Ian Ladyman's Euro diary: Shevchenko is one of the game's great guys

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UPDATED:

20:59 GMT, 26 June 2012

Andriy Shevchenko – currently weighing up an offer from the American MLS – is one of football’s good guys. The 35-year-old returned to his old neighbourhood in Kiev on Monday to open an outdoor football facility he has funded for under-privileged Ukrainian children.

Top man: Shevchenko (left)

Salt of the earth

Sky interviewer Geoff Shreeves visited the football pitch at Soledar salt mines near Donetsk this week. Situated 100 feet underground in a cave, everything apart from the goal nets, including the pitch, is made of salt.

Merkel meeter

If you ever wondered what back-up goalkeepers do at major tournaments then speak to Germany’s Tim Wiese. His role is to give a ‘thank you’ speech to chancellor Angela Merkel when she visits the dressing room after big matches. Better than cutting up the oranges, I guess.

Playing it cool: Wiese (left)

Indecision is final

Spain's political boycott of Ukraine is being tested by the team’s success. Prime minister Mariano Rajoy has stayed away but now says he may attend the final if Spain make it because the situation is ‘qualitatively different’. How good of him.