Ukraine can qualify - Shevchenko

Ukraine's two-goal hero Andriy Shevchenko believes his side's 2-1 victory over Sweden has given them a good chance of qualifying from Group D.

The 35-year-old took his international goal tally to 48 from 108 caps in Kiev on Monday as the co-hosts won to top a group which also includes England.

Ukraine next play France, who drew 1-1 with England, before facing Roy Hodgson's men on Tuesday, 19 June.

"We showed character and now have good chances to qualify," said Shevchenko.

The 35-year-old former AC Milan and Chelsea striker, who is in his second spell with Dynamo Kiev in his native country, rolled back the years with two headed goals in the space of six second-half minutes to lead his side to victory after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given Sweden the lead in Kiev's Olympic Stadium.

"I feel great. I feel 20 years old, not 35. it was an historic game for us, and it's a victory," said Shevchenko, who will retire from international football after Euro 2012.

"It's such an important competition. Thank you to everybody who supported me. It was a very long walk because I had a lot of problems before the European Championship."

There was doubts as to whether Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin would select Shevchenko, who was European Footballer of the Year in 2004 but is not the force he once was, as age and a string of injuries have caught up with him.

However, Blokhin's was rewarded for his decision to select the striker, who was given a standing ovation by the vociferous crowd inside the Olympic Stadium when he was substituted 10 minutes from full-time.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren felt his side should have done more to impose their authority on the game. He also believed his side were wasteful in the latter stages as they went in search of an equaliser.

"We knew how they would play and it was our performance which was not up to scratch. You need 11 players right on their game and we only had five or six in the first half," said 54-year-old.

"We knew the crosses would come in - and we were up against a super player. Technically and tactically we didn't cut it. We should have scored with the good chances we had at the end."

Sweden goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who also saw a header hit the post in the first-half, said: "We have three games to play here, it's not just one game.

"There's still two games left and we still have the two games to get a result. We need to play a better game than we did today."

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Shevchenko double gives Ukraine winning start at Euro 2012

Andriy Shevchenko made his coach look brilliant, scoring two great headers Monday to give Ukraine a 2-1 win over Sweden at the European Championship.

In photos

Day 4 at Euro 2012

After Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given Sweden the lead in the 52nd minute, Shevchenko responded by heading in the equalizer just three minutes later and then added the winner in the 61st.

The victory gives Ukraine a serious chance of advancing from Group D after England and France drew 1-1, while Sweden faces an uphill battle to remain in the tournament.

“We showed today our character, our good football,” Shevchenko said. “We have very good chances to qualify.”

Shevchenko is already a national icon in Ukraine and carried the hopes of the team going into the tournament. In front of sea of yellow and blue in the packed Olympic Stadium, he certainly didn't disappoint. He rewarded the faith coach Oleg Blokhin showed in the veteran who was not a certain starter for the tournament.

Showing flashes of the scorer's instinct that once made him one of the world's top strikers, Shevchenko beat Olof Mellberg to a cross for his first goal and then met a corner to head the ball inside the near post for the second.

That set off shouts of “Sheva” that could reverberate throughout the nation for a long time.

“Every game for us is like a final,” Shevchenko said. “We showed great football tonight.”

These days it's Ibrahimovic who is considered a world-class forward, but AC Milan's current star came up short against its former standout forward.

Ibrahimovic did provide the focal point of the Swedish attack and shaved the post with a header in the first half before putting his team ahead.

Kim Kallstrom collected a long cross at the left side of the penalty area and sent it to Ibrahimovic in front of the net. The Sweden striker calmly slotted the ball past Andriy Pyatov and into the net.

But Sweden seemed to relax after that and Shevchenko took advantage by meeting Oleh Gusev's cross and sending his header past Andreas Isaksson.

That made the home crowd erupt and the noise grew even louder six minutes later as the 35-year-old Shevchenko's header from a corner found its way past defender Mikael Lustig at the near post. That sent Blokhin jumping up and down the sideline and waving his hand frenetically.

