Related News
Mykhailychenko wants to end Ukraine's playoff jinx
UKRAINE coach Oleksiy Mykhailychenko is hoping the fourth time will be the charm when his team plays Greece in a World Cup playoff today.
Ukraine has lost its last three playoffs for major championships, but are confident of turning things around this time.
"I know we have failed three times, but I prefer not to look back but forward," Mykhailychenko said yesterday.
Ukraine finished second to England in Group 6, while Greece was the runner-up behind Switzerland in Group 2. The winner of the two-leg series advances to next year's tournament in South Africa, with the return match played in Donetsk on Wednesday.
Ukraine lost a playoff for the 1998 World Cup against Croatia, then fell at the same stage to Germany in 2002. They also lost a playoff against Slovenia for a spot at the 2000 European Championship.
"This is the most important game of my career," Mykhailychenko said. "I always worry, it's part of my job. The results will be very important for my country."
Ukraine is missing strikers Andriy Voronin and Serhiy Nazarenko, and will rely on Andriy Shevchenko for goals. Mykhailychenko is also concerned about 10 of players entering the game with a yellow card, meaning the can be suspended for the return leg if they pick up a second booking.
"We have talked about it already, they must avoid (yellow cards)," Mykhailychenko said. "They need to be disciplined."
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel is expected to give Sokratis Papastathopoulos the task of marking Shevchenko, with the German possibly opting for a five-man back line.
Ukraine has lost its last three playoffs for major championships, but are confident of turning things around this time.
"I know we have failed three times, but I prefer not to look back but forward," Mykhailychenko said yesterday.
Ukraine finished second to England in Group 6, while Greece was the runner-up behind Switzerland in Group 2. The winner of the two-leg series advances to next year's tournament in South Africa, with the return match played in Donetsk on Wednesday.
Ukraine lost a playoff for the 1998 World Cup against Croatia, then fell at the same stage to Germany in 2002. They also lost a playoff against Slovenia for a spot at the 2000 European Championship.
"This is the most important game of my career," Mykhailychenko said. "I always worry, it's part of my job. The results will be very important for my country."
Ukraine is missing strikers Andriy Voronin and Serhiy Nazarenko, and will rely on Andriy Shevchenko for goals. Mykhailychenko is also concerned about 10 of players entering the game with a yellow card, meaning the can be suspended for the return leg if they pick up a second booking.
"We have talked about it already, they must avoid (yellow cards)," Mykhailychenko said. "They need to be disciplined."
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel is expected to give Sokratis Papastathopoulos the task of marking Shevchenko, with the German possibly opting for a five-man back line.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证:沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证:31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证:0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证:沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证:沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.