England scraped through a win against Sweden in the last match, but it was by no means easy. Now they take on Ukraine, who will have the advantage of the home crowd cheering them on. Roy Hodgson knows this, though, saying: "All hosts are tough nuts to crack." France and England sit top of the table for now, both with four points after a draw and a win each. Ukraine are third, with everything to play for. Sweden take on group leaders France, having lost both their previous matches by a single goal each time.
England vs Ukraine and Sweden vs France (Group D)
Published by Christine Blachford on
Evening. Curry, beer, football. Perfect.
Evening. I've already done pizza, just cracking the first beer.
Rumours that neither Shev or Vorinin (sp) are fit.
I have a nagging feeling Ukraine will win and France will draw.
I've got a similar feeling - that's supporting Eng-er-land for you.
Well at least the swedes at work wished England luck tonight.
:)
... All the l luck we can get
In the words of the great Han Solo, I have a bad feeling about this.
It's a trap.
Concentrate all fire on
that Super Star Destroyerthe Ukrainian midfield.hey y'all. evening is flying by, not ready yet. #slowdownengland
hello all, i shall watch england for a bit but silk is of most importance on bbc1 at 9!
Tonight is the final night with 2 matches on - dunno whether that is a relief or disappointment.
Anybody else not really bothered about the SWEvFRA game (watching wise)?
It will be on the iPad.
I'll have it on, but will be not really focussed on it.
Right, I am here and ready.
Hello
We don't need to hear the players song!
i thought they were playing sweden again for a second
I don't get the big deal over whether the players sing or don't, they aren't in a choir
True. Best seen and not heard!
I can imagine some might not be be pleased with singing about the Queen, whereas other anthems just sing about how great the country is.
the good thing about being welsh is you can make up our crazy language, just get the tune right ;)
what a racket! hey again.
Hehe.
Well done ITV commentary man for throwing to the ad break mid-anthem, at least the director got it right :)
YAY. MORE ADVERTS.
so rooney. red or yellow card today?
this william hill advert has got me wondering how great it would be to have brian blessed commentati g
What a terrible anthem!
Everyone should make up their own.
Only if he does it as his character from Star Wars Episode I.
At least it's not during the match, although with ITV you never know ...
WAYNE ROONEY! *bellows*
He just needs to be himself
BY THE GODDDSS, HE'S THRROOWWNN THE BALLL!! FROM A THROOWW INNN!
4 minutes from the end....
:)
England haven't conceded after 20s. HOPE.
~90 mins of worry start here.
Hi all
Just in time
Has anyone forgiven them for the Imola incident?
#notworriedatall
never
Never!
good shot
Oh thats what I meant to ask, I've only seen the one other england game so I dunno if its an england thing but whats with the countdown before kick off? It's like playing a racing game, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!
I hope the Ukrainian #2 gets sent off for having a rat tail.
Euro2012 thing, they do it for every game... they've got it wrong a couple of times and the game started first!
hehehehe.
Also Zlatan waited a good few seconds - nobody tells him
UKR have started pressing a good bit - let's get some through balls in behind them
Really? Zlatan being obnoxious and single-minded?
This is the last night in the tournament that you may need to understand the maths of what is happening elsewhere. Fortunately tonight is guaranteed to be less complicated than last night. Simply put - if England don't lose they go through
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/european-championship/2012/groups-schedule
can't help think of the honda/luckystrike livery with that kit.
oh yeah!
needs a white half of it though
England Lucky Strike
Ukraine 555
#needsmorezipper
The French guy being commemorated in the other match was a football commentator for 59 years!
:)
Good choice of camera angle there
Does this mean England's engine will give up half way through the game?
That's normally what happens
Even I can cope with that.
My Swedish friend at work told me That she thinks Sweden play better without him because they dont rely on him so much and play better as a team.
my friend plays better on fifa as ac milan without him too. i sense a trend!
So that only leaves the modern offside rule to master
Have you seen the youtube video about him and Pep Guardiola?
Zlatan is just Ronaldo without the flair
Real Ronaldo or Réal Ronaldo?
What kind of chance does that Ukranian want?
Réal Ronaldo (the current one)
oh rooney.
Not route-1 football already!
I think I am happy to let the commentors and commentators tell me when something is offside :)
I don't know if you've played as a GK on Fifa 12, but the CPU NEVER shoots. Maybe he learnt to play by watching them.
Young falling over, drink.
Is there an official England natioanl team drinking game?
fifa 12's ai is well explained by the simpsons.