Ibrahimovic had one good chance to equalize, but his hard, swerving shot was saved by Pyatov. Substitute Johan Elmander and Mellberg both shot high in the final minutes.

Shevchenko was given a well-deserved standing ovation as was taken off in the 81st, while Ibrahimovic strode off the field immediately after the final whistle with his head down.

“Today it was off the post and out, the next game it will be off the post and in,” Ibrahimovic said. “We have three games to play here, it's not just one game.

“I feel sad. We had more chances to score. There's still two games left and we still have the two games to get a result. We need to play a better game than we did today.

“We can't really lose the lead like we did.”

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Ukraine 2-1 Sweden

Euro 2012: Ukraine v Sweden

• Venue: Olympic Stadium, Kiev
• Date: Monday, 11 June
• Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: BBC One, BBC Radio 5 live, highlights on BBC One and BBC Sport website

Continue reading the main story

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin says the bout of food poisoning that affected his squad last week has now cleared up.

Andriy Shevchenko looks set to edge out Yevhen Konoplyanka in the support striker role behind Artem Milevskiy.

Sweden striker Johan Elmander returned to full training on Friday, a month after a fracturing a metatarsal.

He is expected to start, but if he is not fully fit then Ola Toivonen could lead the line, while captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic will play a deeper role.

Ukraine may be making their debut at a European Championship but as part of the Soviet Union their footballers have a rich tradition in the competition's history. It was under legendary Ukrainian coach Valeriy Lobanovskiy that the Soviets marched to the final in 1988, with seven of the team beaten by the Netherlands in the final also born in Ukraine.

Continue reading the main story

“ I think the fact that we are not regarded as favourites is good. There will be less pressure on the team”

Oleg Blokhin Ukraine coach

Their ambition this summer is more modest - coach Oleg Blokhin recently complained that his defenders "don't even tackle properly" and his forwards don't score enough goals. Nonetheless, Blokhin's largely domestic-based squad will be out to surprise, with Sweden first up in their sights.

The co-hosts have not enjoyed the smoothest of preparations for Euro 2012 on or off the pitch but now the tournament is here the Ukrainian public are out to enjoy themselves and give their 35-year-old hero Andriy Shevchenko the international swan-song he deserves.

The 2004 European Footballer of the Year is no longer the player he once was but he represents far more than just an aging striker to his nation - his displays for AC Milan and Dynamo Kiev helped put newly-independent Ukraine on the footballing map. However, with his physical abilities in decline, he may struggle to last 90 minutes.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren is never shy of an off-the-cuff comment. When asked about the advantage Ukraine will get from their passionate home support in Kiev he said he would just pretend the yellow and blue hordes were Swedish - the countries share the same national colours.

Yet beyond the jovial public image lies a deep thinker, a man who has set about showing the world there is more to Swedish football than the resolute, defensive-style favoured by his predecessor Lars Lagerback.

Hamren has built a young and exciting counter-attacking side built around the mercurial talents of skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They scored 31 goals in qualifying, including a 3-2 victory against the Dutch, and have come to Euro 2012 to entertain.

Head-to-head

• The two countries have met on three previous occasions - all friendlies - and two of those matches came last year.
• Both sides recorded 1-0 away wins, Ukraine's coming in June 2008, Sweden's in August 2011. The draw was played out in Cyprus in February 2011. Afterwards the sides contested a penalty shoot-out which Ukraine won 5-4.

Ukraine

• Ukraine are the only debutants at Euro 2012. The first four European Championships (1960-1972) were won by newcomers but none have been since.
• Of all the 368 players at Euro 2012, Andriy Shevchenko has enjoyed the longest international career. He made his debut in 1995.
• Oleg Blokhin's men are the only side at Euro 2012 without a British-based player in their squad.
• Only two players, Andriy Voronin and Anatoliy Tymoschuk, play outside of Ukraine.

