With the game deadlocked at 0-0 after 120 minutes, the two sides went to the penalty shootout and Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko was the first to step up to the point. But the former AC Milan striker's shot was well blocked by Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler.

But Switzerland's happiness was too short -- none of their three penalty-takers -- Marco Streller, Tranquillo Barnetta and Ricardo Cabanas -- were able to convert their kicks.

With Artem Milevskiy, Serhiy Rebrov and Oleg Gusev all putting the ball past Zuberbuehler, the Ukrainians went through to the last eight and they will play Italy in Hamburg on Friday.

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said he did not watch the penalty shootout and went to the changing rooms.

"I withdrew to the dressing room. I couldn't take it anymore," he said at the press conference. "The teams were very equal. We just had more luck like Russian roulette."

"After extra time I just told my team you have to settle this amongst yourself who is going to take the penalties."

The former Soviet Union star spoke high of striker Shevchenko although the Chelsea new signing missed the first spot kick.

"Shevchenko is getting better game-by-game. He was the leader today," the coach said.

Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn said his players were too nervous to play their normal level in the penalty shootout.

"This morning when we practiced penalties everybody took aim at different corners of the goal and our goalkeepers didn't stand a chance. But tonight nerves were to blame."

But he said Switzerland will bounce back from the day's disappointments.

"We will be able to work through this defeat and look back on the many positive things that happened during our campaign.

"We experienced something unique here. We're going home without giving up a goal. We fought like lions. We're just sorry that we didn't go further."

Each side had a good chance during the first 45 minutes, but neither created any clear cut opportunities in the second.

Ukraine midfielder Maxim Kalinichenko flighted a free-kick in from the left in the 20th minute and captain Andriy Shevchenko got in front of Switzerland defender Johan Djourou and met his in swinging delivery with a low header that bounced up and off the woodwork.

Four minutes later, Switzerland striker Alexander Frei's right-footed free-kick curled on to the crossbar. It rebounded back to Barnetta but he snatched at his shot and shot it well wide.

In extra time both Johann Vogel and Philipp Degen went close for the Swiss, but as the 120 minutes ended scoreless, penalties were required for the first time in this edition of the World Cup.