From Behind the Stumps

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Day 6: Ukraine vs. Spain

Spain 4 -- Ukraine 0

ALONSO XABI 13'
DAVID VILLA 17', 48' (pen)
FERNANDO TORRES 81'

This was Ukraine's first outing in the premier sporting events of the world and it was an absulte nightmare for them as they got thoroughly thrashed by the Spaniards despite many stars like Raul, Iniesta, and Fabregas among a few, that were not starting for Spain. From the outset Ukraine looked very tentative and unsure and the playing that brought them here to the World Cup Finals. Their defence looked horrible, the midfield was absolutely horrendous and the strike-force was non-existent as Spain capitalised on these weaknesses to thrash my darkhorses for this tournament. Alsono Xabi opened the proceedings from a low corner for which he had to bend down and head it into the near post as the ball ricocheted off Oleksandr Shovkovskyi 's hand and into the goal. That opened the floodgates as Spain dominated the play with impressive runs and surgical passing and troubled the Ukraine defence incessantly. Four minutes later Spain were given a gift of a free-kick near the box and David Villa did well to strike the ball hard as it took a deflection off Andriy Rusol . Two deflections , and the luck for the Ukranians had run out already in the early first half.

More bad luck ensued as Vladyslav Vaschchuk was sent off for what I feel was a bad call by the ref but then that it is how the game goes. Villa stepped up to convert from the spot and give the Spaniards an unassailable lead and took the game out of the hand of Ukraine. Nine minutes from time Fernando Torres added a fourth to add further humiliation to a side that looked to take the tournament by surprise with their striking prowess.

I was much disappointed in the performance put out by Ukraine as Spain did not let them settle from the word go.

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