The last time the Ukrainians managed this was in October 2002, still in the qualifiers for Euro 2004, defeating Greece 2:0.

About the lucky new government

And if changes occurred in the political life of Ukraine this same year, it is not excluded that they will also occur in football. At least, there is already something to compare with. As promised, President Viktor Yushchenko also attended the Ukraine – Denmark game, watching the match from the first sector rather than from the VIP box where ex-President Kuchma liked to cheer. By the way, during Kuchma's rule, his appearance at the stadium in most cases ended in a defeat or a draw for the Ukrainian national team…

After the final whistle signaling the end of the game, Viktor Yushchenko, surrounded by State Secretary Zinchenko, Transport Minister Chervonenko and Sports Minister Pavlenko, also entered the Ukrainian national team's locker room, where they thanked the players for the victory and wished them success. Yushchenko himself noted "that he liked the game, although not everything worked out for the team." "The second half and its ending were especially good," Yushchenko noted. When asked whether he would come to football again, Yushchenko promised that he would come. By the way, during the match, Milan forward Andriy Shevchenko was also sitting next to Yushchenko in the stands.

It should be noted that FFU President Hryhoriy Surkis also watched the match from the stadium stands, but from sector 39, where he was joined by Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov and his brother Ihor Surkis.

Blokhin's risk

Even at the pre-match press conference, Blokhin said that he would have to think hard to decide who would play in the starting lineup against the Danes. Blokhin's decision looked somewhat adventurous. Three nominal forwards — Voronin, Vorobey and Kosyrin — started the match, with the latter at the spearhead of the attack, while the first two operated from deeper positions. Already the first minutes of the duel showed that Denmark indeed looks very strong at present. The Ukrainian national team players did not always keep up with their rapid attacks, and their left flank posed a particular danger, where Gronkjaer constantly applied pressure.

However, the first chance arose right at the visitors' goal when Kosyrin nearly capitalized on Voronin's cross, but Sorensen was a split second faster, clearing the ball for a corner. The counter-attack by Olsen's team was more dangerous when Tomasson lobbed Shovkovskyi at the corner of the goalkeeper's box, but Nesmachnyi covered for the goalkeeper, preventing the pass from finding Rommedahl.

Subsequently, the Danish national team seized even more of the initiative and needed only two or three passes to reach the Ukrainian penalty area, where the blue-and-yellow defenders were already playing reliably. In general, it is worth noting that the main danger from the Danes came from attacks on the flanks, where they were practically the rightful masters — especially in Sviderskyi's area, who almost constantly lost duels to Gronkjaer.

Over the course of 20-25 minutes, the visitors twice shot at the Ukrainian goal, but Shovkovskyi punched away Gravesen's shot, and dealt with Rommedahl's effort more reliably. Closer to the end of the first half, the Ukrainians managed a decent attack. After a foul against Voronin, Vorobey struck from a free kick from about 23 meters, hitting just above the crossbar.

Voronin's goal and Husiev's super-chance

The second part of the game also began with Danish attacks, while the Ukrainians more actively involved play on the flanks. Nevertheless, in the opening minutes of the second 45, Blokhin's charges had to defend more than create. In the 56th minute, the ubiquitous Voronin, who played both in attack and defense, crossed from a free kick, but Husin's shot went just wide of the post.

In the 59th minute, Blokhin brought on Bielik instead of Kosyrin, who entered the game actively, moved a lot, fought, but was substituted 20 minutes later for Radchenko…

The 64th minute of the game will above all be remembered by Shovkovskyi, when Jorgensen dared a long-range shot from about 20 meters and the ball flew just past the post. True, four minutes later, through the efforts of Voronin and Husiev, something was created that even now is hard to believe. First, the three-pass combination Husin-Tymoshchuk-Voronin ended with a shot by the latter, but the Danish national team goalkeeper was in position. Literally a minute later, Husiev broke through on the right flank and, entering the penalty area, struck and hit the goal post, but the ball bounced to the unmarked Voronin, who aimed a shot into the left corner, and the ball, grazing Sorensen's hand, rolled into the Danish national team's goal – 1:0!

In the 75th minute, Husiev could have finally knocked out Denmark, finding himself one-on-one with Sorensen after a mistake by the central defenders, but the Ukrainian national team player did not expect such a gift and let the ball go, thereby losing a 100% chance to score.

In the remaining time, the Ukrainian team did not let the Danish national team run wild on the field, and the visitors had no chances to at least equalize.

After the final whistle announcing the Ukrainian national team's victory over Denmark, Oleh Blokhin jumped up and rejoiced at the victory as if he were 20 years old and had himself been playing on the field just a minute ago. And 30 minutes after the "Olympic" emptied, all the surrounding cafes and corners were filled with fans of the Ukrainian team who had begun celebrating their team's victory.

So, the Ukrainian national team continues to lead in Group 2, having earned 17 points, ahead of Greece by three points, Turkey by five, and Denmark by eight points. However, the main test for the Ukrainian team will come in the away game against Greece, where the fate of first place will most likely be decided. For now, Blokhin's team and company are lucky, although they say that is the prerogative of the strongest...?

