Now that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is just around the corner, HITC Sport looks back at Ukraine reaching the quarter-finals at their only Fifa tournament so far at Germany 2006.
Ukraine qualified for a World Cup at the third attempt when the tournament returned to Europe for the first time this millennium 16 years ago. The Blue and Yellow had fallen short in their efforts to make the competition for France 1998 or 2002 in Japan and South Korea.
Fifa did not allow Ukraine to try and qualify for the 1994 edition in the United States as the country only became a member association in 1992. Some of their players had featured at previous tournaments as part of the Soviet Union, before declaring independence in 1991.
Ukraine would show the footballing world what they could achieve in their own rights in 2006 as the nation made the quarter-finals of the Germany World Cup. But the Blue and Yellow have not managed to qualify for another edition so far, and will go again for 2026.
Why are Ukraine not playing at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar?
Wales would deny Ukraine a dream appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as Cymru edged a 1-0 result in June to win their UEFA Path A play-off final. The Blue and Yellow had eliminated Scotland at the semi-final stage, after finishing their qualifying group in second.
An automatic spot for Qatar 2022 was almost within reach for Ukraine, having progressed through Group D without losing a single game. But six draws to two wins for 12 points saw defending champions France snatch the top of the standings with 18 points after five wins.
So, with Ukraine not playing at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, HITC Sport takes a look back at their trials and tribulations in Germany back in 2006 at their first and only edition.
Ukraine followed Spain out of Group H at the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany
Ukraine followed Spain out of Group H at the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany to secure a knockout stage appearance at their first tournament. La Roja set the tone for an unbeaten group stage by beating the Blue and Yellow 4-0 in the opening game at the Red Bull Arena.
- WORLD CUP: A LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCH THE FINAL
Xabi Alonso broke the deadlock in Leipzig just 13 minutes into Spain and Ukraine’s meeting before David Villa doubled the margin only four minutes later. The latter would later bag a brace with a penalty, before Fernando Torres completed the rout nine minutes from time.
Such a commanding defeat put Ukraine on the back foot, but stayed in touch with Tunisia and Saudi Arabia drawing 2-2 at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. A trip to Volksparkstadion in Hamburg then put the Blue and Yellow on course to advance with their own 4-0 result.
Saudi Arabia were no match for manager Oleg Blokhin’s men as Andriy Rusol opened the scoring after just four minutes. The centre-half bundled the ball over the line from an early corner, while Serhii Rebrov ensured Ukraine entered half-time with a two-goal advantage.
Rebrov let rip from range and drilled a strike across the goal, leaving Mabrouk Zaid rooted to his spot. Captain Andriy Shevchenko then got his first hit of the tournament in the 46th-minute to take away any momentum Saudi Arabia hoped to build coming out of the break.
Maksym Kalynychenko, who delivered the corner for Rusol’s goal, floated a free-kick into the Saudi Arabia six-yard box for Shevchenko to head home. And the midfielder also got a goal of his own in the closing stages by riffling home from a quick counter-attacking move.
Goals did not flow as easily at the Olympiastadion in Berlin as a Shevchenko penalty saw Ukraine close out the group stage by beating Tunisia 1-0. But Spain beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 helped stretch the Blue and Yellow’s advantage over the third and fourth-place finishers.
Switzerland took Ukraine to penalties, but were no match from 12-yards out
Finishing in second to Spain ensured Ukraine met Switzerland in the Round of 16 after A-Team edged France to top Group G. Switzerland would also take the Blue and Yellow all the way to a penalty shoot-out, but Kobi Kuhn’s squad would be no match for Blokhin’s boys.
The last 16 affair at the RheinEnergieSTADION in Cologne ended goalless after 90 and 120 minutes as both sides struggled to test the other’s goalkeeper. Shevchenko would barely test Pascal Zuberbuhler from 12-yards, either, as he made light work of saving a tame hit.
Shevchenko was the first to step up in the shoot-out, but Oleksandr Shovkovskyi came to his rescue when the Ukraine stopper denied Marco Streller. He also kept Ricardo Cabanas out with A-Team’s third after Tranquillo Barnetta rattled the roof of the crossbar to miss.
Artem Milevskyi, Rebrov and Oleh Husyev all converted for Ukraine to secure a date with Italy in the quarter-finals. The Azzurri came through top of Group E from Ghana, the Czech Republic and the United States, before pipping Australia 1-0 in their Round of 16 meeting.
Germany 2006 World Cup champions Italy would end Ukraine’s tournament
The summer of 2006 at the World Cup in Germany was proving to be a dream tournament for Ukraine. But that dream came to an abrupt end in the quarter-final against Italy, as the Azzurri swept to a 3-0 win at the Volksparkstadion on their way to winning that year’s title.
Gianluca Zambrotta gave Marcello Lippi’s team the lead after just six minutes in Hamburg, as the full-back snatched possession off of Andriy Husin, drove forward and drilled the ball into the bottom corner of Shovkovskyi’s net from 24-yards. And Italy kept the pressure on.
The Azzurri were unrelenting in their adventures up the pitch, but Ukraine made Italy wait until the 59th-minute to score again. Luca Toni got goal side of his marker and stooped to head the ball in from five-yards out to double his side’s advantage early in the second half.
Toni would not have to wait as long to score a second goal as Ukraine had made Italy wait. Great work from Zambrotta on the left-wing saw the full-back flick inside the box between Vladyslav Vashchuk and Husyev and put the ball on a plate for Toni to tap at an empty net.
Italy were well worth their result, and went on to beat the host nation Germany 2-0 after extra-time in the semi-final at Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion. A date with France followed five days later in Berlin, and it ultimately needed penalties to decide the result.
Zinedine Zidane looked likely to cost Les Bleus when the iconic midfielder earned a late red card for headbutting Marco Materazzi. But David Trezeguet would fail to convert from 12-yards out in the shoot-out, while Italy posted a perfect five from five to lift their fourth title.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
