UKRAINE : HOW THEY QUALIFIED

The Ukraine became the first European team to qualify for the World Cup, clinching a spot on the strength of a 1-1 draw with Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia in on September 3, 2005. The tie and the fact that Turkey played Denmark to a 2-2 draw helped the Ukrainians (7-1-4, 25 points) capture the Europe Group 2 title. What made it more rewarding was that the Ukraine overcame 2002 World Cup teams Turkey and Denmark and Euro 2004 champion Greece. Ukrainians celebrated the next day, pouring Soviet champagne over the players, who danced around in a circle celebrating in Kiev. "It is impossible to put into words the feeling and excitement about the result we have already achieved," goalkeeper Olexander Shovkovsky told Reuters. "We have achieved the goal that other generations of Ukrainian footballers only dreamt of."

QUALIFYING RESULTS
9/4/04 Denmark 1, Ukraine 1
9/8/04 Kazakhstan 1, Ukraine 0
10/9/04 Ukraine 1, Greece 1
10/13/04 Ukraine 2, Georgia 0
11/17/04 Turkey 0, Ukraine 3
2/9/05 Albania 0, Ukraine 2
3/30/05 Ukraine 1, Denmark 0
6/4/05 Ukraine 2, Kazakhstan 0
6/8/05 Greece 0, Ukraine 1
9/3/05 Georgia 1, Ukraine 1
9/7/05 Ukraine 0, Turkey 1
10/8/05 Ukraine 2, Albania 2