Totti and Shevchenko coming into form for Italy-Ukraine quarterfinal (AP) Updated: 2006-06-29 10:55
DUISBURG, Germany _ Francesco Totti and Andriy Shevchenko are regaining
their form just in time for Friday's World Cup quarterfinal.
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.
Totti's Italy faces Shevchenko's Ukraine on Friday 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."
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