Ukraine PM says Euro exit no tragedy
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Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine fought bravely to the last minute and were victims of chance and human error, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Wednesday, adding the country had achieved a victory by hosting the championship.
Fans of Ukraine react during a public screening of the Euro 2012 Group B soccer match between Ukraine and England in the fan zone in Kiev June 19, 2012. Photo: REUTERS
Ukraine lost 1-0 to England in Group D on Tuesday, failing to reach the quarter-finals, after controversially being denied an equaliser even though the ball may have crossed the line.
"They tried to seize the victory until the last moment," Azarov told a government meeting. "But sports is sports and, like life, it has everything - luck, randomness, mistakes and unfairness. One should not make a tragedy out of that."
Azarov said the former Soviet republic had already secured its main victory.
"We have shown the whole world that we can solve the hardest tasks and radically modernise our infrastructure in very short time," he said.
"Our country has beaten sceptics and enemies who wished the great sports holiday to fail in Ukraine."