BBC Sport world-cup-2010
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Nikita Rukavytsya
- Position: Striker
- Squad number: 17
- Date of birth: 22 June, 1987 (23 years old)
- Height: 6'0" (183cm)
Tournament totals
| Games played | Shots on target | off target |
|---|---|
| 2 Nikita Rukavytsya | 1|0 Nikita Rukavytsya |
| 2 As substitute | 15|16 Total Australia |
| 20 Most shots on target Diego Forlan | |
| 3 Total Australia | 12 Most shots off target Asamoah Gyan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wesley Sneijder |
| Goals | Assists |
|---|---|
| 0 Nikita Rukavytsya | 0 Nikita Rukavytsya |
| 3 Total Australia | 1 Total Australia |
| 6 Best Diego Forlan | 4 Best Leo Messi, Bastian Schweinsteiger |
| Fouls by | on | Cards yellow | red |
|---|---|
| 2|1 Nikita Rukavytsya | 0|0 Nikita Rukavytsya |
| 52|34 Total Australia | 7|2 Total Australia |
| 20 Most fouls by Mark Van Bommel | 3 Most yellow Victor Caceres, Nigel De Jong, Gregory Van Der Wiel |
| 25 Most fouls on Andres Iniesta |
Australia games played
- Germany 4-0 Australia
Sunday, 13 June Match report - Ghana 1-1 Australia
Saturday, 19 June Match report - Australia 2-1 Serbia
Wednesday, 23 June Match report
Player profile
Born in the Ukraine, Rukavytsya’s family emigrated to Australia when he was 14. Unable to speak English, football proved to be a great way of adapting to his new country and he went and trained at his local club in Perth, Inglewood United.
Ukraine never really pursued him to play for them and he ended any doubts about who he might represent internationally when he played at the Beijing Olympics for his adopted nation. Blessed with blistering speed, he is described by coach Pim Verbeek as “the quickest player in Australia by some distance… He's a player who can bring something special.”
His place in Australia’s World Cup squad was sealed by some superb performances after Christmas for Belgian side KSV Roeselare. He was on loan at the club after failing to hold down a first-team spot at Dutch champions FC Twente.
They announced on 2 June that they were releasing him, so he will be using the World Cup as shop window to hunt for a new club. He moved to Holland after a successful trial period in January 2009 following three years at Perth Glory.
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