MUNICH, June 29 (Xinhua) -- World Cup debutant Ukraine look to produce another upset victory when they meet three-time winners Italy in Hamburg on Friday.

    Ukraine, who edged Switzerland 3-0 in a penalty shootout at the second round, are only the third team in World Cup history to advance to the quarter-finals after losing a match by a margin of four or more goals at group stage. Previously, Germany FR lost 3-8to Hungary (1954) and Cameroon lost 0-4 to the Soviet Union (1990).

    For the third time in a row, at the World Cup has a newcomer in Ukraine to advance to the quarter-finals following Senegal in 2002 and Croatia in 1998.

    Ukrainians often formed the backbone of the former Soviet Union teams and Dynamo Kiev are an ever-present fixture in the UEFA Champions League. The canny tactical know-how of coach Oleg Blokhin and the goal-scoring exploits of Andriy Shevchenko have been the springboard for success at Germany 2006.

    All eyes will be on the former AC Milan striker Shevchenko as he comes face to face with Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Alberto Gilardino, men he counted as team-mates until four weeks ago. The absence of Alessandro Nesta from the heart of the Italy defence will be welcome news for Shevchenko. Perhaps the key battle will be between two sublimely gifted playmakers if Blokhin decides to select Artem Milevskiy and Lippi gives the nod to Francesco Totti.

    Italy have failed to live up to expectations at big tournaments in recent years. The Azzurri are keen to give a good account of themselves this time around to cement what they feel is their rightful place at the top of the international football pecking order.

    Italy and Ukraine have previously met three times, twice in the qualifying tournament for Euro 1996 with Italy winning both games (2-0 and 3-1) and in a friendly match played in Lausanne this June ending in a draw (0-0).

    Shevchenko said of the match, "Italy are favourites. We must try and play as a team, summing up all our reserves of fighting spirit to make up for our lack of technical ability."

    Angelo Peruzzi said, "We are not dependent on Totti, but of course he is very important for us and the manager. His match fitness is improving all the time and soon he'll be 100%. If you ask any manager in Germany I'm sure they'd all like a Totti in their squad. He's not a problem at all, if only we had more players like him!" Enditem