Chastened Ukraine look to regroup

BERLIN, June 15: After the embarrassment of 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Spain, Ukraine's players and their coach Oleg Blokhin are concentrating on picking themselves up for their remaining two Group H matches.

Tunisia and Saudi Arabia should prove less of a challenge than the excellent Spanish and Blokhin's squad are still expected to make it through to the knockout stages in their debut World Cup finals.

Most of the players were given the day off on Thursday at their base in Potsdam near Berlin, though some who did not feature yesterday will do some light training.

''I think every one of us understands we have to start again from scratch,'' captain Andriy Shevchenko said.

''Even given the score, this is not necessarily a negative thing.

I said before that a good result for us is to make it out of the group. And that is what we are continuing to aim at.'' The 2004 European footballer of the year was a massive disappointment on his full return from injury on Wednesday, an imperious Carles Puyol ensuring the normally lethal striker failed to muster a single shot all game.

Chelsea's new signing looked well short of the form and fitness that has made him the leading scorer in the history of the European Champions League but Blokhin refused to single out his captain for criticism.

''If the journalists think Shevchenko played badly they should write that but you won't hear it from me,'' Blokhin said.

''We'll have to analyse our mistakes very closely and lift the players for next game.'' The statistics from Wednesday's match underscore Spain's dominance, boosted at the start of the second half when experienced Ukrainian defender Vladislav Vashchyuk was harshly sent off for a challenge on Fernando Torres.

Spain had 10 shots on goal to Ukraine's two and enjoyed 54 percent of the possession to their opponent's 46 percent.

After taking the lead in the 13th minute the Spanish players stroked the ball around with aplomb, in contrast to the sluggish Ukrainians, and constantly looked threatening in attack.

''We are all very down but we should be able to pick ourselves up and turn things around in the next match,'' said Ukraine striker Serhiy Rebrov, who came on in the second half but also failed to produce a shot on goal.

Ukraine play Saudi Arabia in Hamburg on June 19 and Tunisia in Berlin on June 23.

REUTERS

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