Thu 29th Jun 2006

The game between Italy and debutants Ukraine in Hamburg on Friday night looks like being an attritional contest.

The Italians, their domestic game in crisis over allegations of match fixing, have been irritated by criticism of their play and claims they have been lucky on their way to the last eight.

They appear to be developing something of a siege mentality which could make them hard to stop.

Ukraine reached the quarter-finals on penalties after a tedious 0-0 draw with Switzerland and fans will be hoping that they do not repeat the same tactics.

They possess a potential match-winner in Shevchenko, who has spent seven seasons in Italy with AC Milan but last month signed for Chelsea for an estimated 30 million pounds ($54.49 million).

The other two quarter-finals are scheduled for Saturday. England play Portugal in Gelsenkirchen, while holders Brazil face France in Frankfurt.

Keith Weir