reported uncertainty regarding Roman Yaremchuk's participation. The Hungary — Ukraine match will take place on Friday, 25 September, in Budapest, and will be the first official game under the new manager of the "blue-and-yellow" side.
Ponomarenko's condition: mild indisposition with no serious consequences
According to Maldera, Ponomarenko's absence from training is not linked to any serious problem. The Dynamo striker is feeling a bit under the weather — according to reports that relayed the press conference, this refers to a sore throat. That said, the coaching staff expects the forward to be ready to take the field as early as the next match. Thus, the national team is not losing its main man up front due to an injury or prolonged treatment.
The Yaremchuk question: knee pain and a decision within hours
The situation with Roman Yaremchuk remains more complicated. Maldera acknowledged that the striker is experiencing some pain in his knee, which is why his participation in the match against Hungary is still in doubt. The specialist emphasized that the final decision will be made within hours — after additional monitoring by the medical staff. This means the matchday squad may only be finalized a few hours before the kickoff.
Maldera's first official match in charge of the national team
The encounter with Hungary in Budapest carries special symbolic value: it will be Andrea Maldera's first official match as head coach of the Ukraine national team. Kickoff will be at 21:45 Kyiv time. For the new manager, this is both a debut in official practice and an opportunity to immediately test the depth of the attack, given the uncertainty surrounding two of the main forwards.
Home matches in Trnava in early October
After the Budapest game, the Ukraine national team will play two home matches in early October — on 2 and 5 October. The "blue-and-yellow" side's opponents will be Northern Ireland and Hungary. Both matches will be held in Trnava, Slovakia, at the Anton Malatinsky Stadium. Thus, this stretch of four Nations League matches will serve as the first full test in the official campaign for the team under Maldera's leadership.
