MOSCOW, Aug 17 Nikolai Vasilkov, ex-coach's former press officer team of Ukraine Andrey Shevchenko, told how Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the players of the team and presented the striker with a watch. Russia has a chance to reach the final part of the tournament.
"Vladimir Putin was not the president then, but the prime minister. After the Russia-Ukraine match in 1999, he presented the players with a watch, and also approached Shevchenko and said: "I remember you". Then it just sounded like he was not interested in football, and Shevchenko is a famous footballer. Now it’s more menacing & # 34;, — quotes the press officer & # 34; Championship & # 34; with reference to Sport.ua.
Shevchenko played for Kiev «Dynamo», «Milan» and «Chelsea». In 2004, he won the Golden Ball. As a coach, he headed the Ukrainian national team from 2016 to 2021.