Gareth Southgate pleased with win against one of the 'top, top nations' of Europe
England manager Gareth Southgate knows that beating the top teams is the best way to showcase the progress his squad is making.
Although Ukraine did not immediately present a threat to the more established football superpowers, they were placed 11th on FIFA's world rankings at their peak in 2007.
Ukraine's most famous footballer of all-time, Andriy Shevchenko, starred for Dynamo Kyiv and AC Milan, also enjoying a stint at Chelsea, where he was once the most expensive player in Premier League history.
Ukraine had to integrate itself into international football from scratch following the fall of the Soviet Union.
After a turbulent and unsuccessful Euro 1996 qualification campaign, Ukraine only narrowly missed out on qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, losing to Croatia in the play-offs.
After an undefeated Euro 2000 qualification campaign, Ukraine once again had to settle for a play-off spot despite two draws against reigning world champions France.
Ukraine once again made the play-offs for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. However, a 5-2 aggregate defeat to eventual finalists Germany saw them miss out on the finals.
They looked set to make the qualification play-offs for Euro 2004, as Spain were the only opponents in their group that were stronger than Ukraine on paper.
Players from Ukraine celebrate after the penalty shoot out during the 2nd round match of 2006 FIFA World Cup between Switzerland and Ukraine in Cologne on Monday 26 June, 2006
Their performances improved in qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but they still fell short of reaching the tournament due to a play-off defeat at the hands of old tormentors Greece.
Ukraine co-hosted Euro 2012 along with Poland, with Blokhin back as head coach after stepping down in 2007.
Under Mykhaylo Fomenko Ukraine reached the qualification play-offs for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but were beaten by France 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-0 home victory, meaning that they failed to reach the tournament once again.
However, Ukraine did manage to qualify for Euro 2016 after beating Slovenia in a play-off, avenging their Euro 2000 qualification play-off defeat.
After the Euro 2016 flop, Fomenko was replaced by Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko.
Andriy Yarmolenko, previously of Borussia Dortmund and West Ham, is Ukraine's second most capped player after Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.
Racism is a problem among a tiny minority of Ukranian football fans and there was a recent high-profile incident which saw Taison of Shakhtar Donetsk sent off for his reaction to racist abuse at the hands of Dynamo Kyiv fans.
England manager Gareth Southgate knows that beating the top teams is the best way to showcase the progress his squad is making.
Italy and Ukraine meet in the first of a Euro 2024 qualification double-header that will decide their fate and Sergiu thinks the visitors can pinch a point.
England remained unbeaten in their European Championship qualifying group following a 1-1 draw with Ukraine.
England hit a rare bump on the road to next year’s European Championship as Kyle Walker’s first international goal secured Gareth Southgate’s side a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in Poland.
Planet Sport Bet ambassador Robbie Savage is expecting a close game when England and Ukraine go head-to-head in Wroclaw, Poland.
According to media reports, Manor Solomon has reached a personal agreement with Tottenham for a free transfer to the club.
France and Ukraine will clash in the European Under-21 Championship quarter-final.