Stadium switch for Ukraine

Ukraine will take the unprecedented step of playing their forthcoming home UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying matches at three different venues.

Spanish showdown
Leonid Buryak's side normally play their home matches at the Olympiyskiy arena in Kiev, and that is where they will take on Group 6 leaders Spain on 29 March. The Spanish have six points from two matches to Ukraine's five from three games.

On the move
Buryak's men will then move on to the Ukraina stadium in Lvov for their next home qualifier against Armenia on 7 June before welcoming Northern Ireland to Donetsk's Shakhtar stadium on 6 September. Both stadiums are impressive arenas and could attract 35,000 spectators for matches that are vital to Ukraine's chances of making it to Portugal next year.

Chance for fans
"This is the first time in history Ukraine will play in three diffirent cities across the country," said Buryak. "The arenas in the country are getting better and now fans outside of Kyiv can see the national team as well."

First match
Lvov staged a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Armenia in September 2001. Ukraine will hope for a similar result next time around after winning 3-0 on that occasion. Donetsk, which has never before hosted an international fixture, will also stage a friendly against Romania on 20 August.

Similar hopes
The cities of Sumy, Lutsk, Odesa, Simferepol, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk are also keen to attract the national team. They are in contention for the  friendly game against F.Y.R. Macedonia on 11 October.