Fun fact…
Mykola Syadrysty is known as the Master of the Microminiature in Ukraine. He developed a hobby of making arts and crafts on a microscopic level and some of his work can be seen at a museum devoted to his work. The museum features a flea wearing golden horseshoes – a feat widely considered as big a waste of time as watching the entire box-set of The Only Way Is Essex.
Wikipedia ‘fact’…
Hollywood actress and the voice of Meg Griffin in Family Guy, Mila Kunis was born in Ukraine. She went out with Macaulay Culkin for eight years, but the relationship ended in 2010 due to Culkin’s insistence on throwing a can of paint in her face every time she walked in the front door.
National hero…
Sergey Bubka. Yes, hardly anyone pole vaults, but Bubka did it far better than the rest.
Football pedigree…
Much of their footballing history has been tied with the fortunes of the USSR, so in that sense, they’ve a strong footballing tradition. The nation supplied the various Russian teams with high quality players over the years. Since the Soviet Union went the way of Hear’say and other such ill-conceived projects, they’ve made a decent fist of going it alone, particularly considering being a ‘new’ nation, they had to start a the bottom of the peaking order.
They played their first game in 1992 and since have produced several immensely talented players. Albeit ones that couldn’t hit water with a cow’s arse on a banjo while they were in England. Their first appearance at a major international tournament was in World Cup 2006.
In Germany, the surprised many people’s expectations by being even more boring than Switzerland. They managed to beat Tunisia 4-0, but managed one goal in their other four matches. And that was a penalty. Their run ended in the quarter-final when Italy thankfully knocked them out and maintained the world’s collective will to live.
Acceptable national stereotype…
Strong-willed, fiercely independent with a clear and unique cultural identity.
Unacceptable national stereotype…
They’re basically Russians.
Don’t be surprised if they…
Still give the ball to Andriy Shevchenko (pictured top) at every opportunity and expect him to do something amazing with it.
