Ukraine will begin the tournament in a state of trepidation, and not just because of the recent international criticism of racism and violence in the host country that has left many fearing the worst. The confidence built up by impressive victories in friendlies against Austria and Estonia, as well as a creditable 3-3 draw with Germany, has been dented by a series of untimely injuries, suspensions and a drugs scandal.
Ukraine’s biggest problems are to be found at the back, where Oleg Blokhin’s goalkeeping options make Roy Hodgson appear spoilt for choice. Oleksandr Shovkovskiy has been ruled out of the tournament with shoulder injury, Andriy Dikan is still recovering after suffering head and facial injuries in a Russian Premier League match and Oleksandr Rybka is serving a two-year suspension for using a banned diuretic, leaving Andriy Pyatov as the only goalkeeper in the squad with more than two caps.
There are more problems farther forward in their defensive line, with Dmytro Chygrynskiy, the former Barcelona centre back, also ruled out through injury.
Blokhin, the coach, has more options going forward, however, with the emergence of Andriy Yarmolenko, the “new Andriy Shevchenko”, giving Ukraine a potent partner for Shevchenko, their record goalscorer. Yarmolenko can operate on either wing or as a second striker, and will be keen to confirm his quality at the highest level to hasten a possible transfer from Dynamo Kiev to AC Milan, whose approaches for the 22-year-old have been rebuffed.
Shevchenko has an outstanding international record of 46 goals in 107 games despite his decline since flopping at Chelsea.
Advertisement
Tactics/Coach
Ukraine are comfortable on the counter-attack so their final group D encounter with England in Donetsk is likely to be as ugly as the city itself, particularly if qualification is at stake. Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, of Bayern Munich, is the key man in the centre of midfield, whose role is to win possession so that Ukraine can utilise the pace of Yevhen Konoplyanka and Yarmolenko.
England fear
The home crowd. England were beaten 1-0 on their previous visit to Ukraine three years ago, when an intimidating crowd in Dnipropetrovsk and Robert Green’s early sending-off contributed to a subdued performance. The fans in Donetsk will be equally unforgiving.
England can exploit
Advertisement
Ukraine’s lack of pace at the back. Wayne Rooney will be champing at the bit and his availability will be a timely boost for England because Ukraine will struggle to contain his surging runs and intelligent movement. Danny Welbeck’s pace could also be a potent weapon.
Star player
At 35, Andriy Shevchenko is still the man Ukraine look to. Even though his pace has long gone, his finishing is a potent threat. Shevchenko struggled to make much of an impact at his only previous tournament, the 2006 World Cup finals, because of a back injury and will want to bow out on a high.