Saudi Arabia v Ukraine

4th minute -- GOAL! Rusol scores on a near post header from a corner kick. He nods it down from a little before the goal post on about the six yard line and it nutmegs the goalie. I like it when defenders score.


A great opening for Ukraine, after an embarassing 0-4 defeat to Spain. I have to root for Ukraine, as I'd like to see Andriy Schevchenko -- one of the best strikers in the world -- have a chance beyond mere group play. Also, Ukraine did quite well in qualifying. Despite being put in the most difficult qualifying group, they qualified over Denmark (always decent), Greece (fresh off its Euro 2004 victory), and Turkey (semis in 2002). They breezed through qualifying anyway, despite the electoral unrest in their country.

Fortunately for Ukraine, they're in one of the easier groups. Spain is a chronic underachiever, the Saudis are even more underachievers, and Tunisia isn't one of the stronger sides. So if they beat the Saudis today, they should still have a chance to qualify.