--- title: "Ukraine national team loses two players ahead of UEFA Nations League match against Northern Ireland" description: "Ukraine national team head coach Andrea Maldera confirmed that midfielder Mykola Shaparenko and defender Valeriy Bondar will miss the UEFA Nations League match against Northern Ireland. Anatoliy Trubin will start in goal." date: 2026-11-13T18:28:00.319Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-loses-two-players-northern-ireland-match tags: [ukraine-national-team, nations-league, andrea-mileda, football, northern-ireland] author: "Dmitriy Shatolov" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine national team loses two players ahead of UEFA Nations League match against Northern Ireland ![Ukrainian football player in a yellow kit during a UEFA Nations League match](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/sborna-ukrainy-poteryala-dvukh-igrokov-pered-matem-s-severnoy-irlandiey/sborna-ukrainy-poteryala-dvukh-igrokov-pered-matem-s-severnoy-irlandiey-1.webp) ## Key Points - Andrea Maldera confirmed that Mykola Shaparenko and Valeriy Bondar will not play against Northern Ireland. - Anatoliy Trubin has been named as the starting goalkeeper for the match. - The Ukraine national team ranks 3rd in its Nations League group with 4 points after 4 matches. The Ukraine national team is facing roster issues ahead of the UEFA Nations League Matchday 5 fixture against Northern Ireland. Blue-and-Yellows head coach Andrea Maldera confirmed at the pre-match press conference that he definitely will not be able to rely on two first-team players in the upcoming encounter. According to the Italian specialist, the rest of the squad is in full combat readiness and ready to take the field. ### Squad losses: Shaparenko and Bondar Midfielder Mykola Shaparenko and defender Valeriy Bondar were left out of the matchday squad. "Mykola Shaparenko is feeling unwell. Also, Valeriy Bondar is a bit tired after playing a large number of matches. These are all our losses; the rest are ready to take the field," Maldera explained. Thus, both absences are related to the players' physical condition rather than suspensions or serious injuries, giving the coaching staff a chance to return them to the squad for the next match. ### Goalkeeper choice: Anatoliy Trubin The coaching staff has already decided on the goalkeeper for the match against Northern Ireland, with the choice made in favor of Anatoliy Trubin. "Anatoliy Trubin will start tomorrow. There will be one more training session, but I plan to put him in goal," stated the national team manager. In other words, the goalkeeping line for the upcoming fixture has been formed, and an additional training session before the game will only confirm this choice. ### Adjustments to the November training camp squad The current losses are a continuation of a series of forced changes in the national team squad. The initial list of 25 players underwent significant adjustments even before preparations began. Winger Oleksandr Zubkov was unable to join the team due to an injury — forward Vladyslav Vanat and Mykola Shaparenko, who is now forced to miss the upcoming match due to indisposition, were called up additionally in his place. There was also a reshuffle at the tip of the attack: Artem Dovbyk replaced Matvii Ponomarenko in the squad. ### Standings and schedule In the coming days, the Ukrainian team faces crucial challenges in the tournament. On November 14, Maldera's charges will play away against Northern Ireland, and on November 17, they will hold a nominally home fixture against Georgia. Currently, the Ukraine national team occupies third place in its Nations League group, having 4 points after four played matchdays. The Blue-and-Yellows trail second-placed Hungary by 3 points and group leader Northern Ireland by 4 points. That is why the result of the November 14 match could significantly affect the balance of power in the quartet. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Два лидера вне игры: сборная Украины потеряла игроков перед матчем с Северной Ирландией](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/dvoe-lideriv-poza-groyu-zbirna-ukrayini-vtratila-1794594156.html) - Coach Andrea Maldera's statements regarding the losses (Shaparenko, Bondar), the goalkeeper choice of Trubin, squad adjustments, and the tournament standings fully correspond to the basis of the article. ## FAQ ### Which players will not be able to play for the Ukraine national team against Northern Ireland? Midfielder Mykola Shaparenko (indisposition) and defender Valeriy Bondar (fatigue after a high number of matches) were left out of the squad. ### Who will start in goal for the Ukraine national team in this match? According to coach Andrea Maldera, Anatoliy Trubin will be the goalkeeper for the match against Northern Ireland. ### When will the Ukraine national team play its UEFA Nations League Matchday 5 fixtures? On November 14, the team plays away against Northern Ireland, and on November 17, nominally at home against Georgia. ### What position does the Ukraine national team occupy in the Nations League group? The Ukraine national team is in third place in the group with 4 points after four matchdays, trailing Hungary by 3 points and group leader Northern Ireland by 4 points.