Preview
Italy v UkraineItaly's Francesco Totti and Ukraine's Andriy Shevchenko are regaining their form just in time for today's World Cup quarter-final.
Totti, who had left leg surgery in February, converted a last-minute penalty kick in Italy's 1-0 win over Australia in the second round. Shevchenko missed the opening penalty in a shootout win over Switzerland but is steadily improving after a left knee injury.
PHOTO: AP
Totti's Italy faces Shevchenko's Ukraine today in Hamburg.
"Ukraine is very solid and like we're doing with Totti, they're getting Shevchenko back in form," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said.
While "Sheva" is the only real standout on Ukraine's team, Italy isn't taking its opponent lightly.
"If it's gotten this far, we can't consider it an easy opponent. We have to play like it's Brazil," said team manager Luigi Riva, the Azzurri's all-time leading scorer.
Ukraine held Italy to a 0-0 draw on June 2 in a World Cup warmup. Shevchenko sat out the game due to his injury and Totti only played the final half-hour.
A draw this time would result in a penalty shootout, which Ukraine midfielder Serhiy Rebrov thinks is a distinct possibility.
"Italy is tough. We played them in a friendly and maybe we need to think about penalties again," said Rebrov, one of three penalty scorers against the Swiss.
Cristian Zaccardo's own goal in a 1-1 draw with the United States is the only goal that Italy has given up so far. Dynamo Kiev goalkeeper Oleksander Shovkovsky performed well against the Azzurri earlier this month and enters with good momentum after stopping two of Switzerland's three penalty kicks.
"Only a win will do for Italy, but we are more relaxed as we don't have as much pressure," Shevchenko said.
"Nobody expected us to get this far," he said.
Italy enters on a 22-game unbeaten run that stretches back to October, 2004.
The Azzurri are not at full strength, though.
Midfielder Daniele De Rossi will serve the third game in a four-match ban for an elbow to the face of US forward Brian McBride.
Defender Alessandro Nesta is out with a right thigh injury, and Nesta's replacement Marco Materazzi is suspended.
That leaves inexperienced Andrea Barzagli to join captain Fabio Cannavaro in central defense with the job of containing 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.
Shevchenko played seven seasons for AC Milan before transferring to Chelsea a month ago.
After coming on in the second half against Australia, Totti is expected to return to the starting lineup in his usual playmaker position behind strikers Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino.
Italy's six goals so far have been scored by six different players and the team is anxiously awaiting for Gilardino and especially Toni, who is yet to score, to hit form.
In the meantime, Italy has relied on its defense.
"There are times when our strikers stand out, if you think back to the 4-1 win over Germany," Nesta said of the friendly in March. "Right now, our defense is really in form."
Lippi was unhappy with substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta's performance against Australia, meaning Filippo Inzaghi -- Shevchenko's former strike partner at Milan -- could be the first forward off Italy's bench, as most Italian fans desire.
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