Blokhin

Blokhin's other worry centres around Andriy Shevchenko.

Poland and Ukraine lose momentum with issues over shirts and injuries 2011

Let them learn from [Andriy] Shevchenko or Blokhin and not from some Zumba-Bumba whom they took off a tree, gave him two bananas and now he plays in the Ukrainian League.

The Volokh Conspiracy » But Isn’t It a Bit Hard to Predict With a 7-Year-Old? 2010

Injuries have been the problem for Blokhin – he was denied 10 players for Friday's friendly – and the 59-year-old will hope that once everyone is fit, his team, who face Austria on Tuesdayon Tuesday, will become sturdier at the back while maintaining a high-pressing approach in attack.

Poland and Ukraine lose momentum with issues over shirts and injuries 2011

For their manager, Oleg Blokhin, however, who took over in April, the concerns right now are purely onfield.

Poland and Ukraine lose momentum with issues over shirts and injuries 2011

I was reminded of these views on reading comments made four years ago by Oleg Blokhin, who was a famous European footballer of the Year, who played for the Dynamo Kiev side and the USSR national team during the 1970s and 1980s, who was a hero in the Ukraine while Volokh was still there, and who had become a member of parliament in the Ukraine and head coach of the Ukraine national team.

The Volokh Conspiracy » But Isn’t It a Bit Hard to Predict With a 7-Year-Old? 2010

Blokhin recognises Shevchenko is no longer a cornerstone of the team, said the Ukrainian journalist Oleksandr Sereda.

Poland and Ukraine lose momentum with issues over shirts and injuries 2011

Bemoaning the lack of native-born professionals and the growing number of African players in the Ukrainian football league in an interview with a leading Ukrainian sports website that later received worldwide media attention, Blokhin said:

The Volokh Conspiracy » But Isn’t It a Bit Hard to Predict With a 7-Year-Old? 2010

Let them learn from Andriy Shevchenko or Blokhin and not from some Zumba-Bumba whom they took off a tree, gave him two bananas and now he plays in the Ukrainian League.

The Volokh Conspiracy » But Isn’t It a Bit Hard to Predict With a 7-Year-Old? 2010

Bemoaning the lack of native-born professionals and the growing number of African players in the Ukrainian football league in an interview with a leading Ukrainian sports website that later received worldwide media attention, Blokhin said:

The Volokh Conspiracy » But Isn’t It a Bit Hard to Predict With a 7-Year-Old? 2010

No 11, shirt issued to forward Oleg Blokhin (Dunamo Kiew, Soviet Union)

Soviet Union World Cup 1982 Azmie aka switch image 2007