Before the match with France, Oleg Blokhin grumbled that it was very hot and would be very difficult to play pressing for his team.  But it was raining cats and dogs in Donetsk. By the way, previous day we were shown only the match between Italia-Croatia in the fan-zone, because there was hurricane in Kharkiv, this time it was in Donetsk.
After compulsive break, DJ George was trying to “warm up” the fans gathered in the Freedom Square,  when the pause lasted for a long time, one of the fans, whose face was painted with the flag of Ukraine called UEFA to hold this following match in Kharkiv:” V Kharkiv ix nado!” it is remarkable that the fans gathered in the fan-zone hour and half before starting the match, the most dedicated fans had painted chests with the flag of Ukraine, some of them had dried hair in the colors of Ukraine.
While the match was postponed, camera-men were working inside the stadium and showed how Timoshchuk and Ribery were talking to each other. Besides them Loran Blan and Andrey Shevchenko also warmly were talking. One fact is newsworthy when the whole tribune was empty due to heavy rain one fan stayed there.

The match was renovated and instead of Ukraine, France playing pressing. Superiority of France was evident. Twice were shot fireworks devoted to France, which scored two goals in Friday’s match.
In such matches, individualism of each player is decisive, in this match French individualism was better than Ukrainians’.  Ribery, Nasry, Benzema, Menez were doing very well in comparison with Ukrainians. Ukraine was based on Andrey Sevchenko, but it is very difficult even for leader to be decisive in such situation.  But in spite of this he was good at playmaking several times. Yarmolenko also kicked dangerously several times.  In spite of failure, Andrey Piatov was the best among Ukrainians. If he were not, Ukrainians would lose with bigger point difference.
Ukraine is based on contra-playing, but during the first goal French showed the host who is classical contra-playing, which was crowned by Menez. This time Blan substituted Floran Maluda by him and he appeared right.  According to the head coach, Menez is the player who needs confidence.
Karim Benzema also did well in this match and it is newsworthy. He assisted goal to Yohan Cabaye, who scored. After the match Blan explained substitution of Evra by Clichy. As he said, the team needed victory and it had to offend, in such situation Clichy is much more productive.
After the match Blokhin started, that he was pleased with his team’s playing, but the player could not fulfill his instructions.  Blokhin rebuked the fans too, who started whistling in the second half. As he said, it is not right when you sternly support to the team in the first half and in the second half start whistling. Blokhin said it directly:”I did not like it”. He did not name the players, but mentioned that after beating Sweden some players imagined themselves in ¼ final. “we will have a serious talk with guys”-stated Blokhin.
In The Ukraine was whistled at “Donbass Stadium”, the fans gathered in Kharkiv did not stop supporting them.
Lasha Tabagari, special correspondent of “World Sport” in Kharkiv

Photos by Author