WORLD CUP 2006
Ukraine
Introduction
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It is a huge success for the independent Ukraine to be at the World Cup finals for the
first time, a big boost for the country as a whole as well as Ukrainian football. I can assure every fan that we will not be underdogs this summer in Germany.”
Ukraine fans have every reason to trust in the words of coach Oleh Blokhin, who delivered on his promise, made even before the draw for the World Cup qualifiers was made, that the team would reach the finals by topping their group.
In contrast to previous qualifying campaigns, Zbirna put in very solid performances against their main rivals, Turkey, Denmark and European champions Greece, apparently having shaken off their belief that they were a side capable only of fighting for a play-off berth.
And that development was the very reason Blokhin had made his bold qualification pledge. The former Soviet Union and Kyiv Dynamo striker felt that the fact that none of his predecessors had claimed Ukraine would be direct qualifiers for a major finals prompted the players to grow pessimistic when it didn’t happen and almost
come to expect failure.
Blokhin’s other major break with tradition was to treat all the players as equals, and not put Andrii Shevchenko on a pedestal, as previous coaches had done. The aim was to improve unity and team spirit, and that togetherness was evident as Ukraine cruised through the qualification campaign, in a so-called Group of Death, remaining unbeaten until their finals place had been secured.
“Sheva” is still clearly the key player for Ukraine, but he now has much more quality support from players such as Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Oleh Husiev and Andrii Voronin.
Looking ahead to the finals, there is a good chance that Ukraine could go beyond the group stage. The players and fans welcomed the draw, which pitted Ukraine with Spain, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. The Spaniards are clear favourites to top Group H, but the other opponents look beatable. Tunisia, the former African champions, are an experienced side with a successful coach, Roger Lemerre. They play in a similar defensive style to Ukraine, but they find it hard to score. Saudi Arabia are regular participants in recent World Cup finals but as usual are something of an unknown quantity.
The prospect of seeing Ukraine in its first World Cup, and indeed its first major finals, has prompted a big run on tickets. The country more famous worldwide for the Chernobyl tragedy and the “Orange Revolution” in the political sphere than its football prowess, will go to Germany with nothing to lose. That could be a big advantage, psychologically, and although the team lack big-match experience, they have the solidity and balance to reach the last 16 at least.
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