Shevchenko: Euro 2012 was a success for Ukraine
Posted Tuesday, July 03, 2012 by
Andriy Shevchenko has stressed that Euro 2012 was a big success for Ukraine, regardless of the team's exit at the group stage.
Oleg Blokhin's side started the tournament with a win over Sweden thanks to a double from Shevchenko, but they eventually crashed out after losses to France and England.
"Euro 2012 was definitely a success for Ukraine. It was our first European Championship. Ukraine have won as a country, even though we didn't qualify for the quarter-finals," Shevchenko said to Kicker.
"We gave all 48 million inhabitants of Ukraine a feeling they never experienced before. It was a new feeling for the people, and I think it was something extraordinary for them. It was a very historic moment.
"The win over Sweden was much more than just a game of football. It really meant something to the country. Those goals were perhaps not the most important ones I ever scored, but no goals mean as much to me."
Shevchenko retired from international football after Euro 2012, and has yet to make a decision on his future at club level.
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