Sweden

• Olof Mellberg is set to represent Sweden at a fifth major tournament. He is yet to miss a single minute at any of the finals he's been present at.
• Sweden coach Eric Hamren has selected nine players aged 30 or older - the highest number of thirty-somethings at Euro 2012.
• Kim Kallstrom recorded seven assists during qualifying for Euro 2012, equal highest along with Germany's Mesut Ozil and Hungary's Balazs Dzsudzsak.

View the original article here

Ukraine can qualify - Shevchenko

Ukraine's two-goal hero Andriy Shevchenko believes his side's 2-1 victory over Sweden has given them a good chance of qualifying from Group D.

The 35-year-old took his international goal tally to 48 from 108 caps in Kiev on Monday as the co-hosts won to top a group which also includes England.

Ukraine next play France, who drew 1-1 with England, before facing Roy Hodgson's men on Tuesday, 19 June.

"We showed character and now have good chances to qualify," said Shevchenko.

The 35-year-old former AC Milan and Chelsea striker, who is in his second spell with Dynamo Kiev in his native country, rolled back the years with two headed goals in the space of six second-half minutes to lead his side to victory after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given Sweden the lead in Kiev's Olympic Stadium.

"I feel great. I feel 20 years old, not 35. it was an historic game for us, and it's a victory," said Shevchenko, who will retire from international football after Euro 2012.

"It's such an important competition. Thank you to everybody who supported me. It was a very long walk because I had a lot of problems before the European Championship."

There was doubts as to whether Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin would select Shevchenko, who was European Footballer of the Year in 2004 but is not the force he once was, as age and a string of injuries have caught up with him.

However, Blokhin's was rewarded for his decision to select the striker, who was given a standing ovation by the vociferous crowd inside the Olympic Stadium when he was substituted 10 minutes from full-time.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren felt his side should have done more to impose their authority on the game. He also believed his side were wasteful in the latter stages as they went in search of an equaliser.

"We knew how they would play and it was our performance which was not up to scratch. You need 11 players right on their game and we only had five or six in the first half," said 54-year-old.

"We knew the crosses would come in - and we were up against a super player. Technically and tactically we didn't cut it. We should have scored with the good chances we had at the end."

Sweden goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who also saw a header hit the post in the first-half, said: "We have three games to play here, it's not just one game.

"There's still two games left and we still have the two games to get a result. We need to play a better game than we did today."

View the original article here

Ukraine can qualify - Shevchenko

Ukraine's two-goal hero Andriy Shevchenko believes his side's 2-1 victory over Sweden has given them a good chance of qualifying from Group D.

The 35-year-old took his international goal tally to 48 from 108 caps in Kiev on Monday as the co-hosts won to top a group which also includes England.

Ukraine next play France, who drew 1-1 with England, before facing Roy Hodgson's men on Tuesday, 19 June.

"We showed character and now have good chances to qualify," said Shevchenko.

The 35-year-old former AC Milan and Chelsea striker, who is in his second spell with Dynamo Kiev in his native country, rolled back the years with two headed goals in the space of six second-half minutes to lead his side to victory after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given Sweden the lead in Kiev's Olympic Stadium.

"I feel great. I feel 20 years old, not 35. it was an historic game for us, and it's a victory," said Shevchenko, who will retire from international football after Euro 2012.

"It's such an important competition. Thank you to everybody who supported me. It was a very long walk because I had a lot of problems before the European Championship."

There was doubts as to whether Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin would select Shevchenko, who was European Footballer of the Year in 2004 but is not the force he once was, as age and a string of injuries have caught up with him.

However, Blokhin's was rewarded for his decision to select the striker, who was given a standing ovation by the vociferous crowd inside the Olympic Stadium when he was substituted 10 minutes from full-time.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren felt his side should have done more to impose their authority on the game. He also believed his side were wasteful in the latter stages as they went in search of an equaliser.

"We knew how they would play and it was our performance which was not up to scratch. You need 11 players right on their game and we only had five or six in the first half," said 54-year-old.

