DONETS'K, Ukraine-
Summary
The Ukrainian national anthem "Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished", was an entirely ironic start to their match against England on the final day of the Group Stage at the 2012 UEFA Euro Cup.The two teams met in Donbass Arena, for Ukraine's second match of the tournament played there. The Ukrainians fought the French, and lost, earlier this week.
| Andriy Shevchenko, who scored two goals against Sweden, came on as a substitute at 70'. |
The English started in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with the Ukrainians going out in what appeared to be a 4-3-3 formation. Ukrainian star and hero of their game against Sweden Andriy Shevchenko, who is suffering from a knee injury, did not start.
The Ukrainians started with the ball, making a quick attack that was easily defended by the English. They continued attacking with a missed shot from Denis Garmash and a good run by Andriy Yarmolenko. This Ukrainain team looked very good early-on, while the Three Lions looked sloppy at best.
English control began to show itself around the tenth minute, followed by an Ashley Cole shot in the eleventh. Ukraine answered at 13' with a good chance from Marko Devic, following a good cross along the ground. They had another strong counterattack after an English corner, but it ended with the ball rolling harmlessly out over the line. Another good cross at 16' very nearly ended with the ball in the back of the net.
Despite the chances, there was a loud rendition of 'God Save the Queen' shaking the arena in the 17th minute. It was hushed after another Ukrainian shot, which was blocked by the English defense.
Excellent Ukrainian passing kept up the attack as the game neared the half-hour mark. Oleg Gusev's shot in the 22nd minute was nearly a goal, but the luck of the English held out. Stephen Gerrard's free-kick at 24' provided England with their first real chance of the game. Wayne Rooney's triumphant return to action began in the 26th minute with a header that was struck just wide of the Ukrainian goal.
Joe Hart made a nice save at 29' after a Yarmolenko shot from inside the box. The game was then largely uneventful until an English attack in the 41st minute which ended with a poorly-taken shot by Scott Parker. Yarmolenko then advanced into the English box, stumbling through the English defense on the way to a Ukrainian corner. The half ended: 0-0.
The English took the ball at the start of the second-half, with 'God Save the Queen' ringing out once again. After a short possession, the Ukrainians took over.
The scoring opened with Wyane Rooney's 48th minute goal after a Stephen Gerrard cross was missed by Ukrainian keeper Andriy Pyatov. The headed goal was from right in front of the goal and couldn't be missed. Ukraine's potential answer to the goal was a pair of corners following soon after. A third corner at 53' was also turned away by the English. An English counter-attack following a fourth corner looked dangerous, but was broken up by the Ukrainian defense.
A 61st minute chance for Ukraine could have tied the game, but the goal was not counted by the referee. It was indeed a goal, but the referee's call was final. Anatoliy Tymoschuk goal, kicked out of the net by John Terry.
Two saves by Pyatov in the 68th minute kept the English from widening the gap. The first was stopping a cross intended for Rooney, the second was against a good shot from Cole.
Ukraine star Shevchenko came on as a substitute in the 70th minute, hoping to save his team from elimination. An amazing shot from long-distance by Yevhen Konoplyanka provided some excitement, with Joe Hart making the save by his palm. Pyatov made a save as well against another Wayne Rooney header in the 75th minute.
Ashley Cole received a yellow-card for time-wasting in at 78'.
The Ukrainians kept fighting until the last minute, when they could actually get their hands on the ball.They only break-ups of English play came from Ukrainian fouls, including a booking at 86 minutes by Shevchenko.
Yarmolenko almost brought it all back for Ukraine in stoppage, which would have brought them level. The game ended after three minutes of stoppage, with both teams seemingly on cordial relations.
| Wayne Rooney is today's Man of the Match. |
Man-of-the-Match
Wayne Rooney. As much as I personally dislike Rooney, he is a very good footballer. He scored the only goal of the game in the 48th minute with a header from only a yard or two out. His return to this England squad could not have come at a better time.
Notable Mentions
Andriy Pyatov, Joe Hart, and Ashley Cole al
A shout-out to my Swedes, who were eliminated from Group D after a loss to England this week. They fought hard against France today, much unlike the Republic of Ireland in Group C, who just rolled-over and died against the Italians in a 2-0 loss yesterday. The Swedes won their first game in the Euros, a 2-0 win over the French.
There will be a lot of talk over that uncredited goal, but it's too late now, and England advance.
The French and English both advance to the knockouts, with England winning Group D. They play Italy next week, while France plays world-champion and Euro Cup holder Spain.
:)
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