COLOGNE, Germany -- Ukraine's players are hoping their outsider status sticks despite their progress to the World Cup quarterfinals.

That should mean the pressure is on their opponents, the next of whom is Italy on Friday.

"It should be easier for us because nobody will expect us to win. We've done well to have got this far. There are no more expectations on us. We are liberated and unburdened," striker Andriy Shevchenko said.

Having made it to the second round in its first World Cup, Ukraine secured a 0-0 extra-time draw against Switzerland on Monday and then won a penalty-kick shootout 3-0.

That set up Friday's game in Hamburg against three-time champion Italy, which beat Australia 1-0 Monday despite being having a man sent off.

"The match against Italy won't be easy, as we are getting more and more tired with each game," said Shevchenko, who will be up against several teammates from his former club AC Milan. "I saw Italy's game and they still did well even with only 10 men.

"Italy has a good team and great players. They are always favorites. But all the pressure will be on them. We have nothing to lose and Italy has a lot to lose."

Shevchenko warned that his team's "spirit" will also make Ukraine increasingly tough to beat.

"We're going to put on a show," said Shevchenko, who missed his country's first penalty kick before Artem Milevskiy, Serhiy Rebrov and Oleg Gusev settled the shootout. "We are difficult to beat. We have quality players. We can keep the ball and change our rhythm.

"We have spirit and believe in ourselves. This can take you far."

And Ukraine has come far since being routed 4-0 by Spain in its opener. The team recovered to beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 and then edged 10-man Tunisia 1-0 to win a place in the second round.

Although Switzerland is not a soccer heavyweight, it was favored to win Monday after going unbeaten in the group stage for the first time. Switzerland was the only team to enter the second round without conceding a goal.

And Ukraine left Switzerland goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler unimpressed.

"It's hard to take, because I hadn't conceded during the whole tournament and Ukraine didn't play well," Zuberbuehler said. "I didn't have to make many good saves because there were no shots on goal."

While Ukraine reached its objective of getting past the group stage, Italy will not be content without at least getting close to a first title since 1982. At the last edition, the Azzurri had an embarrassing second-round exit, losing to South Korea.

"Italy will be a tough opponent and they'll be the favorites," Milevskiy said, "but that could well be a burden for them and an opportunity for us."