Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin admitted his team had paid the price for inferior player quality after their 3-0 defeat at the hands of world football heavyweights Italy in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Blokhin led Ukraine to their first World Cup as an independent nation and conceded that a last-eight finish was no disgrace - but accepted Italy had the edge over his men in terms of pure ability.

"I have to admit we had deficiencies with our substitutes," said Blokhin after a goal from Gianluca Zambrotta and two from Luca Toni helped the Azzurri through to a semi-final with host nation Germany in Dortmund.

"Our substitutes were not of great quality and we did not have big stars like Italy - if we had had (Francesco) Totti or someone like him then maybe we would have had a chance.

"Maybe we should have taken him on loan - maybe we needed a Ukrainian Totti."

Overall Blokhin was pleased about how his team had fared in their maiden World Cup.

"I am not dissatisfied. I am satisfied as a coach because we have taken Ukraine where they have never been before," said Blokhin, who was European Footballer of the Year in 1975 during the Soviet era.

"Losing 3-0 to a team like Italy is no disgrace because Italy are a very good team."

Blokhin felt to some extent Ukraine's defeat had been self-inflicted.

"We made some childish mistakes," said Blokhin.

"We had our chances but in the end the Italians were a different class."

Blokhin admitted he was suffering from football overload and was now desperate to get away from it all.

"Maybe that's why I was dreaming about my family last night," said Blokhin. "It's time to go home and take a holiday with my family.

"I am not sure if I am going to watch any more of the games because I am very run-down now. Maybe I will just try to watch the final but there is too much information for me to absorb - it's difficult to keep up with everything.

"I am satisfied with what we did - we have played at the World Cup for the first time and we made it to the last eight which is something we must be pleased with."