Italy v Ukraine
Sheva targets Italian hearts
Reuters, Duisburg
Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko is the main threat to Italy's hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals but at least they know all about him.Shevchenko, playing in Ukraine's first finals, was the darling of AC Milan fans during seven seasons in which he scored 173 goals and helped them win the Champions League and Serie A. But he will not be thinking about that on Friday. "It will be very hard but during the game I will only be thinking about how to best play for Ukraine," he said. His decision last month to become Chelsea's record signing robbed the Italian league of one of its top players and former Milan team mate Alessandro Nesta knows exactly how good he is. "There are few players like him in the world," said the Italy defender who misses the quarterfinal with a groin injury. "To stop Shevchenko you have to be at 100 percent because he has very few weak points. You have to stick with him and be attentive for the whole 90 minutes," he added. Shevchenko was equally complimentary about Italy. "I would single out the whole team," he said when asked who were Italy's strongest players. Nesta's absence and the suspension of natural replacement Marco Materazzi leaves Italy coach Marcello Lippi with no option but to field the relatively inexperienced Andrea Barzagli alongside Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of defence. Nesta, who hopes to return if Italy make the semifinals, was confident Barzagli would be able to handle the challenge. "He is a young player but he has the advantage of being very cool under pressure and also a very strong lad," he said. Lippi has altered his personnel and formation for each of the Azzurri's games so far in the tournament and will be under pressure to recall Francesco Totti to the starting lineup. Totti, not yet back to full fitness after three months out with a broken ankle, started on the bench against Australia on Monday but came on in the final 15 minutes and converted the last-gasp penalty which secured passage to the last eight. Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin has received a major blow with striker Andriy Voronin ruled out for the rest of the World Cup. In his absence, Blokhin will turn to either Andriy Vorobei or Serhiy Rebrov to partner Shevchenko. Also back in the frame for Friday's match in Hamburg is defender Volodymir Yezersky, who missed the last three games with a thigh injury. Vyacheslav Svidersky and Andriy Rusol return after the suspensions that kept them out of the penalty shootout victory over Switzerland in the second round. Key Quotes
Italy coach Lippi: "Ukraine are a very solid and compact side and, as we are doing with Totti, they are getting (Andriy) Shevchenko back to his best even if he did miss his penalty in the shootout against Switzerland."Ukraine coach Blokhin: "The Italians are a tough team, particularly strong at the back. It will be difficult to create chances against them." Teams
Italy (4-3-2-1)
1-Gianluigi Buffon; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 6-Andrea Barzagli, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 3-Fabio Grosso; 20-Simone Perrotta, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 8-Gennaro Gattuso; 16-Mauro Camoranesi, 10-Francesco Totti; 11-Alberto Gilardino.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), 16-Andriy Vorobei (56-7). Head To Head
Italy v Ukraine head-to-head record (FIFA records)Italy leads 2-0 with one draw 1995: Ukraine 0 Italy 2 (Kiev) 1995: Italy 3 Ukraine 1 (Bari) 2006: Italy 0 Ukraine 0 (Lausanne) Tactics
Italy coach Marcello Lippi has altered his formation and personnel for each game so far. The most likely options are his original 4-3-1-2 with two strikers and Francesco Totti behind them or the 4-3-2-1 system that worked against Czech Republic using a sole striker with Mauro Camoranesi and Totti in advanced midfield roles. Ukraine are likely to stick with the 3-5-2 formation that has seen them progress this far, although Andriy Shevchenko will get a new strike partner because Andriy Voronin has picked up a thigh injury and will miss the rest of the tournament.ITALY
Defence: With the relatively inexperienced Andrea Barzagli partnering Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of defence, Cannavaro is likely to be given the job of marking dangerman Shevchenko. Fullbacks Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso like to get forward but have had limited opportunities so far. Grosso's run in the last minute against Australia that secured the decisive penalty may tempt Lippi to urge more overlapping from the pair. Midfield: Regardless of how the forward line is organised, Lippi should stick with Andrea Pirlo in his deep, playmaker's role in front of the defence with Gennaro Gattuso and Simone Perrotta covering plenty of ground in their harrying roles. Forwards: With a single striker, Totti will be free to play close to the front line but if Lippi opts for a more offensive lineup, with Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni operating as a pair, then Totti will be expected to drift deeper into midfield. Filippo Inzaghi is likely to start on the bench but is an option if the Italians need a goal in the second half. UKRAINE
Defence: Ukraine benefit from the return after suspension of Vyacheslav Svidersky and Andriy Rusol, who are likely to be joined by Andriy Nesmachny in a three-man defence. Defensive midfielder Anatoly Tymoshchyuk can be relied on as a solid, if sometimes reckless, tackler to help out at the back. Midfield: Attacking midfielder Serhiy Rebrov is likely to return to the starting lineup after coach Oleg Blokhin dropped him to the bench for the last match after a weak showing against Tunisia. Forwards: Blokhin will probably pair Andriy Vorobei with Shevchenko. Vorobei seems in favour with the coach and was chosen to start instead of Rebrov in the second round match against Switzerland.
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