Shevchenko ready for Group H opener
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Tuesday, 13, Jun 2006 10:25
Andriy Shevchenko reckons he will be fit to play in Ukraine's opening match against Spain as Group H gets underway tomorrow.
The new Chelsea striker has been suffering from an injury he sustained towards the end of the season but looks as though he will be fit to start the tournament.
The whole of Ukraine had been watching every training session with baited breath just as England fans have been waiting for Wayne Rooney.
Shevchenko came on as a substitute in Ukraine's last warm up game against Luxemburg and promptly netted.
The striker said: "It's up to the coach to decide tomorrow whether I will play or not. I have a lot of respect for the Spain team. They have some great individual players.
"The most important thing for us tomorrow is to not lose," added Ukraine's star man who has just left AC Milan.
The manager Oleg Blokhin said that he had not yet decided whether to start with the pacy front man.
He claims his team can surprise everyone and win their first ever World Cup. Blokhin said: "There are lots of different styles in football and I believe we can go far.
"Who would have thought that Greece would go all the way and win the European Championships in 2004?"
Spain will start the game with fallen icon Raul on the substitute's bench but the Real Madrid legend assured the Spanish media that he is happy to wait on the sidelines.