On Sunday, March 26, the Ukraine national team played its first match in the qualifying tournament for Euro 2024 - in London, against England.
Euro 2024. Qualifying tournament. Group C. 2nd round
ENGLAND - UKRAINE - 2:0 (2:0)
Goals: Kane (37), Saka (40)
Warnings: Malinovsky (69).
Ukraine: 12.Trubin - 21.Karavaev (14.Buyalsky, 61), 5.Svatok, 22.Matvienko, 16.Mikolenko (2.Sobol, 61) - 6.Stepanenko (10.Konoplyanka, 90), 20.Sudakov - 8.Malinovskyy, 17.Zinchenko (K), 7.Mudrik (15.Tsygankov, 61) - 9.Yaremchuk (11.Dovbik, 74).
Backups: 1.Lunin, 23.Shevchenko, 4.Sarapiy, 5.Sidorchuk, 13.Miroshnichenko, 18.Bondarenko, 19.Pikhalyonok.
England1.Pickford - 2.Walker, 5.Stones, 6.Maguire, 3.Chillwell - 4.Rice, 8.Henderson, 10.Bellingham (18.Gallagher, 85), 7.Saca, 11.Maddison (16.Grealish, 85) - 9.Kane (K) (19.Toney, 81).
Backups .13.Rasmdale, 22.Forster, 12.Trippier, 14.Gehi, 15.Dyer, 17.Phillips.
Match transcript and stats >>>
Aftermatch press-conference >>>
Table of the qualifying group C, calendar of games >>>
Contrary to expectations, England didn't gain the advantage in the opening of the match. Closer to midway through the half the positional advantage of the British, who significantly outnumbered the Ukrainians in terms of ball control, but the danger at the gate Trubin it did not lead. Can be noted only Kane`s shot on 30 minutes from 12 meters, after which the ball flew over the crossbar.
But in the final stretch of the first half the home team managed to open the scoring. 37 minutes into the match Saka crossed from the right flank, on the opposite side of the penalty area Kane jumped out from behind Karavaev who was guarding him, and shot at the goal of Ukraine - 1:0.
No sooner had guests to recover, as the British have developed their success: this time the same Saka struck from 20 meters, and the ball flew exactly into the "nine" goal Trubin - 2:0.
The second half, England started the game as if it was them who lost with a score of 0-2, and not their opponent. Guests were literally confined to their gates, and only did what to repel. Later, starting about 60 minutes, the Ukrainians occasionally clung to the ball, but it were only fragmentary flashes, which in some sense, only increased the feeling of hopelessness.
In the end of the match the Ukrainian national team was not enough physically: Rotan's charges began to make rude mistakes literally in every attempt to counterattack. England led the match to its conclusion without any tension. And on 87 minutes of the match the Brits nearly made it big, but Trubin managed to save his team, saving the ball after a dangerous strike by Gallagher from just seven meters.
So in the end - 2:0, with no chance for the Ukraine national team, which had not created a single scoring chance all game and managed to hit the opponent's goal twice.
We would add that in the next round of this group will play: North Macedonia - Ukraine, Malta - England. Both matches will be held on June 16.
Alexander POPOV
