Only a win can save Ukraine, says Shevchenko

Published on Tuesday 11 September 2007 01:03

THE first team to qualify for last year's World Cup are now struggling to reach next year's European Championship.

Ukraine, who surprisingly reached the quarter-finals in Germany, will play World champions Italy tomorrow in a Euro 2008 qualifier that both teams need to win to stay near the top of Group B.

"Winning is the only thing that can save us," Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko admitted. "Our situation is not desperate, but difficult - even though we are playing at home. We have got to play this game at 200 per cent. We are battlers and this is our quality. To beat them, we are going to have to fight."

Italy and Ukraine have played each three times in the past 18 months, including Italy's 3-0 win in the World Cup quarter- finals.

The Italians, who won their fourth World Cup by beating France on penalties in Berlin, were held to a 0-0 draw by the visiting French team on Saturday. Now, Italy need to start winning to avoid missing out on the European Championships as World champions for the second time in 25 years.

Ukraine, who started competing in 1994 after breaking away from the Soviet Union, were held to a 1-1 draw by Georgia on Saturday and sit fourth in Group B with 13 points. France lead with 19 points, followed by Scotland with 18 and Italy with 17. France host Scotland in Paris tomorrow.

Shevchenko will lead Ukraine's attack despite failing to play for Chelsea this season, while Italy will be without their injured players Luca Toni and Rino Gattuso.

Striker Cristiano Lucarelli, a key striker for Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, is set to start in place of Toni as Italy aim to boost their own qualification hopes.

Lucarelli said: "It will be a difficult game as Ukraine consider this to be a real test of their potential as a football nation. They are very enthusiastic after some recent results and for them the chance to take on the world champions, with the possibility of qualifying, is a huge event."

His confidence is matched by Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni, who believes his side can still attain top place in the group because of the fixture schedules facing the other nations in Group B.

Donadoni said: "We can get a good result in Kiev. Both Scotland and Ukraine will have a hard time against France in their remaining matches and this can help us.

"I certainly will not be happy with a draw in Ukraine as we are going there to win."