• Goalkeeper ruled out for three months with shoulder injury
• Ukraine now missing three goalkeepers for Euro 2012
Ukraine's first-choice goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy has been ruled out of next month's Euro 2012 Championship, in what could be interpreted as a boost for their Group D rivals England. A shoulder injury picked up in a domestic match last week will keep Shovkovskiy sidelined for at least three months.
"Instead of preparations for the Euro 2012, I will have an operation on my shoulder joint ligaments and undergo rehabilitation," the Dynamo Kyiv keeper told his club's official website. "The most important thing is for the operation to be a success. I expect my rehabilitation to take three months."
The 37-year-old's absence will be a major blow for the side who face England, France and Sweden in the group stage of the month-long tournament being co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland.
Renowned for his penalty-saving ability, Shovkovskiy, who has 92 caps, became the first goalkeeper in World Cup history not to concede a goal during a penalty shootout, as his side beat Switzerland 3-0 at the Germany tournament in 2006.
Ukraine will now go into the tournament with a shortage of experienced keepers after Oleksandr Rybka was suspended for using a banned diuretic, while Andriy Dykan looks set to miss the finals after picking up a serious injury in March.
"I am desperate to be fit enough for the Euro 2012 tournament but time is passing and I understand that my dreams of playing are vanishing," he was quoted as saying last week. Read More
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