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Ukraine are a classy side and expectation in their country is that they can at least qualify for the second round of the competition. This makes this game against Saudi Arabia one that they must win. Saudi are still reeling themselves after conceding a soft last-minute equaliser to a classy Tunisia side. So both sides have a point to prove coming into this game and will go out all guns blazing in an attempt to prove it.

The turning point in Ukraine's 4-0 demolition by Spain was the sending off of influential defender Vladislav Vaschuk. The Dynamo Kiev player has fifty-three caps to his name and forms a lynchpin at the heart of their defence. Had he not pulled back Fernando Torres then the result may not have been as comprehensive as it was. However the penalty that resulted led to Spain's third goal so it is evident that the Ukranian defence must tighten up if they are to have any success against the Saudi's this afternoon. Defensively in qualifying they were reasonably strong, only conceding seven goals in ten matches. Their group also contained Turkey, Denmark and European Champions Greece so to top that is a considerable achievement.

Vaschuk's suspension for the tie against Saudi means that Ukranian coach Oleg Blokhin is forced into starting untested Shakhtar Donetsk defender Dmytro Chigrinsky. The nineteen year old, if he starts, will be making his senior debut for his national side. This may be a problem against the Saudi's experienced attack that contains Sami Al-Jabr and Yasser Al-Qahtani. Both scored for the Arabian side, the former securing their second goal after a mere ninety seconds on the pitch.

Both are a dangerous threat and will test an inexperienced Ukranian defence. A lot depends on the form of Dynamo Kiev's Andreii Nesmachnyi. He has forty-five caps to his name and his marshalling the backline will be crucial if they can contain the Saudi's in-form strikers.

Saudi coach Marcos Paqueta believes that if his side can stop Ukraine's dangerous attackers, Andriy Shevchenko and Andriy Voronin then they will have a good chance of beating the European side. Shevchenko needs no introduction, all the formalities being completed when he signed for Chelsea last month. With twenty-seven goals and a goal to game ratio of two every five he is clearly a threat that will severely test the Ukranian back-line.

Andriyy Voronin has not really proved himself at international level, only claiming three goals in nearly thirty starts for his national side. He is still a danger however, particularly as he and Shevchenko have forged a good understanding in attack. Vernonin also has pace which is something that Paqueta has highlighted. This means the selection of nineteen year old Chigrinsky at the heart of an older defence may be to their advantage.

The main threat to the Saudi's however is not in these two but in flair midfielder Ruslan Rotan. He has scored two goals in twelve games but these goals were vital in securing their passage to Germany. If he is overlooked by the Saudi's then expect him to punish them. The Ukranian midfield however has been weakened by the possible absences of Oleg Gussev and Andriy Vorobey. They picked up knocks in their opening defeat to Spain but are still uncertain as to whether they will play.

Both sides go into this game knowing that a win is vital. Both sides are also not underestimating each other - the Ukranians know that against Tunisia the Saudi's were strong whilst the Saudi's know that they Ukranian's will be smarting after their humbling at the hands of Spain. This one's a difficult one to predict and a draw seems the most likely result. But if you were to push me, hedge your bets on a narrow Ukranian win as they have the quality to punish the Saudi's.

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