Shevchenko delivers fairytale start for Ukraine
Ukraine 2Shevchenko 55, 62;Sweden 1Ibrahimovic 52; Ukraine’s former European Player of the Year Andriy Shevchenko rolled back the years in Kiev last night as his second-half double inspired the Euro 2012 co-hosts to a come from behind 2-1 win over...
Ukraine 2
Shevchenko 55, 62;
Sweden 1
Ibrahimovic 52;
Ukraine’s former European Player of the Year Andriy Shevchenko rolled back the years in Kiev last night as his second-half double inspired the Euro 2012 co-hosts to a come from behind 2-1 win over Sweden in their Group D encounter.
The 35-year-old Ukraine captain took his tally to 48 in 108 international appearances with two superb headers within seven minutes of each other – his opposite number Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s neat 52nd minute finish had given the Swedes the lead.
The victory sees Ukraine – who are co-hosting the tournament with Poland – top the table after the other group match between France and England ended 1-1.
There had been little indication of the fairytale on the evidence of the first-half as Shevchenko looked way off the pace and when he was found free on the right of the box the 35-year-old, who has been struggling with injury for the past year, scuffed his shot and the ball went past the far post.
The Ukrainians carved out the best chances with another veteran Andrei Voronin forcing Andreas Isaksson to punch to safety from long range while one of the younger generation, Andrei Yarmolenko, was also denied by the Swedish ‘keeper from close range.
However, the Swedes should have broken the deadlock in the 40th minute but their captain Ibrahimovic saw his free header just go the wrong side of the far post.
Ibrahimovic struck in the 52nd minute somewhat controversially as a Ukraine player was lying injured but the Swedes played on regardless.
The Ukrainians failed to clear their lines and Kim Kallstrom managed to lose his marker, collect Sebastian Larsson’s cross and pass inside to Ibrahimovic, who coolly slotted it into the net and embarked on a typical flamboyant celebration, arm raised straight in the air.
The goal had been coming after the Swedes had come out pumped-up after the half-time break with Markus Rosenberg going close.
However, their lead last justed three minutes as Yarmolenko delivered a superb cross into the area and Shevchenko, like days of old, got ahead of his marker, veteran Olof Mellberg, to head powerfully into the net.
The crowd, the scorer and his team went beserk and they were to even outdo that noise seven minutes later as from an Oleg Gusev corner Shevchenko nipped in ahead of Ibrahimovic, this time to head in at the near post.
The charismatic striker charged down the touchline to embrace his fellow former European player of the year Oleg Blokhin.
Sweden kept pressing for the equaliser with Kallstrom going the closest with a fierce effort from outside the area which the not always convincing Andrei Pyatov fumbled away and was fortunate that Ibrahimovic was unable to put the rebound past him.
The Swedes should have levelled the game in the dying minutes as Ibrahimovic’s divine flick on set up Johan Elmander but showing the rustiness that has seen him only return to action in Ukraine after a month out he flashed his shot across the post.
Ukraine
A. Pyatov, O Gusev, T Mykhalik, Y Khacheridi, Y. Selin, A. Yarmolenko, A. Tymoschuk, S. Nazarenko, Y. Konoplyanka (M. Devic 90+3), A. Voronin (R. Rotan 85), A. Shevchenko, (A. Milevskiy 82).
Sweden
A. Isaksson, M. Lustig, O. Mellberg, A. Granqvist, M. Olsson, S. Larsson (C. Wilhelmsson 68), R. Elm, Z. Ibrahimovic, K. Kallström, O. Toivonen (A. Svensson 63), M. Rosenberg (J. Elmander 71).
Referee: Cunayt Cakir (Turkey).
Attendance: 60,000
Day-to-day fixtures
Group A
» Poland » Greece» Russia » Czech Republic
Poland vs Greece - 1-1
Russia vs Czech Rep. - 4-1
Today: Greece vs Czech Rep. - 18.00
Today: Poland vs Russia - 20.45
June 16: Czech Rep. vs Poland - 20.45
June 16: Greece vs Russia - 20.45
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Poland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Greece | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Czech Rep. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Group B
» Holland » Denmark» Germany » Portugal
Holland vs Denmark - 0-1
Germany vs Portugal - 1-0
June 13: Denmark vs Portugal - 18.00
June 13: Holland vs Germany - 20.45
June 17: Portugal vs Holland - 20.45
June 17: Denmark vs Germany - 20.45
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Denmark | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Germany | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Holland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Portugal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Group C
» Spain » Italy» Ireland » Croatia
Spain vs Italy - 1-1
Ireland vs Croatia - 1-3
June 14: Italy vs Croatia - 18.00
June 14: Spain vs Ireland - 20.45
June 18: Croata vs Spain - 20.45
June 18: Italy vs Ireland - 20.45
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Croatia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Italy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ireland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Group D
» France » England» Ukraine » Sweden
France vs England - 1-1
Ukraine vs Sweden - 2-1
June 15: Ukraine vs France - 18.00
June 15: Sweden vs England - 20.45
June 19: England vs Ukraine - 20.45
June 19: Sweden vs France - 20.45
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Ukraine | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| France | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Quarter-finals
| Quarter-Final 1 | June 21 | Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B | 20.45 |
| Quarter-Final 2 | June 22 | Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A | 20.45 |
| Quarter-Final 3 | June 23 | Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D | 20.45 |
| Quarter-Final 4 | June 24 | Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C | 20.45 |