Preparing for their first finals as an independent nation, the co-hosts have been set a minimum target by their coach Oleh Blokhin: reaching the knockout stages from Group D.
Having reached the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in their only previous major tournament appearance since independence in 1991, the co-hosts are eager to go even further at UEFA EURO 2012. According to Oleh Blokhin, back in charge after a turbulent couple of years in which three coaches came and went, the minimum target is advancing from Group D. The tournament is likely to be the last hurrah for Andriy Shevchenko, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Olexandr Shovkovskiy; for the likes of Yaroslav Rakitskiy, Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka, it could be just the start.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
As one of the two host nations, Ukraine automatically qualified for Euro 2012.
The announcement in April 2007 that Ukraine would host the European Championships alongside Poland sealed both sides’ path to next summer’s tournament. Since failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Ukraine have had to make do with numerous friendlies.
The side’s preparations were disrupted last autumn with the resignation of coach Myron Markevych, who left the national team on “moral grounds” after claiming the club side he was also managing, Metalist Kharkiv, were being unfairly targeted by the Ukrainian Football Federation (FFU). Yuriy Kalitvintsev took temporary charge of the side for eight matches until the legendary figure of Oleg Blokhin was installed as coach for the forthcoming tournament back in April.
PAST RECORD IN THE EUROS
1960 Did not enter (part of USSR) 1988 Did not enter (part of USSR)
1964 Did not enter (part of USSR) 1992 Did not enter (part of USSR)
1968 Did not enter (part of USSR) 1996 Did not qualify
1972 Did not enter (part of USSR) 2000 Did not qualify
1976 Did not enter (part of USSR) 2004 Did not qualify
1980 Did not enter (part of USSR) 2008 Did not qualify
1984 Did not enter (part of USSR) 2012 Qualified as co-hosts
Ukraine have an undistinguished history in the European Championships having never qualified for the tournament before. This can, of course, be partly contributed to their short footballing history, having first competed in a qualifying campaign for the 1996 edition of the competition. On that occasion they finished fourth in a group that included Italy and Croatia.
Four years later Euro 2000 brought play-off heartbreak as Slovenia beat them 3-2 over two legs in a clash that is best remembered for Milenko Acimovic’s incredible long-range for the hosts in Ljubljana. More frustration was to follow in 2004 as the Ukrainian side finished third behind Spain and eventual tournament winners Greece. The 2008 campaign then saw Ukraine disappointingly placed fourth behind Italy, France and Scotland in qualifying group B. The Ukrainians finishing nine points off the qualification places.
Matches played
Overall: P42 W16 D13 L13 F56 A48
Final tournament: P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0
Qualifying: P42 W16 D13 L13 F56 A48