Ukraine
How'd they get here: Automatically qualified as co-hosts
Last Appearance: Never (1992 as the U.S.S.R.)
Best Appearance: N/A
Schedule:
June
11 vs Sweden
June
15 vs France
June
19 vs England
The Story:
One of the competition's co-hosts appear to be stumbling to the starting line as the tournament draws closer and closer. First there is the political turmoil surrounding the imprisonment and beating of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko that has caused quite a stir internationally with some world leaders (such as Germany's Prime Minister) threatening to boycott games played in the Ukraine. The politics have even taken a dangerous turn with an attack in the city of Dnipropetrovsk (not a city that will host the competition) injuring 26 people. Something not lost on the nations competing as only 3 countries have adopted Ukraine as their residence for the duration of the tournament.
The country's soccer team is also hoping things will work out when the tournament begins as they are a group of young unproven players led by aging stars who aren't what they used to be. Ukraine's team is coached by Oleh Blokhin, previous winner of the Ballon d'Or (awarded to the best football player in Europe) as a player. Blohkin coached Ukraine in their only other appearance at a major competition (the World Cup in 2006) and will hope to bring that experience to lead his country to a surprise quarter-final berth.
The players that Blohkin has to work with are mostly from the Ukranian Soccer League with only Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (Bayern Munich) and Andriy Voronin (Dynamo Moscow) playing in clubs out of the country. Strangely enough, Ukraine will probably go as far as its 3 remaining stars of the last generation can take them. Along with Voronin and Tymoshchuk (ages 32 and 33), 35 year-old captain of the team Andriy Shevchenko will need to have a great tournament if Ukraine is to go any further than the group stage in the competition. The midfield and back four of the team will mostly consist of young players playing in several of the country's top teams (such as Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk). Unless you are one of the 11 people who follow the Ukranian League religiously, Euro 2012 will probably be the first time you get a good look at the young crop of talent Ukraine has to offer. 22 year-old Andriy Yarmolenko will be one of the more exciting players to watch in the tournament and Ukrainians everywhere are hoping he can experience the same kind of breakthrough tournament that Andriy Arshavin had in 2008.
For Ukraine to get out of Group D and make it to the quarters, they will probably have to beat Sweden in their opener (doable) and then take at least one but probably two more points in their next two against France and England (not probable). However with the tremendous support they're sure to get from the home crowds at their games and the probability that the rest of their group-mates will be taking them lightly, the possibility for Ukraine surprising at this tournament is there. All that being said, I see no way they get out of the group stage barring a France or England collapse (which recently seems to happen every major competition)
#1 Song in Ukraine at the moment It's Ukrainian Lady Gaga + Ke$ha + Courtney Love! No idea what the song is about but the video has the singer being stalked by a black guy before she kills him with a chainsaw in the end and then burns the car with the body inside (Seriously not making any of this up. Watch it.). No idea what this video is trying to say but I'm blaming Lady Gaga for it. Reasons to Cheer for Ukraine: If you think Andriy Shevchenko's time at Chelsea was underrated, if THIS is your favorite Seinfeld moment, if you think Europe should be divided the way it is on the RISK map, if you refer to the early 00's Lakers not as "the Kobe and Shaq Lakers" but as "the Slava Medvedenko Lakers", if you have a poster of Sergey Bubka above your bed, if you're cheering against England or France, if you're Ukrainian. Previous Teams #16 - Greece Team #14 will be posted some time tomorrow!
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Luka Milanovic |
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