Ukraine have taken part in two previous preliminary
competitions, losing only in the playoffs. In 1997 the Ukrainian
national team were beaten by Croatia 2-0 and 1-1.
Four years later they lost the crucial decider 4-1 to the
eventual 2002 FIFA World Cup™ runners-up Germany. They had finished
the group phase in second place behind Poland and were unlucky to
draw Germany, undoubtedly the strongest team in the playoffs.
Ukraine's best wins came in 1998 and 1999. In 1998 they beat
Georgia 4-0 and a year later defeated Andorra by the same margin.
Their heaviest defeat came in 1995 when they lost to Croatia 4-0.
