As most Chinese football fans gather round the TV for this year's Euro Cup held in Poland and the Urkaine, film student Lu Wei is realizing her dream in 3D by catching 36-year-old Ukrainian football star, Andriy Shevchenko in his last match before retirement.

Arriving in the Ukraine on Monday, the 21-year-old has put off semester exams, shelled out serious cash and even learned some Russian, all with an obsessive hope to meet the Dynamo Kiev striker in person.

The Tongji University student had originally brought three tickets in February from a Chinese overseas student in Germany worth 4,000 yuan ($631).

However after the tickets were lost during delivery, she was forced to buy another three from the Union of European Football Association website costing 3,000 yuan ($473).

Alone in the Ukraine

A die-hard Shevchenko fan for nearly 10 years, watching him play live has always been Lu's dream.  Although not the official language of the Ukraine, Lu even taught herself some Russian through the Internet in order to help her get around more easily.

"I think it is worth going for my dream while I'm young," she told the Global Times.

"It's just like making a film; fulfilling your imagination with actions," she added.

Though her parents expressed concern about Lu traveling alone, they support her trip and even pitched in some extra money. 

"They know me well. When I make a decision, I never give up easily," she said. "They also know that the European Cup this year means a lot to Shevchenko and me."

She admits the motivation for the trip is not just simply watching live matches, but the hope she could meet Shevchenko in person.

Originally, Lu planned to wear a No.7 Ukraine jersey, Shevchenko's number. But her friend suggested she wear a traditional Chinese dress.

"Maybe this way I can attract media attention to help me meet Shevchenko," Lu said.

After watching the Ukraine-Sweden match in Kiev yesterday, she is traveling by train to Donezk for the team's next two matches.

"I really want to watch the finals, so I will try to extend my visa."

Little fan, big dream

Lu's interest in football started after watching her first matches on TV during the 2002 World Cup. When she saw Shevchenko playing in the Italian League later that year, however, she became a real fan. 

"I really began to like Shevchenko while I was moderating a Shevchenko forum online in my spare time in 2003," Lu said.

As a moderator she posted the latest Shevchenko-related news every day to attract more fans.

"At first I liked him because he's handsome and his excellent football skills," Lu admits. "But the more I learned about Shevchenko, the more I like him."

Lu added that because Shevchenko is often vocal about his opinions on politics and other social issues, she feels he is a unique football star.

Presents and future

On Shevchenko's 30th birthday in 2006, Lu sent him a gift addressed to the Chelsea Football Club, where he had played for three years.

Her presents included silk clothes with dragons because Shevchenko was born in the year of dragon, a gift for his second son and a notebook filled with birthday wishes from fans in China.

However, she is not sure whether Shevchenko has received her gifts.

As for the future, Lu hopes to combine her dream of meeting Shevchenko with her ambition of being a director.

"I hope one day I could invite Shevchenko to play a role in my film," Lu said.