Comments from the fans, after the match

Haha!! Thanks Andriy for putting my post on the article there, it made me smile!! Kudos to you!

Posted from  Canada

BTW I just wanted to add that here in toronto the celebrations were going on until atleast 12 am after the win in our “ukrainian bloor west village” Lost my voice after all the screaming we did.

It was amazing, But I was still wishing I went to ukraine this summer and could have had these celebrations in my home town.

Just wanted to drop a word about Blokhin being a “racist.” I think there’s always a fine line between patriotism and xenophobia. His words ring racist to some, but you have to think about what he said.

He said he’d like to see more clubs train native players instead of importing from elsewhere. When clubs use a lot of money to bring foreign players, they neglect their youth divisions. Just look at Real Madrid and Spain in general! They have such a strong league, but this is because of foreign players. When it comes time for a World Cup, Spain does not do so well because their league’s strength doesn’t come from players who are actually Spanish citizens.

So, as the coach for Ukraine’s national side, what is Blokhin saying? I think he’s saying that as Ukrainian football progresses, he hopes clubs will actually train young Ukrainians who will make their national team strong, and who will represent Ukraine well.

Were the comments controversial? Yes. Were the comments meant to hurt or incite violence against any person of any skin color? No. The words were one man’s opinion expressed in metaphorical terms: he is urging Ukrainian clubs to build a future instead of squandering money on temporary results.

. . . Buy a league five great players, and more goals could be scored for a few seasons.

. . . Buy a league more fitness facilities and recruiters, and the country’s entire footballing future can improve with each generation.

Posted from  United States

I love Ukraine team!!! it’s the first time ever when our guys play on the FIFA World CUP! and 1/4 final! it’s smth unreal! it’s too good to be truth!!! I believed in them and always will!

Posted from  Ukraine

Posted from Italy

Sheva will soon cry. Italy’s arriving. We”l kick your old USSR asses.

Don’t worry too much about the racist commnents. People get aweful aggressive from behind the keyboard. Delete the comments, ignore them, and if it get bad, close the post to comments in your admin panel.

Good job on the blog and it’ll be an interesting match against Italy.

Posted from  Germany

I dont understand all the people who post hateful things.

I watched yesterday’s game with 2 Swiss fans. All of us were disappointed at the pace of the game. But, at the end of the match we shook hands, said “good game” and went our separate ways.

I am truly happy because Ukraine made it this far. To me it really doesn’t matter which team they played against or will play against. Of course, I want Ukraine to win and go further. But if we are fairly bested on the field I will still be happy. The team gave it their all. They made it further than many other teams.

GO UKRAINE!

Posted from  Canada

Would like to wish you luck in your match against Italy, hope this one goes down as a clean and well fought match.

BTW: Your post mentioned using messages that had no hate in them, yet what did it have to say about Italians?

LOL, we only read what we want to in our own words now don’t we.

Nonetheless congratulations to my Ukraine friends for making it this far and hope we have a great match.

Posted from  United States

Some of you might find this interesting

http://www.highway.com.ua/photorep.php?id=14490

I used to hate soccer until I moved to Ukraine and found it was the only sport there. (not really but it seems like it!) I have slowly been trying to understand it. (I don’t think Americans get it like Europeans do.) Thank you for your blog because I have never watched the world cup before and am learning a lot. I love Ukraine and really want Ukraine to WIN!

Posted from  United States

About ESPN commentators during the Ukraine/Swiss game… I really can’t believe that they are as bad as they are. Second worst thing about this WC after the refereeing! Yes there was no scoring, but the game was a cliff-hanger because the teams were so close in their capabilities, style, etc. And they called it boring! How about the job the commentators are doing in the WC? They don’t know anything about the teams, nothing about the palyers, don’t see half of what’s going on on the pitch or can’t explain it to the viewers in an exciting way. One of them actually said the Ukraininan club was “Moscow Dynamo”(!). Wouldn’t you do a bit of homework when you are broadcasting a WC match?
Now, the important question is –how do we beat Italy? I say at this point we have nothing to loose, the pressure is on Italy. Just go and enjoy it, and play your hearts out! I would love to see a draw and then Italy loosing again on penalty kicks! Wouldn’t that be funny! Go Ukraine!

Posted from  United States

“ON TO ITALY!!!… ”

(always wanted to say it in that context.. lol, even if we get our asses kicked, what a way to go for our little hippy team..)

I have to admit its tough listening to the outsider comments, people have very little clue how much passion our people have for this game, .. Especially when so many of us can’t be there supporting them in person.

I’m extremely proud of these guys; cant say that there is a greater feeling then driving along the streets of Toronto or surrounding cities and passing another Ukrainian flag mounted from the passenger window of a nearby car – I swear I get all teary eyed.
You feel butterflies in your stomach, its that bad haha!

I think most importantly, no matter which corner of the world you are.. This world cup business has
truly evoked a renewed and stronger sense of belonging to our homeland, and well a few more hardcore soccer fans may emerge as well on account of all this..

Kristinka

[img]http://photos-915.facebook.com/ip006/v35/25/11/120802286/n120802286_30586915_1142.jpg[/img]

Great article mate!!!

Ще не вмерла України – ні слава – ні воля,
Ще нам, браття-українці, усміхнеться доля.
Згинуть наші воріженьки, як роса на сонці!
Заживемо і ми, браття, у своїй сторонці.

One thing I don’t understand is why all the hahli and banderovtsi like andriy rybalchenko are getting all supportive, when the majority of the players (probably 80% of them) aren’t even Ukranians but Russians. Remember that all of east Ukraine and the Crimea is Russia. None of us speak your “ukrainskoyu movu” and want anything to do with you all. The only reason I’m supporting Ukraine is that most of the players are from Donbass.

Not to hate on the Ukranians. But it just pisses me off that the all the banderovtsi who hate normal everyday Russians from Donbass, suddenly start supporting and cheering the same people simply because they’re forced to play for the haholskiy nation….But hey I’m supporting the Ukranian team 150% too. Just not for the same reasons as most of the others.

Posted from  Australia

Hippy team??? Good to see the people from Ukraine have a good sense of humour and damn you guys did go off in the streets LOL,It was the same in Sydney when we qualified for the 2nd round in George st which is the main st in Sydney, people just went nuts, the police tried hard to stop ppl but everyone just went crazy and there was no stopping them Well we’re out now but look forward to seein some more of the Ukraine express and plenty of photos after u kick some ASS-URI ASS!!!

Posted from  Australia

haha Tinka, i know those guys ;o)

Posted from  Canada

http://news.ntv.ru/89519/

Don’t know about Toronto, but we’ve been trailing along the Bank Street in Ottawa for a few hours

And for our team, we know you can do it, and we can certainly help

Oleg P, not sure what you have been smoking, but you should certainly stop doing that. Might hurt your health afterall.

Soccer team is something that unites us all. But trust me, personally I don’t want to have anything common with you either.

Mod up responses from Miguelinho and rad|x

Posted from  United States