UKRAINE: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Scotland fans in confident mood ahead of Euro 2008 qualififying match in Ukraine

Scotland face Ukraine in Kiev on Wednesday (October 11) in the unfamiliar role as group leaders protecting a perfect record for their Euro 2008 Group B qualifier. Scotland achieved one of their best-ever results with a 1-0 win over World Cup finalists France in Glasgow on Saturday (October 7), but have often fallen flat on their faces following impressive results in the past. Travelling Scottish fans were in euphoric mood and questioning if Ukraine's main weapon, striker Andiry Shevchenko, will finally make the difference after missing his country's 2-0 defeat to Italy at the weekend with a virus. "Who is Shevchenko, do you know who Shevchenko is? Who, we don't know who Shevchenko is?, asked a Scottish supporter who predicted a 2-0 win for Scotland. Scotland coach Walter Smith warned his players immediately to keep their feet on the ground, citing the events of 2004 as an example when Scotland beat the Netherlands 1-0 at Hampden Park in a European Championship play-off only to crash 6-0 in the return a few days later. Scotland's trip to Ukraine suffered a setback on Monday when they jetted out to Kiev without Garry O'Connor. The Lokomotiv Moscow striker failed to appear back at the team hotel and has been left behind with assistant boss Tommy Burns telling reporters: "There is no cause for hysteria. Like everyone else, footballers have problems too." Scotland top the group after three straight wins over the Faroes (6-0), Lithuania (2-1) and then France (1-0) and so a point would be a massive boost to their campaign. Ukraine have other ideas, and after losing 2-0 to world champions Italy on Saturday and with one win and one defeat from their two games, they are desperate that striker Andriy Shevchenko rejoins his team mates after recovering from a virus. Ukraine conceded two late goals against Italy but coach Oleg Blokhin said he was not displeased with the performance in Rome. However, the outcome did nothing to boost their chances of succeeding in a tough group. Ukraine will be without defender Volodymyr Yezersky, suspended after picking up two yellow cards, while Andriy Gusin, Serhiy Rebrov, Vladislav Vashchuk and Serhiy Fyodorov are all missing with long-term injuries. Probable teams: Ukraine: Olexander Shovkovsky; Andriy Nesmachny, Viacheslav Svidersky, Andriy Rusol, Bohdan Shershun; Oleg Gusev, Anatoly Tymoshchuk, Oleg Shelayev, Maxim Kalinichenko; Andriy Shevchenko, Andriy Voronin Scotland: Craig Gordon; Graham Alexander, Steven Pressley, David Weir, Gary Caldwell; Barry Ferguson, Paul Hartley, Darren Fletcher, Lee McCulloch, James McFadden, Kenny Miller. Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden).

ITN Source | October 12, 2006

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