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| June 26, 2006 | Monday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1427 |
Swiss, Ukraine in clash of bridesmaids
COLOGNE, June 25: A team that takes pride in its lack of big name players will come up against a side seeking to end their reputation as a one-man-band when Switzerland take on Ukraine in the World Cup second round on Monday.
Appearing in their first major finals, the Ukrainians have been at pains to stress that they have more to offer than 2004 European Player of the Year Andriy Shevchenko.
Recovering from a 4-0 drubbing by Spain in their first match, Oleg Blokhin's men secured second place in Group H when they followed up their own 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia with a tightly-contested 1-0 victory over Tunisia on Friday.
The playing down of Shevchenko's importance was probably not helped by the fact that Chelsea's new striker won and successfully converted the penalty that saw his team through.
“It's a hugely important achievement for Ukrainian football that we have got into the next round,” said Shevchenko. “We always kept our belief despite the terrible defeat against Spain.”
'Belief' was also a popular word within the Swiss camp following their impressive 2-0 victory over 2002 semi-finalists South Korea on Friday.
Bidding to make their fourth appearance in the World Cup quarter-finals, but their first in over 50 years, the Swiss have emphasised their reliance on well-drilled teamwork over individual showmanship.
The only team to achieve three clean sheets from the three group games, the Swiss should offer Shevchenko as stiff a challenge as he does them -- although both sides have new defensive problems to deal with going into the Cologne showdown.
Switzerland were dealt the biggest blow when it transpired on Saturday that central defender Philippe Senderos would miss the rest of the tournament after dislocating his shoulder during the win over the Koreans.
The 21-year-old Arsenal player will be out of action for a minimum of two weeks, leaving Switzerland dependent on Senderos's 19-year-old club mate Johan Djourou.
Ukraine's problem is short-term with Vyacheslav Svidersky and Andriy Rusol suspended. Potential replacement Dmitro Chigrinsky has been sidelined by a thigh injury and will probably play no further part in the tournament.
With both sides granted just two days' rest after their final group matches, fitness, stamina and the effective use of reserve players may prove as important as individual finesse.
Barring a major upset by Australia, the winners are likely to face Italy in the quarter-finals just four days later.
Probable teams:
Switzerland (4-5-1): 1-Pascal Zuberbuehler; 3-Ludovic Magnin, 2-Johann Djourou, 20-Patrick Mueller, 23-Philipp Degen; 8-Raphael Wicky, 6-Johann Vogel, 7-Ricardo Cabanas, 22-Hakan Yakin, 16-Tranquillo Barnetta; 9-Alex Frei.
Coach: Koebi Kuhn.
Ukraine (3-5-2): 1-Oleksander Shovkovsky; 5-Volodymir Yezersky, 17-Vladislav Vashchyuk, 2-Andriy Nesmachny; 9-Oleg Gusev, 4-Anatoly Tymoshchyuk, 8-Oleg Shelayev, 19-Maxim Kalinichenko, 11-Serhiy Rebrov; 7-Andriy Shevchenko,10-Andriy Voronin.
Coach: Oleg Blokhin.
Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico).
Linesmen: Jose Ramirez (Mexico) and Hector Vergara (Canada).—Reuters
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