"We knew the crosses would come in - and we were up against a super player. Technically and tactically we didn't cut it. We should have scored with the good chances we had at the end."

Sweden goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who also saw a header hit the post in the first-half, said: "We have three games to play here, it's not just one game.

"There's still two games left and we still have the two games to get a result. We need to play a better game than we did today."

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

Ukraine 2-1 Sweden

Euro 2012: Ukraine v Sweden

• Venue: Olympic Stadium, Kiev
• Date: Monday, 11 June
• Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: BBC One, BBC Radio 5 live, highlights on BBC One and BBC Sport website

Continue reading the main story

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin says the bout of food poisoning that affected his squad last week has now cleared up.

Andriy Shevchenko looks set to edge out Yevhen Konoplyanka in the support striker role behind Artem Milevskiy.

Sweden striker Johan Elmander returned to full training on Friday, a month after a fracturing a metatarsal.

He is expected to start, but if he is not fully fit then Ola Toivonen could lead the line, while captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic will play a deeper role.

Ukraine may be making their debut at a European Championship but as part of the Soviet Union their footballers have a rich tradition in the competition's history. It was under legendary Ukrainian coach Valeriy Lobanovskiy that the Soviets marched to the final in 1988, with seven of the team beaten by the Netherlands in the final also born in Ukraine.

Continue reading the main story

“ I think the fact that we are not regarded as favourites is good. There will be less pressure on the team”

Oleg Blokhin Ukraine coach

Their ambition this summer is more modest - coach Oleg Blokhin recently complained that his defenders "don't even tackle properly" and his forwards don't score enough goals. Nonetheless, Blokhin's largely domestic-based squad will be out to surprise, with Sweden first up in their sights.

The co-hosts have not enjoyed the smoothest of preparations for Euro 2012 on or off the pitch but now the tournament is here the Ukrainian public are out to enjoy themselves and give their 35-year-old hero Andriy Shevchenko the international swan-song he deserves.

The 2004 European Footballer of the Year is no longer the player he once was but he represents far more than just an aging striker to his nation - his displays for AC Milan and Dynamo Kiev helped put newly-independent Ukraine on the footballing map. However, with his physical abilities in decline, he may struggle to last 90 minutes.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren is never shy of an off-the-cuff comment. When asked about the advantage Ukraine will get from their passionate home support in Kiev he said he would just pretend the yellow and blue hordes were Swedish - the countries share the same national colours.

Yet beyond the jovial public image lies a deep thinker, a man who has set about showing the world there is more to Swedish football than the resolute, defensive-style favoured by his predecessor Lars Lagerback.

Hamren has built a young and exciting counter-attacking side built around the mercurial talents of skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They scored 31 goals in qualifying, including a 3-2 victory against the Dutch, and have come to Euro 2012 to entertain.

Head-to-head

• The two countries have met on three previous occasions - all friendlies - and two of those matches came last year.
• Both sides recorded 1-0 away wins, Ukraine's coming in June 2008, Sweden's in August 2011. The draw was played out in Cyprus in February 2011. Afterwards the sides contested a penalty shoot-out which Ukraine won 5-4.

Ukraine

• Ukraine are the only debutants at Euro 2012. The first four European Championships (1960-1972) were won by newcomers but none have been since.
• Of all the 368 players at Euro 2012, Andriy Shevchenko has enjoyed the longest international career. He made his debut in 1995.
• Oleg Blokhin's men are the only side at Euro 2012 without a British-based player in their squad.
• Only two players, Andriy Voronin and Anatoliy Tymoschuk, play outside of Ukraine.

Sweden

• Olof Mellberg is set to represent Sweden at a fifth major tournament. He is yet to miss a single minute at any of the finals he's been present at.
• Sweden coach Eric Hamren has selected nine players aged 30 or older - the highest number of thirty-somethings at Euro 2012.
• Kim Kallstrom recorded seven assists during qualifying for Euro 2012, equal highest along with Germany's Mesut Ozil and Hungary's Balazs Dzsudzsak.

View the original article here

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