Soccer

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Pressure's on host Ukraine

Eyes of nation on crucial contest vs. Sweden

By: Mattias Karen

Posted: 06/10/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

KYiv, Ukraine -- The Olympic Stadium will turn into a raucous sea of blue and yellow Monday when Ukraine takes on Sweden at the European Championship.

Both teams sport the same colours, but there's no doubt who'll be feeling the most support from the crowd. Whether that will be a help or hindrance remains to be seen.

Ukraine is feeling the immense pressure that comes with hosting its first major tournament, and knows the home fans will accept nothing less than a win. Sweden coach Erik Hamren believes the host usually does well in its opening game, with home-field advantage potentially offsetting whatever edge the Swedes may have in skill.

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin has called on the national press "not to raise expectations too high," despite being fully aware of the meaning this tournament has for the 45 million fans in the country.

"As Ukraine is the host, then you are expected to win," Blokhin said through a translator. "I understand my full responsibility. I know what the country expects from us... "

Veteran Sweden defender Olof Mellberg still remembers playing co-host Belgium in Sweden's opening game at Euro 2000, which resulted in a 2-1 loss. Mellberg, now entering his sixth major tournament, said taking the crowd out of the game quickly could be decisive.

"There's a lot of pressure on everyone, us too," Mellberg said. "But of course, if the home nation gets a good start and gets support from the crowd, that's often an extra benefit. We'll try to make sure they don't get that."

Adding to the pressure, this is a game that both teams need to win to have a realistic chance of advancing from Group D, which also includes France and England. Even a draw will be seen as a setback for both teams, as they will then likely have to win at least one of the games against the two group favourites. Get a win on Monday, though, and two draws in the remaining games could be enough to go through.

Blokhin went so far as to say that the team that loses Monday's match is virtually out of the competition.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 10, 2012 B4

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