Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday that the high bonus that Ukraine could get if it wins Euro 2012 had no effect on his side, the Ukraine 2012 Information Center has reported.
He said "the players think more about the championship, rather than any bonus."
"This is a good sign," Blokhin said.
He said that he did not support the general opinion that the match against Sweden would be decisive.
"The European championship is a short tournament. The first game is always difficult. They write that if we lose on June 11, we will have no chance to qualify from the group. They included us in a list of outsiders. If so, then it makes no sense to go to the pitch – just throw a coin to pick the winner," Blokhin said.
He also said that he was trying to shield the team from "serious" pressure.
"I am asking the press not to escalate the euphoria, they say, if we are co-hosts, then we have to win the championship. We have to look at things realistically. Football is unpredictable game. Let’s start the tournament, and then we’ll see," he said.
