Ukraine prepare for decisive ties

Ukraine coach Anatoliy Kutsev has named his squad for the two games that will decide their UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ destiny.

Perfect record
Having won all six of their Group 5 fixtures, Ukraine welcome Portugal to Chernigov on Saturday then travel to Denmark on 1 October aiming to earn an automatic place in the finals in Finland. As long as they defeat bottom side Portugal, Ukraine could afford to lose by a one-goal margin other than 1-0 in Denmark, who they defeated by that scoreline in June. Thinking of the Portugal match, Kutsev said: "Our primary task is for our players to recover mentally and physically. The bulk of our team plays in the busy Russian league. Despite of the importance of our match in Denmark we will deploy our strongest selection in Chernigov. However some of them will not play due to some unavoidable reasons. Elena Hodyreva is suspended, Nataliya Zinchenko has a thigh injury, while Lyudmyla Pekur only recovered from meniscus surgery one week ago."

Ukraine squad
Goalkeepers: Iryna Zvarich (WFC Rossiyanka), Nadezhda Baranova (Zvezda-2005).

Defenders: Iryna Vasylyuk (FC Energia Voronezh), Valentyna Kotyk (SVSM Izmaylovo Moskva), Alla Lishafai (Zvezda-2005), Elena Hodyreva (Zvezda-2005), Olena Mazurenko (1. FC Nürnberg), Maryna Masalska (FC Zhytlobud-1 Kharkiv).

Midfielders: Ekaterina Bochenko (FC Naftokhimik Kalush), Vera Djatel (Zvezda-2005), Nataliya Zinchenko (Zvezda-2005), Lyudmyla Lemeshko (FC VDV-Ryazan), Lyudmyla Pekur, Tetyana Chorna (WFC Rossiyanka), Nataliya Soukhoroukova (FC Zhytlobud-1 Kharkiv), Yuliya Vashchenko (FC Zhytlobud-1 Kharkiv).

Forwards: Iya Andrushchak (FC Zhytlobud-1 Kharkiv), Darina Apanaschenko (FC VDV-Ryazan), Olga Boychenko (FC Legend Chernigov), Yulya Korniyevets (FC Legend Chernigov), Olga Maslyanko (FC Naftokhimik Kalush), Svitlana Frisco (FC SKA Rostov).