England, with four points from two games, need only a draw to progress to the quarter-finals from their final Group D match while Ukraine must win at the Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine on Tuesday (June 19) to avoid the same fate as co-hosts Poland and be eliminated after the first round. This match will start at 11.45 hours (PST).
Key England striker Wayne Rooney is set to feature at Euro 2012 for the first time on Tuesday but co-hosts Ukraine could be without their talisman Andriy Shevchenko as they battle to stay in the tournament.
Wayne Rooney is available again after serving a two-match ban for his red card against Montenegro in a Euro qualifier last year, but Ukraine are sweating on the fitness of Andriy Shevchenko, who scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Sweden in their opening game. This will be the fifth international match between the two teams and first in European Cup finals.
England have won three and lost one in four previous matches played against Ukraine. They scored seven and conceded two goals in these matches. Roy Hodgson’s England are second in the second with four points, one place and one point better off than their opponents, who followed their opening 2-1 win against Sweden in Kiev with a 2-0 loss to France in Donetsk. England drew 1-1 with France before a 3-2 defeat of Sweden in the second match.
England will be through with a draw. If they lose, they have to hope France lose by enough so that England at least end level with Les Bleus on goal difference and goals scored, as England have a superior coefficient. Ukraine need to win to qualify; any other result and they are out.
England came through qualifying undefeated – five wins and three draws – and entered these finals without a competitive loss since succumbing 4-1 to Germany at the 2010 World Cup, their heaviest tournament defeat. England have not beaten the hosts at a major tournament in five attempts since beating Switzerland 2-0 at the 1954 World Cup. They lost 1-0 to Italy in 1980 European Championship; drew 0-0 with Spain in 1982 World Cup); lost 2-1 to Italy in 1990 World Cup third-place play-off; went down 2-1 against Sweden to seal their first round elimination in 1992 European Championship; and lost to Portugal on penalties in the quarter-finals in 2004 European Championship. Sweden will look to end their EURO 2012 campaign on a high note as they seek to improve a barren run against France stretching back 11 games and almost 43 years when the sides meet in their final Group D fixture at Olympic Stadium, Kiev. This match will start at 11.45 hours (PST).
This will be the 18th international match between the two teams and second in European Cup finals.
France have won eight, lost four and draw five in 17 previous matches played against Sweden. They scored 25 and conceded 16 goals in these matches. The only previous meeting in the European Cup finals at Solna on June 10,1992 was draw. Both teams scored one goal each.
France go into the teams’ first competitive meeting since 1993 with four points and sit top of the standings thanks to a 1-1 draw against England and a 2-0 defeat of co-hosts Ukraine, both in Donetsk.
Sweden, meanwhile, have not found Kiev a happy hunting ground as losses to Ukraine (1-2) and England (2-3) – having led in both games – confirmed their elimination.
While Sweden will finish bottom of Group D regardless, France will be through with a draw. If they lose, they would only be out if England lose but at the same time move level with them on either goal difference or goals scored.
