Ukraine national football team (Zbirna/Sbornaya)

After independence and dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992.

The team's outstanding success to date is reaching the last eight at the World Cup in 2006 in Germany, which also marked the team's debut in the finals of a major championship.

Coached by legendary former player Oleg Blokhin and with national hero Andriy Shevchenko leading their attack, Ukraine eventually fell to eventual champions Italy.

As a host nation, Ukraine automatically qualify for Euro 2012 which will also be their debut in a European Championships finals.

Ukraine has also recorded success in other versions of the game. In reflecting their enthusiasm for the indoor version of the game, the nations futsal team were runners-up to Spain at the European Futsal Championship in 2001 and to Italy in 2003. Furthermore, the Ukrainian team took silver at the World Student Games in China in 2001, then gold in Spain in 2004.