UKRAINE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Ukrainian team and its littliest fan are celebrated at practice

Record ID: 831032

  • Title: UKRAINE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Ukrainian team and its littliest fan are celebrated at practice
  • Date: 14th June 2012
  • Summary: FOOTBALLS ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINE SUPPORTER, ARTYOM, SAYING: "I think that Ukraine must win, Shevchenko is a hero." (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINE FAN, YULIA, SAYING: "Favourite football player? It's Shevchenko - he's our hero." VARIOUS OF SHEVCHENKO SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN CAPTAIN, ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO, SAYING: "It's fantastic for the whole country, It's an historic game we are so happy but now for us it's about the important game against France and it will be a very, very difficult game." TEAM BUS DRIVING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 29th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Quirky,People,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEN005MCW0VU89L251RELS27SN
  • Story Text: The Ukrainian team trained in front of an enthusiastic crowd on Wednesday (June 13) that included a little boy who has become a symbol of Ukraine's victory over Sweden, two days before their second group stage match against France.
    Andriy Shevchenko's two second-half goals in the first match against Sweden on Monday (June 11) sparked national celebrations.
    Shevchenko took part in training with his team mates in front of some 1,500 fans at the Lebanovsky stadium, in central Kiev.
    The crowd chanted "Ukraine, Ukraine" and "Sheva, Sheva", as the training session continued in a festive atmosphere.
    Shevchenko was also presented a gift by the Ukrainian boy Timur Shamanov who became an Internet sensation after his broadcasters showed his gleeful reaction when Ukraine scored in their match against Sweden on Monday.
    The team's performance against Sweden was a huge improvement and raised expectations after an unimpressive build-up to the tournament.
    But on Friday (June 15) against France, who drew their opening match against England 1-1, coach Oleg Blokhin will have to keep his young players' feet firmly on the ground.
    Football fan Artyom was convinced of a win.
    "I think that Ukraine must win, Shevchenko is a hero," he said.
    "Favourite football player? It's Shevchenko - he's our hero, he is our hope. He inspires us. We love him," said Yulia.
    But Shevchenko himself, remained cautions.
    "It's fantastic for the whole country. It's a historic game we are so happy but now for us it's about the important game against France and it will be a very, very difficult game," he said as he was leaving the stadium with his team mates.
    Ukraine, who lead Group D on three points ahead of France and England, will qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat the former European and world champions in Donetsk on Friday.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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