World Cup debutant Ukraine looks to surprsie Italy in
quarter-final
30/6/2006 15:29
World Cup debutant Ukraine look to produce another upset vicotry when they
meet three-time winners Italy in Hamburg today.
Ukraine, who edged
Switzerland 3-0 in a penalty shootout at the second round, are only the third
team in World Cup history to advance to the quarter-finals after losing a match
by a margin of four or more goals at group stage. Previously, Germany FR lost
3-8 to Hungary (1954) and Cameroon lost 0-4 to the Soviet Union (1990).
For
the third time in a row, at the World Cup has a newcomer in Ukraine to advance
to the quarter-finals following Senegal in 2002 and Croatia in
1998.
Ukrainians often formed the backbone of the former Soviet Union teams
and Dynamo Kiev are an ever-present fixture in the UEFA Champions League. The
canny tactical know-how of coach Oleg Blokhin and the goal-scoring exploits of
Andriy Shevchenko have been the springboard for success at Germany 2006.
All
eyes will be on the former AC Milan striker Shevchenko as he comes face to face
with Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Alberto Gilardino, men he counted as
team-mates until four weeks ago. The absence of Alessandro Nesta from the heart
of the Italy defence will be welcome news for Shevchenko. Perhaps the key battle
will be between two sublimely gifted playmakers if Blokhin decides to select
Artem Milevskiy and Lippi gives the nod to Francesco Totti.
Italy have failed
to live up to expectations at big tournaments in recent years. The Azzurri are
keen to give a good account of themselves this time around to cement what they
feel is their rightful place at the top of the international football pecking
order.
Italy and Ukraine have previously met three times, twice in the
qualifying tournament for Euro 1996 with Italy winning both games (2-0 and 3-1)
and in a friendly match played in Lausanne this June ending in a draw
(0-0).
Shevchenko said of the match, "Italy are favourites. We must try and
play as a team, summing up all our reserves of fighting spirit to make up for
our lack of technical ability."
Angelo Peruzzi said, "We are not dependent on
Totti, but of course he is very important for us and the manager. His match
fitness is improving all the time and soon he'll be 100%. If you ask any manager
in Germany I'm sure they'd all like a Totti in their squad. He's not a problem
at all, if only we had more players like him!"
xinhua
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