Bow out proud.

Ukraine lost to Italy to finish the World Cup just as they began it ( with a heavy defeat.

But goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskyi insisted after the 3-0 reverse to Italy the players can still be proud.

Ukraine played in the World Cup finals for the first time and, after a 4-0 mauling by Spain in their opener, bounced back to reach the quarter-finals.

But they gave away an early goal to Gianluca Zambrotta and then two strikes to Luca Toni to exit the tournament.

"We are disappointed to go home," said Shovkovskyi.

"We had a lot of expectations, but after a few days we will realise what we have achieved."

Ukraine were the first European side to qualify for the World Cup but no-one gave them a chance of progressing to the later stages of the tournament.

"I am not happy with how the game went," said the Dynamo Kiev keeper.

"Italy took an early lead and it hindered us a little bit. We did react and Italy didn't have many chances ( it was a levelled game but the difference was that they made the chances that they had and we didn't.

"The important thing in this tournament is to score and we weren't able to do that."

Italy boss Marcello Lippi was delighted to see Toni rekindle the form that saw him score 31 Serie A goals for Fiorentina last season ( more than anyone has managed in the Italian top flight in a single season for 47 years.

"(Francesco) Totti is getting better and Toni scored twice which is very good news for us," said Lippi.

"We are still getting better and the other members of the team played their part well."