Ukraine

A first-half goal from Panathinaikos striker Dimitrios Salpingidis ended Greece's 16-year wait to reach the World Cup finals. Otto Rehhagel's side were subject to intense pressure in the second-half as Ukraine pushed for an equaliser in front of a partisan crowd at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk but held their nerve to win 1-0 on aggregate after Saturday's 0-0 draw in Athens.

Ukraine dominated the early exchanges boxing Greece into their own half and denying them very little possession. The former Chelsea striker, Andriy Shevchenko, had a great chance to score in the eighth minute but he failed to connect with a low cross and then miscued and fired wide from six yards.

The Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas was particularly impressive for Rehhagel's side, making a string of saves in the second-half, including a brave block from Yaroslav Rakytsky in the dying minutes.

The winning goal came on the counter attack courtesy of a sublime through-ball by Celtic striker Giorgios Samaras, who split the Ukraine defence for Salpigidis to run clear and calmly slot the ball past Alexei Piatov. "It's a massive success for us," said Salipigidis after the game. "It's a day of celebration for Greeks all over the world."

The Greece coach Rehhagel was elated: "Our boys were rewarded today for an unbelievable passion and fighting spirit. We said that no road should be too far and before you have success you have to have the gods sweating for you," he said.

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.

A first-half goal from Panathinaikos striker Dimitrios Salpingidis ended Greece's 16-year wait to reach the World Cup finals. Otto Rehhagel's side were subject to intense pressure in the second-half as Ukraine pushed for an equaliser in front of a partisan crowd at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk but held their nerve to win 1-0 on aggregate after Saturday's 0-0 draw in Athens.

Ukraine dominated the early exchanges boxing Greece into their own half and denying them very little possession. The former Chelsea striker, Andriy Shevchenko, had a great chance to score in the eighth minute but he failed to connect with a low cross and then miscued and fired wide from six yards.

The Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas was particularly impressive for Rehhagel's side, making a string of saves in the second-half, including a brave block from Yaroslav Rakytsky in the dying minutes.

The winning goal came on the counter attack courtesy of a sublime through-ball by Celtic striker Giorgios Samaras, who split the Ukraine defence for Salpigidis to run clear and calmly slot the ball past Alexei Piatov. "It's a massive success for us," said Salipigidis after the game. "It's a day of celebration for Greeks all over the world."

The Greece coach Rehhagel was elated: "Our boys were rewarded today for an unbelievable passion and fighting spirit. We said that no road should be too far and before you have success you have to have the gods sweating for you," he said.

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.