The first game of the World Cup 2010 playoffs with Greece next Saturday will be crucial for some Ukrainian players: for Bayern Munich’s Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (pictured) for example, whose FTBL score has been in a free fall, the game could spell a turn in the tide.

Tymoshchuk will go in with a guaranteed bonus of 2.5 rating points, points he dropped in Bayern’s 1:2 loss to French side Bordeaux in the Champions League recently. With an overall score of just 55.31 points at the moment, the addition of points will come handy for the Ukrainian international.

The two playoff games also have the potential of sending Tymoshchuk into the Top 23 of the Bundesliga. For that, Ukraine will have to avoid losing even one game.