Halfback passes to the center. Back to the wing. Back to the center. Center holds it. Holds it.
Holds it.
...Holds it.
Drink heavily until the ref blows the final whistle, then depending on the result, celebrate or drown sorrows heavily.
heheheeeeee!
EnglandLucky Strike corner.If anyone is looking for a drinking game here are a few standard cliches to listen out for
uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/euro-2012-commentary-cliche-bingo-163059072.html
No, which video is this?
Rooney looks rusty, <80%
Oh, Rooney's playing! I do wish someone would have mentioned it :)
all roy needs to do is do the tactics that ant and dec sang in that song they did for england. every time they sang it it resulted in a goal.
And also 5-1 wasn't it?
although being 'on the ball' isn't a good idea as you generally need to kick it
swap rooney for danica in your head, it'll sound much more normal ;)
:)
Now there is an image I didn't want in my head
Ah, yes.
he has godaddy boots too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9m7m8_2t4Y Bit sweary though.
It sounds more like an England game with the supporters band there, but I'm getting annoyed with them already #newtunesplease
me and my mum and dad and my nan went off to waterloo, me and my mum and my dad and my nan had a
bucket of vindaloosubway.#2012
hehe
It's not The Great Escape yet.
hell of a shot.
Vindaloo is alright.
When will it be "footballs coming home"?
ooh in about 70 minutes.
ouch!
too tempting :)
im sure england will qualify!
I wonder whether Dambusters will come on - can I make requests?
rooney looks more like gazza every day.
Either that or it will be football's going home
Footballers coming home.
Whatever. Its 100 times better than those bloody vuvuzuelas!
i love commentators and their eternal optimism sometmes
"He got the slightest of touches there"
He was also on the floor and facing away from the goal to header it!
I miss them
Same
Just stand next to a machine in operation.
:)
Vuvuzelas > that sodding band
:))
Young, diving, drink more this time.
You should hear the England Marching Band's Greatest Hit Album
The same song repeated over and over
No need. We already have ;)
Is that what happens when they've had too many beers after the match. #fight
ooooooooooh
Close
he plays like gazza too...
Roooooooooooooooooo-ney
Aaaaaaah
Open goal.
Meanwhile nothing much has happened in the other game...
oooh, i forgot.
The French have had some pressure, but nothing special yet.
eek
A good chance for UEFA to try out their new idea
*Dale Winter pops up* Bring on the Wall!!
Not the best shot, but I'm glad we have Hart
Winton, even
Ukraine slow down when they get any kind of openeing
Ukraine playing well.
free header for terry, wasted
ukraine chap looks exhausted
If Rooney had cut his hair properly those headers would actually go in!
The England defence is wide open all the time
running rings around us.
Did you see Gerrard exclaiming after no one in front of him was free?
3 vs 1 and no-one wins the ball.
Zzzzzz
It's almost like no one wants to be the villain, but in doing so, they're all becoming one.
Ukraine have had a lot of good chances and done nothing. That usually comes back and bites you on the bum.
Also they are using a lot more energy than England so I would expect them to tire in the last 20 minutes
Then we bring Theo on for 5 mins?
Milner's playing?? First time I have heard his name
"It could be like Independence Day all over again". Good. I love Jeff Goldblum.
Which one is will smith?
He can't get that lucky again
Nasri is getting the magic sponge.
It's like watching Wales
No, it's just that's all the running he's got before he breaks.
Now the spray.
No idea. Ashley Cole?
Glen Johnson screwed it up again. How is he an international player?
Scott Parker, waste
Some very embarrassing photos of the FA Chairman.
That showed the difference between England and the top teams. Spain could hold on to the ball for 20 minutes playing it around and working an opening. England made 7 or 8 passes, achieved nothing then lost the ball
it's like we're scared of it. 30 seconds of brilliance and then it's gone.
I am sick to the back teeth of Seven Nation Army being played on a trumpet.
corner, no?
cracking defending from scott parker;s head
:)
I don't even understand what connection that has to Eng-er-land.
It's just lack of ability and the belief in old fashioned direct football. English football may make more money than all the other countries put together but it is 40 years behind the top countries
:)
they should at least play that other white stripes song
oh
you can't beat defending on your knees as a gameplan.
Which?
It's been at all the games. Must be because it's easy to play.
It's something to do with Totti singing it from his iPod during euro 2008?
I've heard it in a lot of games though, I think they picked it up from those
Or was that something else
This is just like euro 92. When will England learn its not jut about the coach?
no added time.
that was stressful.
