'Biggest in our history'
Zarif Rasul
Monday, 18 June, 2012
Ukraine striker Androy Voronin builds up Tuesday's clash with England
Ukraine forward Andriy Voronin believes Tuesday night’s crunch EURO 2012 Group D clash with England will be the "biggest game" in his country’s history.
The co-hosts need a win against England to secure their passage to the next phase of the competition and Voronin says his team-mates will be doing "everything" to ensure Ukraine don’t suffer the same fate as fellow co-hosts Poland, who were eliminated from the tournament on Saturday.
"This is the biggest game in Ukraine’s history, there is still a little chance we can get to the quarter final and we will do everything to be there," said the former Liverpool man.
"It is very important not just for us players but the whole country. We need to win if we want to go to the quarter final so we will try to do everything we can."
Voronin also confirmed that strike partner Andriy Shevchenko, who scored two goals in Ukraine’s 2-1 win over Sweden, is an injury doubt ahead of tomorrow night’s match.
"I don’t know if Sheva will play but he has two days to be ready so we hope he can play," he added.
"He is such an important player in every game for us, so everybody hopes he will come back."
The 32-year-old, who spent two and a half years at Liverpool between 2007 and 2010, has identified England captain and former team-mate Steven Gerrard as a key threat to his side’s chances of progressing to the next round.
"Steven Gerrard is one of the best players in Europe and one of the best players in the tournament and I will be very happy to see him on Tuesday," he added.
"England is a very strong team but if we play how we did against Sweden then we have a chance.
"England had a difficult game against Sweden but we know Wayne Rooney will be playing against us and he is a very important player for England."