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I think you're being a little harsh on Shevchenko. He received practically no service whatsoever. Ironically, the draw between the Saudis and North Korea has still left his team a chance of qualification. Who were the last team to get a thrashing and go on to make the latter stages of a World Cup? West Germany in 1954?

That's what happens when you rely on one player to get you results. I did expect Ukraine to show more guile and commitment, even snatching a draw. However congratulations to Spain it seems this year they may go quite far.

By the way, it was a draw between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

I have to agree - i think Shevchenko is now passed his best. You have to ask whether Milan would let him away if he wasn't - can you see them letting Kaka go or Barca letting Ronalindho go? Spain look good though!

I only saw the highlights, but wonder if the Spaniards are getting carried away. Ukraine seemed poor on the day and if you analyse the goals you get the following

Goal 1 - Poor defending at a corner
Goal 2 - Deflected free kick
Goal 3 - Penalty (never a penalty)
Goal 4 - Good move, but late on against 10 men playing in extreme heat who were already 3-0 down.

Ukraine almost scored twice while down to 10 men and can still qualify from this group. Spain may get on a roll as they will have taken a lot of confidence from this, but I'll reserve my judgement for now!

I also agree, partly because he rightly points out that Sheva was obviously frustrated by a lack of service, and partly that perhaps a 30M squid player should do a bit more than amble around for 90 minutes.

In truth, I really hope he is past his best, then I can spend another year giggling at the Chavs failing to get to grips with Europe :)

That is ridiculous as if chelsea would go out and pay 30 million plus for a player thats past his best....
In many peoples eyes he is one of the most prolific goalscorers in the world and you are saying he is past it when he plays one game for a team that is not successful and relatively poor compared to their opposition that day which is full of players that are world class..........

Shevchenko's never been any good. Every single one of his goals has been touched with luck rather than skill. Remember the Champions League final vs Liverpool? He was awful, a complete choker. He's as overrated as Henry and Ronaldinhio.

I thing all the teams in this world cup have done themselves and their fans proud despite the result displyed

Well said Nigel. 'In my view when there are people starving in this world what is pressure?' Jose Mourinho said this last season so how does he justify spending that much money on ANY player?

Shevchenko is returning from injury and he's not at his best, that might explain his no show yesterday. What happens when Rooney returns from injury and fails to perform?

Ukraine have been given a lifeline by the result in the Saudi v Tunisia game, and I think that Shevcheko will still come good. Although 4 - 0 looks like a hammering the result flattered Spain, and didn't do justice to Ukraine. Nevertheless, Spain are one of the few teams to live up to their billing so far.
As for Shevchenko being past his best - we'll have to see, but 80% of his best is still better than most strikers in the world, so I don't think Chelsea need to worry too much.

Bellz: You're right. I'd not long been up when I wrote it :)

Oh no! One bad performance. Let's rate him the worst player ever!

Following this line of thinking, England must be total crap too given their second half performance. Let's send them home now. What are they thinking, chance to win a world cup?!

Oh oh! Here's another one. Owen didn't score. Worst Player Ever!

I heard Pele had a bad game once, so why is he still considered the best player in the history of football...

Seriously, we could go on with this silly line of thinking all day. What are you on Nigel, quit before it kills you. ;)

Shevchenko has probably been the best striker in Europe over the past five years, it's just a shame no one in England has heard of him or seen too much of him. His goal against Juventus about 5 years ago when it was a 1-1 draw in the league will demonstrate that, or what about his hat-trick against Lazio? He really is class act, and thats from a rather sour AC Milan fan. I would have liked to see him stay at the San Siro for two more seasons, but the money's acceptable and if we can replace him with Torres we should be ok. I hope he does wel in the Premiership and the Ukraine make the knock out stage, I just pray he doesn't score against Milan....

Shevchenko has probably been the best striker in Europe over the past five years, it's just a shame no one in England has heard of him or seen too much of him. His goal against Juventus about 5 years ago when it was a 1-1 draw in the league will demonstrate that, or what about his hat-trick against Lazio? He really is class act, and thats from a rather sour AC Milan fan. I would have liked to see him stay at the San Siro for two more seasons, but the money's acceptable and if we can replace him with Torres we should be ok. I hope he does wel in the Premiership and the Ukraine make the knock out stage, I just pray he doesn't score against Milan....

re.comment #1. I think you may have thought one thing and written another, because as far as I'm aware North Korea should mean Tunisia! Although a visit from the leader of the former to his team might also liven up proceedings...

AM: Quite where North Korea came from, I'm unsure. It should serve as a reminder to me that I should ALWAYS have a cup of coffee before switching the laptop on :)

Enjoying the blog and the contoversy, Keep it up

It's hard to rate Shevchenko on one bad performance. He got no service, and was unlucky with a couple of off-side calls.

Still, he's 29 and hardly getting better. Hopefully he'll be more of an expensive 'galactico' than a good investment for Chelski.

Torres and Villa looked far more impressive, and I can see Premiership clubs fighting over those.

I think you are having a laugh. I do not consider myself to have sufficiently expert knowledge of football to write a public blog about it, but the same problem hardly seems to prevent you. Sorry to be banal, but really, I would be embarrassed.
Concerning Shevchenko, it should really be mentioned again that he came into the game after only half an hour of football in the last month; the fact that you judge him so quickly, also means that you have probably not seen him play many times before. Anyway, so at least him and Owen have an excuse, which is more than can be said for the other presumably joke strikers such as Ronaldo, Adriano, David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry, who also have not a goal between them so far. In fact Paulo Wanchope is the best striker in the world. Right?

Pathetic comments about Schevchenko, he is playing in, at best, a very mediocre team. He's not the kind of player who creates chances on his own, he's a pure finisher.

Chelsea bought him as their strikers do not finish off enough of their build-up play, Drogba is the best example of this.

Come on Nigel, you're normally very good but the comments about Schevchenko were well wide of the mark.

Shevchenko scored 19 Serie A goals last season, despite missing many games through injury. His scoring record over the years is prolific. He was only declared fit to play against Spain a couple of days ago. Ukraine were outplayed by a better side and as a striker he had very little influence. So now he's a bad player? Idiots.

At 29 I would expect him to maintain his place in the world's elite for at least 3 more years. He'll score freely in the Premiership. Idiots.

May be this is the Spanish world cup. No one is expecting them to do anything big but they looked very solid as a team in their first match.

What about 35,000,000€?

Is that the price Man Utd wants to dish out for Torres. Check the news from an excellent blog I discovered here yesterday

Cheers

I live in Poland and recently took a trip to Ukraine. I have to say that the people were nice but the country was poor, and it showed. If Abrahamowic has got a spare 30 million (and he has)heshould spend it on these people and not waste it (and he did) on Schevchenko. Overrated and overrussianed- a nationalistic bias can be the only reason for even super rich guy like the chelsea chairman to waste that ammaount of money.

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