Well that was deadly dull
Carroll and Walcott on at halftime?
Well I think that was a good scoreline to go in on - after the performances we've seen.
They have an English coach now so that is one excuse down
It's only a matter of time before we are allowed to start using IT Crowd quotes tomorrow at this match
do pirelli make boots?
Seeing people fall over after 60 mins because their studs have worn out?
boot change strategy. its a must
Why are France wearing white?
Ukraine had to change from a kit almost identical to Sweden's to blue because England play in white yet France ditch blue in plae of white.
Commercial decision?
SWE have bits of blue, but I don't think enough to make a difference
Brian Butterfield (peter serafinowicz character) is brilliant on twitter :)
I think England will quit during half time, and leave this tournament with their heads held high #euro12
Ooh, I did one of those, Lukeh, but you weren't here to see it. You would have been so proud!
The thing is about england is, they always try 'n walk it in.
Opta Sports, @OptaJoe: 0 - The last time England failed to have a shot on target in the first half of a game at the Euros was in 1980 (vs Italy). Blank
I can't wait for England to play Italy or Spain. We'll have -7% possession.
Does Chiles not realise that they are both UKR's halves - it is Donetsk after all!?
Dear Roy,
Bring on the Ox.
That is all.
Thanks.
Roy thought Ireland would do well. He now thinks England will do well.
Chiles doesn't know his **** from his elbow.
He can think when he wants...
:)
Not heard this one before.
Ooh, they're off again. Another tense half coming up.
I think England need a safety car period to catch up.
goooooooooooal
woooohoo!!!
GOAL - ROONEY !!
Wuh!
*panic while i figure out they've changed ends*
Woo. That looked lucky but we'll take it. :)
Every night!
ENG currently topping the group.
cant wait for wimbledon
He totally could have just walked that in.
IT Crowd wins again!
A la Spain last night?
Should have done have a Jesus Navas.
Is that Gerrard the provider again?
legend
Wasn't Gerard the Provider a medieval chronicler?
magnetic corner
why did he stop?
Rooney's KERS not working tonight
Way way too slow
we need a goal hanging linaker.
GOAL ZLATAN
SWE are ahead
is that the zlatan of swing?
haha
:)
Rooney too short to jump like that other chap.
Great goal from zlatan
He watched Balotelli do similar last night, and thought that he'd just go and better it.
Zlatan's goal is the most convincing piece of play to help England tonight
Gerrard should take this - another great cross please
that was close
7 defenders - 2 attackers and he gets a free header
John Charles is having kittens over all this poor heading.
John Charles? I am amazed anyone here has ever heard of him
HOW???
off the line!
wow
aahhhh
Don't think it was a goal
W.O.W
I'm a Juve fan.
John Charles is a legend.
phew
For no apparent reason, I don't like that Parker man.
It is more than 50 years since he played for them
GOAL
err... goal line technology?
Erhm - that was a goal
Yikes that was over as well
He gets better when he puts his spidey suit on
Payback for Frank
Sepp Blatter now has egg on his face.
I can understand someone Welsh your age knowing him
That was payback for 1966 at the time
He was voted our best ever foreign player- over Zidane and Platini.
It may sound odd but i remember it very clearly, it was a very sad day here when he passed away. almost like national mourning.
Very difficult for players who played so long ago to even feature in these kind of poles
That was agoal. What shambles football is. Just shows how stupid the idea of a 5th official is.
He was a national hero in Wales and Leeds and Turin
why no hawkeye?
BLATTER!
england playing the 1-0-2-1-1-3-1-0-2 formation now
Would have been umpire's call. #CricketJoke
who will go first, him or bernie?
Isn't it being trialled in these games but they aren't telling anyone if it was out or in?
they will morph into one giant authoritarian force over all sports
Bernie owns his entire sport, Blatter is more corrupt than Palpatine. Tough call.
They keep coming up with excuses not to do it. Football referees have this stupid idea that nothing and no-one should question their authority.
They are quite happy to have their ability, judgement, fairness and parentage challenged
what a save!
damn good save.
Nice shot that one
"Theo Walcott's stripped off" #sexyfootball
they should probably investigate the goal line clearance after the match and tell us the result 3 hours following that
Because septic bladder wants controversy and talking points from a game.
Just makes it look like the games are being fiddled with.
In the other game the French are losing their nerve slightly.
need to speak to all the players, the team manager and phone for a pizza. then maybe fax something off.
