Ukraine coach would prefer snow against Saudis

HAMBURG, June 18 (Reuters) Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said today they could not use the weather as an excuse for their perfomance in the crunch Group H match against Saudi Arabia on Monday after heat was blamed for their opening loss to Spain.

However, he added that he would not mind a little wintry weather like at home, saying: ''If it starts to snow, that will be good for us. We're used to that.'' After a crushing 4-0 loss to Spain played in stifling afternoon temperatures of 32 Celsius in Leipzig, Ukraine are hoping for a little help from the weather gods in the cooler north German port city of Hamburg.

''We shouldn't look to the weather for anything but rather should look into ourselves,'' he said. ''The match at 6 p.m.

(2130 hrs ist) will definitely be better for us. The match at 3 pm was a disaster.'' Temperatures have dropped below 15 Celsius amid intermittent rain and the Saudis, who are used to a hotter climate, have been training in Hamburg since Friday -- some wearing ski caps and warm clothing -- to get used to the cooler weather.

The forecast for tomorrow is between 15 and 26 degrees with a 69 percent chance of rain.

Blokhin also said his team had learnt the lessons from the defeat against Spain and predicted they would respond in similar fashion to the way the US and Ghana did yesterday in their second matches after dismal opening games.

''These two are a classic example of teams' learning the right lessons,'' he said. ''They played without any will in their first matches. And their second matches were completely different.

''You'll see a completely different team here,'' Blokhin said.

''I promise you that.'' The Ukraine coach added that he expected Andriy Shevchenko to be ready on Monday. The striker has been a shadow of his usual self due to a lack of match fitness after a month out with a knee injury.

''He is getting ready for the match,'' said Blokhin. ''The doctors have the good opinion that he is in good form.'' However, defender Volodymir Yezersky injured his thigh in training, although it is unclear how seriously.

''There is no sense talking about this injury until the doctors have fully examined it,'' he said, adding that it was uncertain whether Yezersky would be fit tommorr.

REUTERS PDS RAI0222