Euro2012: England hold France, Ukraine stun Sweden

The 2012 European Championships kicked-off for the Group D teams tonight with matches in the Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Kyiv.


GROUP D

France 1-1 (1-1) England
Goals: 0-1 Joleon Lescott (30'), 1-1 Samir Nasri (39')

In a disappointing opening Group D encounter England held a more fancied France to a one-all draw in Donetsk with what was a defensive England and an unimaginative France. Defender Joleon Lescott gave England the lead on the half hour mark while Samir Nasri equalised for France in the 39th minute of a long-ranger.

An under-strength England was expected to play a counter-attacking game, while France were expected to show that they are a team to watch, but initially the English combined as the French needed time to settle down. England's James Milner had the first chance as he went past Hugo Lloris but shot wide. England went ahead on the half hour mark after a Steven Gerrard free-kick was headed in by Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott. France thereafter woke-up and Alou Diarra had two heading chances in one attack which first Joe Hart saved and then Diarra put wide. But in the 39th minute another Manchester City player in Samir Nasri equalised with a brilliant strike.

After the break the match slowed down further and it often looked as if both the teams were happy with the one point though France did have some attempts on goal from Karim benzema and Samir Nasri, while Danny Welbeck could gotten the winner for England. It stayed 1-1 after less intense then expected 90 minute.


Ukraine 2-1 (0-0) Sweden
Goals: 0-1 Zlatan Ibrahimović (52'), 1-1,2-1 Andriy Shevchenko (55',62')

The hosts Ukraine upset Sweden 2-1 in their opening match with their ageing 35 year old star Andriy Shevchenko the hero of the night in Kyiv as he scored both of Ukraine's goals.

It wasn't the best of matches in the first session though the hosts Ukraine were the better of the two sides. The first good chance on the night fell to Andriy Shevchenko after a typical Ukrainian counter-attack, but the placed the ball wide. The Swedes had their best chance through a Zlatan Ibrahimović header which touched the outside of the post.

In the second session things got livelier. But Sweden went ahead as Kim Källström retrieved Larsson's deep right-wing cross and his low ball back across goal was tapped-in by Zlatan Ibrahimović in the 52nd minute. But lead did not last long as three minutes later the Ukraine equalised when Yarmolenko played a cross into the middle which Andriy Shevchenko headed in to the delight of the home crowd. And they got even more to cheer about in the 62nd minute as Andriy Shevchenko headed in a Konoplyanka past Lustig at the first post. Thereafter Sweden did put pressure on the Ukraine but they survived the three/four good Swedish chances to celebrate an opening victory which now might take them into the quarterfinals.