Ukraine's National Team Coach Rebrov Highlights Key Squad Issue: Lack of Club Playing Time.

Serhiy Rebrov's Analysis of the Ukrainian National Team's Challenges

According to Novyny.live: Ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Ukraine's head coach Serhiy Rebrov has identified a critical issue facing his squad. The team is preparing for a crucial playoff match against Sweden on March 26th to advance in the qualification process. Rebrov pointed out that the national team lacks players who are consistently featuring for top clubs in Europe's major leagues, a common challenge for nations whose domestic league has been disrupted by conflict.

While there are notable exceptions—such as Ilya Zabarnyi, who recently transferred to Paris Saint-Germain and has played 74% of possible minutes (28 matches across all competitions), and Anatoliy Trubin at Benfica—Rebrov emphasized a broader problem. He noted that many of his players spend excessive time traveling on planes and buses, which severely hampers their recovery between matches.

Travel Fatigue and Its Impact on Player Fitness

Players from clubs like Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv face particularly grueling travel schedules to reach their matches, which takes a direct toll on their physical readiness. These logistical and fitness issues could prove decisive in the upcoming high-stakes qualifiers, and the coach hopes the situation will improve soon.

The combined lack of regular competitive action and the physical strain from constant travel could significantly undermine Ukraine's performance in the World Cup qualifying campaign. In the highly competitive landscape of European football, players without stable match rhythm often struggle to meet the pace and demands of international competition. The coaching staff must now focus on optimizing player preparation to enhance the team's chances of success in the forthcoming decisive matches.