Ukraine feel at home in Lodz and thank Poland for hosting

Homeward bound; just one more game on the road and Ukraine coach Oleksandr Petrakov will finally get to return to his family in Kyiv.

The end-of-season fixture list has taken Ukraine on a triple crown visit of Scotland, Wales and Ireland, the first two for World Cup play-offs, and the Dublin game their first outing in the Nations League.

The team then set up camp in the Polish city of Lodz for their final two games, beating Armenia 3-0 on Saturday before ending off their five-game haul against the Irish at the same venue, the LKS Stadium.

And for the time being, the national team coach feels right at home in the final leg of his side's extended summer series, having met up with friends and well-wishers in the Polish city following the Armenia victory.

"I can speak only for myself, but I will return home to Kyiv to my family," said Petrakov. "I love my country. I am going home

"It was my decision to play here, I feel this connection and it was incredible as a lot of people came to give support (against Armenia).

"After the game I was with some of my friends in the city centre, a lot of people came to see us and thanked us for the game and what we do, these emotions were incredible.

"I wanted to thank the Polish authorities for giving us the hotel, a place to play at home in, we feel this support from this country and we're very grateful."

Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko joined the coach for the press conference and while he said he remains in contact with his family in Kyiv, it is not always easy to stay in touch with all his friends and relations throughout the war-torn country.

Mykolenko has been at Everton since before the start of the Russian invasion, and admitted that the conflict has made him put a lot of his own