Outright Odds: sixty six/one
Team H Winners: 12/5
This will be the Ukraines first significant tournament they may have certified for given that narrowly lacking out anytime following their independence in 1991. This time there was no messing about and they grew to become the initial European facet to qualify for the finals, bar hosts Germany needless to say.
They endured a single defeat in 12 matches, at your house to Turkey, but General gained a difficult 꽁머니 team which also featured European champions Greece and perennial qualifiers Denmark easily.
The Ukraine are managed by Oleg Blokhin, the 1975 European Footballer in the 12 months and USSR stalwart which saw him obtain 109 caps and score 39 goals in the method. His tactics utilise the talents of Andrey Shevchenko http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=꽁머니 but, more importantly, do not have to foundation every attack throughout the AC Milan forward as Blokhin prefers to implement a four-3-3 formation.
Shevchenko spearheads the assault admirably, with 28 ambitions in sixty three international appearances, but he is capably backed up by Bayer Leverkusens Andrey Voronin and Shaktar Donetsks Andriy Vorobey who make up a devastating 3-pronged assault.
The team do not merely depend upon Shevchenkos aims. Like fellow qualifiers Serbia & Montenegro and Croatia, Ukraines success was also developed all-around a stable defence which stored 6 clean sheets inside a row which observed as numerous consecutive wins from Oct 2004 to June 2005.
Dinamo Kiev goalkeeper Alexandr Shovkoskiy can rely upon his back again 4 of group-mate Andriy Nesmachny, Shaktars Anatoliy Tymoshyuk and Dnipro pair Andrey Rusol and Vladimir Yezerski.
Ukraine supporters are optimistic regarding their probabilities, drawing parallels Using the prosperous Croatia facet of 1998 which completed 3rd. They're gifted enough and underestimation could confirm high-priced to far more trendy opponents. Supervisor Blokhin has promised a semi-remaining look that can produce a mockery in their sixty six/1 (Coral) odds.
Encouraged Guess
Ignore Spain, the Ukraine may very well be the legitimate darkish horses for the World Cup. They brushed aside good quality opposition during the qualification method and are great worth to gain Group H at odds larger than 2/1. Lets not forget about Andrey Shevchenko both plus the AC Milan striker could mark his debut on the planet stage as a real Golden Boot contender.
Ukraine to gain Group H @ twelve/5
E/W Andrey Shevchenko as major goalscorer @ 22/1