Ukraine’s Kozlova: 'We’re playing for something more than ourselves'
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Taking on the European champions should be one of the happiest moments of a player’s career, but for Nicole Kozlova, it’s also tinged with sadness.
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Exclusive Ukraine vs England: Nicole Kozlova on how the Ukraine-Russia war has impacted football ahead of World Cup qualifier in Turkey Ukraine host England in their opening Women's World Cup qualifier on Tuesday; Ukraine are playing their home game in Turkey due to the ongoing Russian invasion; Glasgow City's Nicole Kozlova explains how the war has impacted football in her home country and her hopes for the future Anton Toloui Sky Sports News Reporter Friday 27 February 2026 11:06, UK Taking on the European champions should be one of the happiest moments of a player’s career, but for Nicole Kozlova, it’s also tinged with sadness. The Ukraine forward would love to be hosting their upcoming World Cup qualifier in Kyiv, but the ongoing Russian invasion makes that impossible. The match will be held in Antalya in Turkey instead. It's been more than four years since Ukraine were able to host a game on home soil. "Anger," Kozlova tells Sky Sports when asked about her emotions at being unable to play in front of her home fans. "It's unfair for the players, it's unfair for the country. But we are grateful that we are able to play and still be able to represent our country. "A lot of girls don't complain. I think that's the attitude of Ukrainian people. Life goes on but there's no hiding about the difficulties, especially right now with the really cold winter and very limited electricity. "A lot of the girls are living in the capital and are being hit directly. But even then, they feel like they can't complain as a lot of them have families and friends on the frontlines. There's always someone in a worse situation than you." Kozlova is speaking to us at the training base of her club, Glasgow City. The Canada-born player moved to Scotland from champions Vorskla Poltava in 2024 but most of the Ukraine squad still live and play in their home country. "You have to adjust," she said. "For example, the club I was at, they actually hit one of our training facilities just a couple o...
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