Euro2012: France beat Ukraine, England down Sweden

The 2012 European Championships continued for the Group D teams tonight with their second round group matches in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Donetsk. France not only had to overcome co-hosts Ukraine but thunder and lightning in Donetsk which resulted in a 57 minute suspension of play, while England needed a moment of brilliance from Danny Welback to overcome a fighting Sweden.


GROUP D

Ukraine 0-2 (0-0) France
Goals: 0-1 Jérémy Ménez (53'), 0-2 Yohan Cabaye (56')

France showed their potential against the co-hosts Ukraine in a 2-0 win, but the headlines will be about the weather as heavy thunder and a torrential downpour brought proceedings to a halt after less then five minutes. The match was halted for close to an hour as the ground, which was flooded, had to cleared of the water and things brought to some sort of normal level for the match to restart.

Both teams had their problems with the ball, but France looked the better side with the Ukraine also having their chances which were often gifted by the French's lacklustre defending. But two moments of good set-up by Karim Benzema within three minutes gave France the victory. First Benzema set-up Jérémy Ménez in the 53rd minute before he did it for Yohan Cabaye. Cabaye could have made it 3-0 but his shot hit the sidepost.


Sweden 2-3 (0-1) England
Goals: 0-1 Andy Carroll (23'), 1-1 Glen Johnson (49', own goal), 2-1 Olof Mellberg (59'), 2-2 Theo Walcott (64'), 2-3 Danny Welback (78')

England came back from 1-2 down to win 3-2 against a Swedish side who are now out of the competition after what could have been a victory against an England side, whose weaknesses were exposed in the game but an intact team spirit gave them the three points.

England were the better side in the first session and took a deserving lead in the 23rd minute when Andy Carroll headed in a scorcher from a Steven Gerrard cross. Sweden had their problems with their attack close to non-existent.

Things changed after the break as Sweden came out like a different team knowing that only a point would keep them in the tournament. Following a Ibrahimovic free-kick in the 49th minute Olof Mellberg send the ball goalwards and Glen Johnson on the line tries to save but sends the ball over the line. Now Sweden were in the game and put pressure on a cracking English defence. It was again Mellberg who this time headed in Sweden's lead in the 59th minute following a Larsson cross. It was an open game now with Ibrahimovic missing a Swedish third, while Sweden goalkeeper Isaksson made a sensational save from a John Terry header, but the resultant corner was put in by a Theo Walcott long-ranger where Isaksson looked to be misjudging the balls flights.

Now it was an open game with both teams playing for a win and then came the 78th minute when Walcott played a nice ball in from the right with Welback putting in the ball in sublime fashion. Sweden looked shocked and couldn't get back into the game.