Shev's not supposed to the fit!?
it makes football look archaic.
The word is "desperate".
sky sports are showing it in colour soon
ITV said it was offside anyway
I heard that they were trialling female assistant referees - it wasn't received well by some.
I like his arm flapping.
hehe
christ
close!!
That's not the point. We see so many incidents like this. All the other sports use some sort of video replay. FIFA refuse and hire 5th officials - the poor bloke was right there and didn't see it because it was impossibly fast.
It's wrong, it's unfair and it's all so that tomorrow morning in the canteen everyone will be talking about 'that goal'.
damn their defence
It'll just show FIFA that the 5th officials really don't solve anything.
they're all goalkeepers now.
Nice crowd swearing in English in the other game.
SWE now more on top vFRA
That will be the goalkeeper the commentators were saying was dodgy earlier. Every keeper who has ever played againgst England in an international has been questioned by the commentators at sme point
If the ukrainian crowd get bored and fed up of the score, they should just try and throw everyone off by chanting stuff to confuse everyone else
duh duh duhduhduh duhduhduhduh COLUMBIA!
The UKR goal: http://t.co/RKM7zFhg
How about "he scored when he waaaaants, Pavylushirnevchenko, he scores when e wants..."
Holy moley I almost missed the whole thing!
Does France losing now do anything to who gets through?
The Great Escape is being played at about the right time
UKR need a win.
No. France are through already.
No. Only Ukraine beating England can change anything
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/european-championship/2012/groups-schedule
And we don't want that.
Not quite, if UKR beat us and SWE beat FRA by more then they go out.
Oddly appropriate tonight.
ball in the face
I also like the snatch-&-grab connotations of The Italian Job.
Oww..
lot of yellow's in this game.
What club does Schevchenko play for?
ah yes, the yellow card, created by eddie jordan to create the jordan brand with of course
:)
Kyiv. nm.
England's "dangerman" off. We might play well now...
same bloke, another ball in the face. odd tactic.
FRA are piling on the pressure in the other game.
what was that???
Ukraine looking for handball
also using his head to defend earlier on.
not sure he quite gets it
Apparently he had the same opinion of Theo as you lot.
Speaking different languages?
:)
John Terry moved his hand to the ball
SWE GOAL
Yay!
Nice pull focus there.
Wow
If scores stand England v Italy and France v Spain
England playing Italy. Mum versus dad.
Would definitely prefer Italy to Spain.
We'll be meeting GER int he semi (if we beat ITA)
Yeah! England!
that was far too much like hard work.
That's a relief, and thank you Sweden. :)
UNBREAKABLE ENGLAND. *facepalm*
when was the last time we won a group?
Ukraine looked like the better team. One great cross from Gerrard and one dodgy refereeing decision made the difference.
takk så mycket Sverige!
96???
ESPN said that this was the first time England goes through to the quarters since 1996. Is that right?
Maybe he meant won the group..
We have the 3rd-best points tally from the teams
5 Scored 3 Allowed?
I knew I should have paid more attention watching the Bridge.
cheers for the comments all. appreciated.
GOOD NEWS: We avoided Spain.
BAD NEWS: We're playing Italy.
Itv already talking as if they beat Italy. Oh dear.
We won't beat Italy.
was fun while it lasted.
I'm going to get withdrawal tomorrow
Is there a thread for the Indy race on in the middle of the morning solely for Pat?
I will be watching the 10am replay :)
10am Sunday?
I'm looking forward to a break from it. I'm going to watch Prometheus.
hehehehe. we skipped the last late one.
I'm going to see that Saturday, instead of qualy.
Yeah on one of the Sky channels. And again after the F1 race.
I thought you weren't offside when the ball was played from your own half?
You can't be offside when you are in your own half (ie the defence has pushed up that far!)
Not the case. The only place the ball can come from that overrules offside is a throw in. You can be standing 30 yards off but if no-one touches it between the thrower than you then you are onside.
i'm confused... i though it was him who didn't want goal line technology?
After last night’s match #GLT is no longer an alternative but a necessity.
https://twitter.com/SeppBlatter/status/215372031506657281
Yep. He was 100% against it. He more than anyone has stopped goal line technology being used for the last 20 years.
Pierluigi Collina who was one of the greatest referees ever and who now works with UEFA (European FIFA) is still arguing that it was only one wrong decision and human beings are better than technology. Referees are against anything that questions their authority. They are all apprentice megalmaniacs.