Ukraine below strength

Injuries and suspensions have hit Ukraine's squad before tonight's second leg play-off against Slovenia, but they will look to Andriy Shevchenko to pull them through to their first major championship finals.

The AC Milan striker has scored a number of key goals in his career but none was more important than the late equaliser against Russia in a crucial European qualifier last month, which sent Ukraine to the play-offs.

Shevchenko also scored against Slovenia in Saturday's first leg in Ljubljana but his efforts were cancelled out by a late blunder which gave Slovenia a 2-1 win.

Adding to Ukraine's woes are suspensions to key midfielder Andriy Gusin and defender Dmitro Parfyonov, both of whom were sent off in the first leg, and injuries to Arsenal right back Oleh Luzhny and Werder Bremen midfielder Yuri Maximov.

Slovenia coach Srecko Katanec said he rated his team's chances at 50-50 against Ukraine, who are regarded as strong favourites.

"One man is not enough to cover a striker like Shevchenko, a whole team is responsible for that," Katanec said.

In the other match Denmark will leave nothing to chance and field their strongest possible line-up for the second leg of their European Championship play-off against Israel tonight.

The Danes, European Champions in 1992, demolished Israel 50 in Tel Aviv on Saturday, to all but book their place in next year's finals in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The Israelis, harshly criticised by supporters and ridiculed by the media at home after their dismal home game, feel that the best they can hope for is to restore some honour.

However, the Danes have promised to go all out. "We need to prove that the 5-0 win in Israel was no fluke but that we are a world class team," veteran goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said.

UKRAINE: (Probable) Olexander Shovkovsky; Oleh Luzhny or Serhiy Fyodorov, Olexander Holovko, Vladislav Vashchyuk, Yuri Dmitrulin, Serhiy Kandaurov, Vitaly Kosovsky, Serhiy Popov, Serhiy Skachenko, Andriy Shevchenko, Serhiy Rebrov.

SLOVENIA: (Probable) Mladen Dabanovic; Marinko Galic, Darko Milanic, Zeljko Milinovic, Doni Novak, Amir Karic, Ales Ceh, Miran Pavlin, Zlatko Zahovic, Saso Udovic, Mladen Rudonja.

DENMARK: (probable) Peter Schmeichel; Jan Heintze, Jes Hoegh, Rene Henriksen, Jacob Laursen or Thomas Helveg, Martin Joergensen, Stig Toefting, Brian Steen Nielsen, Jesper Groenkjaer, Ebbe Sand, Jon Dahl Tomasson.