Blokhin Has Task To Lift Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine -- Unkraine assistant coach Andriy Bal admits that Oleg Blokhin faces a tough task to lift his players following poor club results in the Champions League.

Coach Oleg Blokhin
Coach Blokhin takes his national side to Italy on 7 October before facing Scotland in Kiev four days later.

And Bal said: "One of the problems is the psychological mood of players whose clubs have had bad results.

"We need to start with a psychological rehabilitiation and restoring the form of players presently in a rut."

Dynamo Kiev suffered a 5-1 hammering by Real Madrid in midweek, while Shakhtar Donetsk were held at home by Olympiakos.

That followed opening Champions League defeats for both clubs.

Bal was talking as Blokhin named a 23-man squad for Euro 2008 Group B double header.

Kiev's Serhiy Rebrov and fellow midfielder Serhiy Tkachenko, of Shakhtar, are out injured.

Arsenal Kiev defender Olexander Romanchuk has received his first call-up.

Source: BBC Sport