When Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired the Swedes in front after 52 minutes, the home supporters felt betrayed by the referee; the let the play go on despite the fact that Selin was down injured. However, Ukrainian fans had the last laugh thanks to Andriy Shevchenko’s double at the other end of the pitch.
For the first time in a major tournament, Ukraine managed to score from open play. Who else but skipper Andriy Shevchenko to make that happen? At the final whistle, the Ukrainians celebrated as if they had won the 2012 European Championship.
It is important to note that the Ukrainians occupy the table’s top spot ahead of their second game at the tournament. There are so many positives for Oleh Blokhin to take from his team’s victory over Sweden.
With 55 per cent of ball possession and 80 per cent of pass accuracy, only a few might have realized that Monday’s encounter was Sweden’s first competitive game in almost three years.
Group D favourites England and France cannot afford to underestimate the UEFA Euro 2012 co-hosts. The Three Lions and Les Bleus earned a point each from their 1-1 draw at the Donbass Arena on Monday.
Both are under pressure to avoid a shameful first-round exit. Meanwhile every Ukrainian football fan is now confident that their Euro 2012 dream may not end so soon…
