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World Cup: Italians alert to homeboy `Sheva'

PHOTO: AFP

Italy's players knew all about Ukraine's best player even before watching film of the team on Wednesday.

Andriy Shevchenko spent seven seasons at AC Milan before transferring to Chelsea a month ago and his 173 goals give him the second-highest total in club history behind Gunnar Nordahl's 221.

Blue and yellow Ukraine flags with "Sheva" written across them became a common site at Milan's San Siro stadium when Shevchenko plied his craft there.

Not many Italians will be waving Ukraine flags today, when the Azzurri meet Shevchenko's team in the World Cup quarterfinals.

"To stop Sheva you've got to be 100 percent and make as few errors as possible," said Italy defender Alessandro Nesta, who will miss the game with a right thigh injury.

"He's a unique player, he has few weak points. You can't let up for the entire 90 minutes," he said.

Nesta is one of five Milan players and former teammates of Shevchenko on Italy's roster.

Shevchenko is still regaining strength from a left knee injury and has scored two goals in Ukraine's first four games. He missed the opening penalty kick in the shootout that Ukraine went on to win over Switzerland in its last match but Nesta said Shevchenko is still on a par with Brazil strikers Ronaldo and Adriano.

"To stop Sheva you've got to be 100 percent and make as few errors as possible. ... He's a unique player, he has few weak points. You can't let up for the entire 90 minutes."

Alessandro Nesta, Italy defender

In 2003, Shevchenko's penalty kick won Milan the Champions League in a shootout against Juventus. A year later, he led Milan to the Italian league title and was European player of the year.

Critics say Ukraine is a one-man team that Italy should handily beat.

"No team is a pushover at the World Cup," Nesta said. "Inside the locker room we know it's not going to be an easy game and we're going to enter the field very focused."

Italy drew 0-0 with Ukraine in June 2 in a World Cup warmup.

"They're very strong physically and they've got some other good individual players, like Anatoly Tymoshchyuk, who I've faced a few times with Milan," Nesta said.

At Milan, Shevchenko played with Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino in attack. His usual strike partner at Ukraine, Andriy Voronin, is out with a thigh injury.

"Voronin is also very good, we're fortunate that he's not going to play," Nesta said.

With Nesta out and Marco Materazzi suspended, the inexperienced Andrea Barzagli is expected to start alongside Fabio Cannavaro in central defense. It will be their job to contain Shevchenko.

"I've encountered him a few times in Serie A and I think he scored on me a few times," said Barzagli, who has played for Chievo Verona and Palermo in Serie A.

"I'm going to put a little extra effort into training these next few days," he said.
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