COLOGNE, Germany - Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin is thinking of playing in the World Cup final.

The Ukraine will face Italy in the quarterfinals on Friday. Not many would have predicted that after the Ukrainians lost to Spain, 4-0, in their opener.

"We're winning now because we have regrouped," Voronin said. "We were the underdog and we had nothing to lose - and that's how we played."

The Bayer Leverkusen forward portrays the mood as buoyant in a camp coached by 1975 European Soccer Player of the Year Oleg Blokhin.

"I cannot put my joy in words," said Voronin. "We have nothing to lose - just two matches go and then we are in the final. It's all happening very quickly."

Ukraine beat Switzerland, 3-0, on penalty kicks on Monday to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals.

Voronin also issued a warning to Italy, a three-time World Cup champion, for Friday's meeting in Hamburg.

"We are not afraid of them (Italy)," Voronin said. "We did not play well (against Switzerland), but we are in the quarterfinals. It will be a tough match."