World Cup Preview - Group H - Ukraine

Ukraine:

Coach: Former USSR great Oleg Blokhin.

Game Schedule:
June 14 – Ukraine vs. Spain (9 a.m. EST)
June 19 – Ukraine vs. Saudi Arabia (12 p.m.)
June 23 – Ukraine vs. Tunisia (10 a.m.)

Prospects: After near misses in the past two tournaments, Ukraine qualified For Germany ’06 in commanding fashion, thumping the opposition – including Denmark. The current side have been built around the shattered remnants of the great Dynamo Kiev side of the late 90s, including star strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Sergei Rebrov, both of whom are trying to regain fitness in order to lead the side out on the 14th against Spain. That match is likely to be the key to a successful campaign. If they can start quickly and catch the Spaniards out as Nigeria did in ’98, Ukraine may turn some heads and exceed even their expectations.

Key Player: All eyes will be on Sheva, who just completed a big money deal to move from AC Milan to Chelsea.

Youngster to watch: 23 year old center back Andriy Rusol – may be on the post-WC shopping list if things go well.

Who Will Get the Goals: Apart from obviously Sheva, Ruslan Rotan had a habit of scoring vital goals in the qualifiers, including the clincher against the Danes.

Who Will Get the Cards: Shaktar Donetsk legbreaker Anatolly Tymoschuk.

Funniest Name: I’m quite fond of the goalkeeper, Shovkovsky. If he engages in that kind of behavior, he’ll find himself with a red cardovsky. (I know, terrible...oh, please yourself.)

Prediction: Top of the group, forcing Spain into an unenviable tie with France. Unfortunately, they’ll meet a resurgent South Korean side full of confidence and lose 3-2 in a thrilling Round of Sixteen tie.