Sheva sets his sights on quarters
Source: AFP |
June 14, 2012, Thursday
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HAVING created the sensation of the first Euro 2012 matchday by inspiring Ukraine to victory over Sweden, Andriy Shevchenko now turns his thoughts on tomorrow's opponent France.
The nation celebrated as the 35-year-old Dynamo Kiev striker rolled back the years to score a brace and give the co-host a 2-1 win over Sweden on Monday.
As well as taking his international goal tally to 48, Shevchenko's match-winning intervention at Dynamo's Olympic Stadium also gave Ukraine control of Group D, as France and England drew their opening encounter 1-1.
The quarterfinals are therefore already within sight - Ukraine will reach the last eight if it beats France in Donetsk.
However, having doggedly battled knee and back problems in order to prove his fitness for his swansong international tournament, the former AC Milan and Chelsea striker does not want to look too far ahead.
"It's a great day for Ukraine, but we still have two matches to prepare for," he warned after the win against Sweden. "Of course we're happy, but we know that we still have two very hard matches against France and England."
Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said he could change his team for the game with France, after watching the nervousness displayed by his side in the closing stages against Sweden. "We still made tactical mistakes and we did not have enough time to prepare," he said. "We can still play better. Now we have three points, and we will alter things tactically for the matches to come."
France was left with mixed feelings after its draw against England, with pride at the manner in which it fought back to equalize tempered by disappointment that it did not exploit its dominance of possession.
"It was frustrating for periods," conceded coach Laurent Blanc.
"We lacked a presence in front of goal sometimes. But we tried to play our style of football. We like playing balls in to feet and exchanging quick passes."
Blanc is mindful of the momentum that Ukraine will carry into the game against them.
"The country is in a state of euphoria," he said. "The people will be behind the team more than ever now. It's going to be a hard game, there's no doubt about it, but we will prepare ourselves in the same way we have planned."
The nation celebrated as the 35-year-old Dynamo Kiev striker rolled back the years to score a brace and give the co-host a 2-1 win over Sweden on Monday.
As well as taking his international goal tally to 48, Shevchenko's match-winning intervention at Dynamo's Olympic Stadium also gave Ukraine control of Group D, as France and England drew their opening encounter 1-1.
The quarterfinals are therefore already within sight - Ukraine will reach the last eight if it beats France in Donetsk.
However, having doggedly battled knee and back problems in order to prove his fitness for his swansong international tournament, the former AC Milan and Chelsea striker does not want to look too far ahead.
"It's a great day for Ukraine, but we still have two matches to prepare for," he warned after the win against Sweden. "Of course we're happy, but we know that we still have two very hard matches against France and England."
Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said he could change his team for the game with France, after watching the nervousness displayed by his side in the closing stages against Sweden. "We still made tactical mistakes and we did not have enough time to prepare," he said. "We can still play better. Now we have three points, and we will alter things tactically for the matches to come."
France was left with mixed feelings after its draw against England, with pride at the manner in which it fought back to equalize tempered by disappointment that it did not exploit its dominance of possession.
"It was frustrating for periods," conceded coach Laurent Blanc.
"We lacked a presence in front of goal sometimes. But we tried to play our style of football. We like playing balls in to feet and exchanging quick passes."
Blanc is mindful of the momentum that Ukraine will carry into the game against them.
"The country is in a state of euphoria," he said. "The people will be behind the team more than ever now. It's going to be a hard game, there's no doubt about it, but we will prepare ourselves in the same way we have planned."
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