SportwitnessSport Witness
Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko has revealed how he warned youngster Braiden Graham that Ukraine would beat Northern Ireland in this international break.
The left-back has explained how he showed no mercy to the Everton youngster, despite him only being 19 years old.
Northern Ireland host Ukraine on Saturday in matchday five of six in Group F. Ukraine then take on Georgia next week while Northern Ireland travel to Hungary.
First things, though, is that meeting in Northern Ireland. That offers an interesting tidbit as two Everton players at very different stages of their careers see their nations face off.
Everton rivalry
While Mykolenko is now 27 years old and an established international with Ukraine on 55 appearances to date, Graham is just getting started.
He’s yet to play for Everton aside from some pre-season fixtures, nor has he featured for Northern Ireland, despite playing extensively for both at youth level.
That didn’t stop Mykolenko from some gentle ribbing ahead of the international break.
“We talked. I told him, ‘We’re going to kick your ass,” he said.
“But then again, you might go on to beat Hungary, and that way we’ll both end up in good spirits. In all seriousness, though, Graham is a good guy, we talk quite a bit.
“He mentioned that most of the players in their squad come from the Championship and League One, but they really enjoy being with the national team, which is why they’re getting results.”
Back to Everton
Everton Football Club
Everton Football Club
Both players will presumably be keen to get the international break over so they can get back to Everton.
The Toffees find themselves in a good moment after three wins in their last three games in the Premier League and League Cup.
Those results have turned the mood at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Indeed, the international break has probably come at the wrong time for David Moyes’ side in that regard.
He will be perhaps hoping that Ukraine don’t win too comfortably, or vice versa, so there’s no ill will after the break is over.
Sport Witness Analysis: How does Mykolenko do against Everton teammates?
MYKOLENKO vs EVERTON TEAMMATESUkraine internationals against players sharing his club at the time
3 matches |
0 wins |
2 draws |
1 defeat
Opposing Everton teammates: Jordan Pickford and Amadou Onana.
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Date Match Competition Everton teammate Ukraine result
26 March 2023 England 2–0 UkraineWembley, London Euro 2024 qualifying Jordan PickfordBoth players started. Defeat
9 September 2023 Ukraine 1–1 EnglandTarczyński Arena, Wrocław Euro 2024 qualifying Jordan PickfordBoth players started. Draw
26 June 2024 Ukraine 0–0 BelgiumStuttgart Arena, Stuttgart Euro 2024 group stage Amadou OnanaBoth started; Mykolenko went off after 58 minutes. Draw
RECORD BY TEAMMATE
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Player Matches Ukraine W–D–L
Jordan Pickford · England 2 0–1–1
Amadou Onana · Belgium 1 0–1–0
Why Scotland is excluded: Nathan Patterson played in Scotland’s 3–0 win in September 2022, but Mykolenko was an unused substitute.
Earlier England meeting: Mykolenko faced Pickford in Ukraine’s 4–0 Euro 2020 quarter-final defeat on 3 July 2021, but he had not yet joined Everton, so it is excluded from the teammate total.
Scope: Senior Ukraine internationals in which Mykolenko and an opposing player both appeared while contracted to Everton. Unused substitutes and matches played before or after their shared Everton spell are excluded. Onana was still an Everton player at Euro 2024. All win–draw–loss records are from Ukraine’s perspective.
Updated: 13 November 2026.