Ukraine – Denmark – 1:0 Goal: Voronin 68 UKRAINE: Shovkovskyi, Rusol, Yezerskyi, Nesmachnyi, Husiev, Sviderskyi, Tymoshchuk, Vorobey, Husin, Voronin (Matiukhin 90), Kosyrin (Bielik 59, Radchenko 83) DENMARK: Sorensen, Poulsen, Priske, Kroldrup, N. Jensen (Moller 70), Helveg, Gravesen, Gronkjaer, Dahl Tomasson, Jorgensen (K. Jensen 83), Rommedahl (Silberbauer 76).

Standings: 1. Ukraine – 17 points (7 games). 2. Greece – 14 (7). 3. Turkey – 12 (7). 4. Denmark – 9 (7). 5. Albania – 6 (7). 6. Georgia – 6 (5). 7. Kazakhstan – 0 (6).

Results of all Wednesday matches and team standings.

Group 1

Andorra - Czech Republic - 0:4 Goals: Jankulovski 31 - penalty, Baros 40, Lokvenc 53, Rosicky 90 - penalty.

Macedonia - Romania - 1:2 Goals: Mitea 18, 58, Maznov 31

Holland - Armenia - 2:0 Goals: Castelen 3, Van Nistelrooy 34

Standings: 1. Holland - 16 points (6 games). 2. Czech Republic - 15 (6). 3. Romania - 13 (7). 4. Finland - 9 (6). 5. Macedonia - 6 (7). 6. Armenia - 4 (7). 7. Andorra - 4 (7).

Group 2

Ukraine - Denmark - 1:0 Goal: Voronin 68

Georgia - Turkey - 2:5 Goals: Tolga 11, Amisulashvili 13, Tekke 19, 35, Iashvili 39, Avci 72, Sanli 89

Greece - Albania - 2:0 Goals: Charisteas 35, Karagounis 85

Standings: 1. UKRAINE - 17 (7). 2. Greece - 14. 3. Turkey - 12. 4. Denmark - 9 (7). 5. Albania - 6 (7). 6. Georgia - 5 (6). 7. Kazakhstan - 0 (5).

Group 3

Estonia - Russia - 1:1 Goals: Arshavin 18, Terekhov 65

Latvia - Luxembourg - 4:0 Goals: Bleidelis 33, Laizans 38 - penalty, Verpakovskis 73, 90

Slovakia - Portugal - 1:1 Goals: Karhan 8 - penalty, Postiga 62

Standings: 1. Portugal - 14 (6). 2. Slovakia - 14 (6). 3. Russia - 11 (7). 4. Latvia - 10 (6). 5. Estonia - 8 (7). 6. Liechtenstein - 4 (6). 7. Luxembourg - 0 (7).

Group 4

Switzerland - Cyprus - 1:0 Goals: Frei 88

Israel - France - 1:1 Goals: Trezeguet 50, Badir 83

Standings: 1. France - 10 (6). 2. Israel - 10 (6). 3. Switzerland - 9 (5). 4. Ireland - 9 (5). 5. Cyprus - 1 (6). 6. Faroe Islands - 1 (4).

Group 5

Moldova - Norway - 0:0

Slovenia - Belarus - 1:1 Goals: Rodic 44, Kulchiy 49

Standings: 1. Italy - 12 (5). 2. Norway - 8 (5). 3. Slovenia - 8 (5). 4. Belarus - 5 (4). 5. Scotland - 2 (4). 6. Moldova - 2 (5).

Group 6

Poland - Northern Ireland - 1:0 Goals: Zurawski 85

Austria - Wales - 1:0 Goals: Aufhauser 87

England - Azerbaijan - 2:0 Goals: Gerrard 51, Beckham 62

Standings: 1. England - 16 (6). 2. Poland - 15 (6). 3. Austria - 11 (6). 4. Northern Ireland - 3 (6). 5. Wales - 2 (6). 6. Azerbaijan - 2 (6).

Group 7

Bosnia-Herzegovina - Lithuania - 1:1 Goals: Bolic 21, Stankevicius 61

San Marino - Belgium - 1:2 Goals: Simons 19 - penalty, Selva 40, Van Buyten 65

Serbia and Montenegro - Spain - 0:0

Standings: 1. Serbia and Montenegro - 11 (5). 2. Spain - 9 (5). 3. Lithuania - 9 (5). 4. Belgium - 7 (5). 5. Bosnia-Herzegovina - 3 (4). 6. San Marino - 0 (6).

Group 8

Croatia - Malta - 3:0 Goals: Prso 24, 35, Tudor 80

Hungary - Bulgaria - 1:1 Goals: Petrov 52, Rajczi 90

Standings: 1. Croatia - 13 (5). 2. Sweden - 12 (5). 3. Bulgaria - 8 (5). 4. Hungary - 7 (5). 5. Iceland - 1 (5). 6. Malta - 1 (5).