Blokhin counts cost of injuries

A series of injuries have left Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin with a depleted squad for the final two UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against Lithuania and France. "If I have one more player go down with an injury, I may even have to take to the field myself," said the FC Dynamo Kyiv stalwart.

Unavailable players
The list of unavailable players includes defenders Olexandr Kucher, Andriy Rusol, Andriy Nesmachniy and midfielder Maxym Kalynychenko. Blokhin said Serhiy Fyodorov, Volodymyr Yezerskiy and Andriy Vorobey were doubtful, while goalkeeper Olexander Shovkovskiy, suffering with a head cold, is subject to a late fitness test. Ukraine have Liverpool FC's Andriy Voronin and Chelsea FC striker Andriy Shevchenko back to fitness but Blokhin thought the injuries underscored the team's lack of depth and long-term weaknesses.

'Potential'
"You have to look deeper. We have already squeezed out everything we could from the potential available to us," he said. "With players operating on several fronts – the Ukrainian championship, European club competitions and the national side – it is very clear that the guys simply cannot keep pace with this." Ukraine, who cannot qualify for next summer's finals, play Lithuania on Saturday and then entertain Group B leaders France four days later.