Preview: Italy vs. Ukraine
GAME DETAILS
Italy vs. Ukraine, Hamburg, 21:00 CET
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THE BIG PICTURE
Two teams coming off emotional, draining matches that were won from 12 yards out meet in this quarterfinal. Ukraine beat Switzerland on penalties after 120 agonizingly scoreless minutes, while Italy saw their game plan pay off in the last 10 seconds of injury time, picking up a penalty kick on a counter attack. Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi is serving the third of a four match ban after being sent off against the United States and Marco Materazzi is suspended for one match after being sent off against Australia. Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin and Italy defender Alessandro Nesta are both out with thigh injuries. Italy’s unbeaten run has been extended to 22 games — they last lost in October 2004 against Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier. Italy’s path to the semifinals might be smoother than Gelato, but Ukraine told World Cup Blog that they, “want to make it like the kind that’s not smooth, the kind with frozen chunks of fruit in it. Like raspberries. Or kiwi.”
Teams: Likely formation; shirt numbers; names, caps and goals, coach:
Italy (4-3-2-1): 1-Gianluigi Buffon (64-0); 19-Gianluca Zambrotta (55-1), 6-Andrea Barzagli (9-0), 5-Fabio Cannavaro (97-1), 3-Fabio Grosso (20-1); 20-Simone Perrotta (28-1), 21-Andrea Pirlo (28-5), 8-Gennaro Gattuso (44-1); 16-Mauro Camoranesi (23-1); 10-Francesco Totti (55-9); 11-Alberto Gilardino (19-8) Coach: Marcello Lippi
Ukraine (3-5-2): 1-Oleksander Shovkovsky (72-0); 6-Andriy Rusol (26-2), 22-Vyacheslav Svidersky (8-0), 2-Andriy Nesmachny (53-0); 9-Oleg Gusev (29-1), 4-Anatoly Tymoshchyuk (59-1), 8-Oleg Shelayev (23-0), 19-Maxim Kalinichenko (24-4), 11-Serhiy Rebrov (74-15); 7-Andriy Shevchenko (68-31), 10-Andriy Voronin (36-4) Coach: Oleg Blokhin
LIVEBLOG
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IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS
The average Italian family has 1.27 children.
The thermometer is an Italian invention.
Napoleon spent his first exile on the Italian island of Elba.
Italy Team Blog
Buy an Italy jersey to support the team
The Great Gate of Kiev is not actually a gate but a design submitted by artist Victor Harmann to commemorate the attempted assassination of Tsar Alexander II in Kiev in 1866.
Horses were first domesticated in the Ukraine, approximately 6,000 years ago.
The village of Dilove, district of Rakhiv, province of Zakarpatia, in Western Ukraine is the geographical center of Europe.
Ukraine Team Blog
Team Roster
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TEAM BLOGS & DISCUSSIONS
Italy Team Blog
Ukraine Team Blog
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Comments
By Dave Hamilton | June 27th, 2006 at 8:02 pm 
I am back in form after nailing the Brasil game (3-0), but admittedly suffered a horrendous day yesterday because of a few minor late factors I didn’t anticipate, but that is sport. As I continue on comback trail, I will keep my 2-1 prediction for France to win intact. Enjoy the game, everyone.
Dave hamildav@yahoo.com
Posted from 
Germany
By OPKO | June 30th, 2006 at 3:29 am UKRAINA ZNYSHCHE ITALIYU
Posted from 
Canada
By black | June 30th, 2006 at 8:40 am Italy has to win for the sack of my GF. It will be 2-0.
Posted from 
India
By tulsabob | June 30th, 2006 at 2:01 pm Italy will win
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By dietmar | June 30th, 2006 at 3:41 pm could be a ukrainian up-set, we shall see a little more clearly, today, how things will shape up!
Posted from 
United States
By Miguel | June 30th, 2006 at 4:34 pm Italia will win 2-1 within the 90 time-frame.
Posted from Canada
By Deviilz. | June 30th, 2006 at 4:53 pm My bookies gave me these odds for this match:
Italians to win by a goal/more margin within the 90mins.
Which team is worth the gamble..?
Posted from 
Malaysia
By Deviilz. | June 30th, 2006 at 5:24 pm The Italians does seems to be weak,that’s how they play..,right?
Anyways,the odds my bookies gave me were the Italians to win by a goal margin or more within the 90mins.
Ukraine seems to be a better bet right..?
Posted from Malaysia
By Cancer | June 30th, 2006 at 6:23 pm It will be a low scoring match, Italy must win this match
Posted from 
Qatar
By Deviilz. | June 30th, 2006 at 6:57 pm After the 90mins ,a draw would be sufficient for Ukraine to win with the odds given.
Posted from Malaysia
Comments are closed
