The Ukraine national football team represents Ukraine in international tournaments and friendly games. Today Oleh Blokhin is the team’s Head coach and Anatoliy Timoshchuk is the captain. The national team is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine and occupies the 46th position in the FIFA World Ranking.
The Ukraine national football team was founded after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Before that the Ukrainian footballers had represented the Soviet Union, led by Valeriy Lobanovskyi. 90% of all the USSR national football team players during the periods from 1975 to 1976, from 1982 to 1983 and from1986 to 1990 were Ukrainians. The USSR national football team finished runner-up in Euro-88, losing to the Netherlands. At those periods Igor Belanov and Oleh Blohkin were named European footballers of the year and were awarded with the Ballon d’Or.
The team’s biggest achievement was made at the 2006 World Cup when they reached the quarterfinals and lost to future Cup holders, Italy, by 0-3. Ever since the team have met little success and didn’t participate in 2008 and 2010 World Cups. In 2012 at home tournament Ukraine did not pass through the group stage conceding to France and England but managed to beat Sweden.
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