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A final note on the Switzerland game

June 27th, 2006 | By: Andriy Korol | 18 Comments »

I have watched almost every game of this World Cup and found the Ukraine-Switzerland match to be the most exciting and most suspensefull. Is that because I am Ukrainian ? Of course this is most of the reason, but even looking at this game from an outsider’s perspective, I find it amazing people said it was ‘boring’. If you do not enjoy a 0-0 game then perhaps basketball is your sport. It was an intense game which consisted of a clash of the midfields. I said before the game that the Swiss team is very similar in style and as it turns out, the Swiss played such a mirrored game that it was hard to tell which team had a better game in the 120 minutes.

When I see a team winning by a goal, I see that as a cushion and can easily sit back and watch this game without much nerve racking. This was a game where eveyone felt the first goal would be the only goal and would win the game. It was very stressfull to watch, on the edge of the seat suspsense. This was the feeling felt throughout all the Ukrainian and Swiss homes out there, all the bars/pubs out there. A game’s peak of drama is penalty kicks and this game went into them. Eventually somebody had to win and somebody had to lose. I enjoyed the challenge of the Swiss, my favorite thing I will take back after that game is that Switzerland truely lives up to their reputation as peacefull people. I’m talking about their fans. The fans were very noble about their loss I really respect that. Fans must learn not only how to accept a victory, but also, how to accept a defeat. I hope Ukrainian fans will be showing such class if we are knocked out, no matter what happens, no matter how unfair the referee. This World Cup in particular is getting somewhat pathetic by the responses of some of the fans and journalists.

Having said that, we won, we deserved to win, we showed just how dominant we can be in the midfield area, this is something the Italians will need to start scratching their heads about. Ukraine is picking up more and fans as we get further. The Australians are somewhat unsatisfied with the result of their game with Italy and are crying out for Ukraine to seek vengence on them. At this stage, we are on the top 8 best football nations in the world and therefore we have a good chance against Italy. I expect Ukraine to play at their best. I am satisfied that they made it to the quarter finals in their first World Cup, they cannot disapoint me anymore, but of course I hope for a victory, as another fan said in this blog, we are 3 games away from the World Cup.

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Comments

By rad|x | June 27th, 2006 at 5:53 pm

I found this game amazing as well. Football is not about goalscoring. It is about dedication, perseverance, determination.. and both Switzerland and Ukraine have shown those in full.

On a sidenote, I absolutely love how ESPN flames games like those.

By wrai | June 27th, 2006 at 6:38 pm

well, have we seen the same game?

I really enjoy 0-0 games, but this one was quite boring.
between 90th minute and 120th I was watching a movie, and I was almost sure that it’s going to be something more than 120 minutes of play and? there was.

and even “something more” was nothing more than a nice unlucky Swiss try to get to 1/8

ps. “clash of the midfields” - I can translate this into: both teams had no idea how get in the box and score

Posted from Poland

By M.B. | June 27th, 2006 at 7:01 pm

I support the Ukrainians (not because I want revenge on the Italians - I also support the Azzurri) because they have shown perseverance. The upcoming match will be very exciting - I hope to see more of Artem Milevskyi.

Posted from Australia

By Ukrainian Hooligan | June 27th, 2006 at 7:02 pm

Swis played defensive game trying to capitalise on counter attacks. Why would Ukraine open themselves up for such a play. They played the same way and came out on top in the end. End of story. And unlike some-other games this one was had great offitiating. No cards, no bull shit calls. Just futbol.

Posted from Canada

By Andrey | June 27th, 2006 at 8:19 pm

I hope the ref next game lets the game progress and not get stopped by penalties. GO UKRAINE!!!

Posted from United States

By joe | June 27th, 2006 at 9:23 pm

hey poland shut up ukraine one with skill not luck

Posted from United States

By Miguelinho | June 27th, 2006 at 11:18 pm

Spain is out!! Lost 3-0 to France. Spain actually scored first - from a penalty! Ha ha ha ha ha! Then Zidane, Ribery, and Co. owned them.

Only one team from our group got to the quarterfinals - and that team is UKRAINE!!

So we actually beat the first team from the group - a team that tied France and that beat Korea while France could not. Spain lost to a 2nd place team who had more heart. Sound familiar?

I love my team, and I love when teams who are unjustly cocky lose! Hey Spain - you don’t progress in the World Cup by beating on a team when it’s down and reveling in the referee’s help!

Adios muchachas. And yes, I meant muchachAs.

Posted from United States

By rad|x | June 28th, 2006 at 12:07 am

lol,

Spain is out! And we are still going! So much for cockyness and arrogance.

I guess that 4-0 was necessary for us!

By Andrey | June 28th, 2006 at 12:34 am

Hey all u doubters and haters, “наша команда еще не показала свой истинный потенциал” Sergei Rebrov.

Posted from United States

By Travis | June 28th, 2006 at 2:11 am

Wish i knew what that says!

***sorry, Im at work and it wont let me make a new post, so I’ll answer your questions within your post***

наша команда = our team
еще не показала = has not yet shown
свой истинный потенциал = its full potential

Posted from Canada

By ivan | June 28th, 2006 at 6:17 am

hey guys…. …. i found this game truly amazing.. even though i watched it in a car TV at work , and in Spanish… 0:0 games are the best… i almost got a heart attack from worrying… the next game, Ukraine-Italy, i believe Ukraine can win… its not impossible… they played a friendly game in 2006, and tied 1:1… they can win.. lets pray for them.

Posted from United States

By Andriy G | June 28th, 2006 at 6:42 am

Ah well, the odds are against us again:

WC Italy-Ukraine
15006 1.25 ITALY
15007 3.6 UKRAINE

source: http://www.tab.com.au

We have been wrriten of before, but the odds are yet to stop us.

Goodluck Ukraine!

UK-RA-YI-NA!!!

Posted from Australia

By anton | June 28th, 2006 at 10:58 am

ivan,

the friendly between Italy and Ukraine was 0:0

But still ukraine is able to win. They just have to pull it together. Also I heard Voronin is not going to play due to a hip injury

By yevgen | June 28th, 2006 at 11:14 am

Germany - Argentina
England - Portugal
Brazil - France
Italy - UKRAINE

I still can’t believe it!!!!!!!!!!
:):):):):)

Posted from Ukraine

By LiverpoolFC | June 28th, 2006 at 3:29 pm

good on Ukraine. Ur in the quarters and from now on anything can happen and I do mean ANYTHING, go Ukraine n go shevchenko, who hasn’t really fired yet so the ASS-URI better watchout. He is a class player just wish he was signed to Liverpool instead of freggin Chelsea oh well, if only we had a billionaire for an owner, anyway GOODLUCK UKRAINE!!! and will be on the lookout for the Shevchenko express

Posted from Australia

By nicko | June 28th, 2006 at 5:15 pm

This game was so boring that in australia the commentator called it 0-0 and going to penalties after only 10 minutes of play

Ukraine will really have to improve (about as much as france have) to have any chance against Italy

Posted from Australia

By rad|x | June 28th, 2006 at 6:30 pm

Our team hasn’t shown its full potential yet nicko. I think the game with italy will show it all. Nothing to lose, but so much to win.

By nicko | June 28th, 2006 at 6:45 pm

yeah we all want to see italy slaughtered in australia (no bitterness - purely based on objective commentary

although it would be wickedly ironic, I really hope it doesn’t go the way of the Ukraine - Tunisia game.

Posted from Australia

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