Related Post
As if beating Germany was not cause enough for English celebration, here is the prize. Okay, it is not a bye to the last four, but hello, it’s Ukraine.
Yes, they must be applauded for passage to the last eight. But it’s still Ukraine, the team ranked 24th in the world.
Factor in an extra 30 minutes and the later kick-off, and it is even further reason to believe the stars are aligning for England.
Artem Dovbyk scored a header in stoppage time of extra time to see Ukraine beat Sweden
The striker headed home Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross to break Swedish hearts in Glasgow
Zinchenko and Co will now face England in Rome on Saturday after they beat Germany
All roads lead to Rome on Saturday, but this trail was winding and draining for Andriy Shevchenko’s side, who won it in the 120th minute when substitute Artem Dovbyk flashed home a close-range header from Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wicked centre.
But physical and mental exertions aside, there is little to fear for Gareth Southgate on this evidence – save for Zinchenko’s left boot.
Ukraine arrived as the worst of the third-placed qualifiers. A format that allows for one victory over North Macedonia and a negative goal difference really does not tally with elite competition.
Anyhow, here they were, and as Switzerland proved 24 hours earlier with victory over world champions France, those who sneak through the back door can still make a noise once inside the party.
The Manchester City star was the one who gave Ukraine the lead in the first half
Zinchenko got on the end of Andriy Yarmolenko’s inventive cross to power past Robin Olsen
Sweden, by contrast, were winners of a group including Spain – the current second favourites behind England – but they are still built on the stodgy principles of old.
After perhaps the most absorbing and entertaining second round in the history of the European Championship, there was a fair bit for this unfashionable pair to live up to. Let’s be honest, it was not the most attractive of the eight fixtures. Last and least, you might say.
But this tournament does not do dull and, come half-time, there was enough to suggest both teams were invested in the spirit of what had gone before.
Indeed, Ukraine’s opening goal should at least make a long list when it comes to determining this summer’s best.
But the influential Emil Forsberg restored parity just before the break for Sweden
The RB Leipzig star then hit the woodwork twice in the second half, the first hitting the foot of the post
Forsberg then cut inside and unleashed a delicious effort which cannoned off the crossbar
It was made in the Premier League, assisted by the left wand of West Ham’s Andriy Yarmolenko and converted by the equally exquisite left of Manchester City’s Zinchenko.
Yarmolenko’s cross, on first viewing, had you wondering what his intention was, as if spun aimlessly across goal. You soon had your answer as to his objective when Zinchenko appeared on the blind side of Sweden’s defence and connected with the sweetest of half-volleys.
It left a sour taste for goalkeeper Robin Olsen, however. Despite getting a firm hand on it, the Everton stopper was beaten by both the force and fizz of Zinchenko’s dispatch.
On reflection, Yarmolenko’s ball was genius, deceiving all inside Hampden except his team-mate, it would seem.
The game went into extra time when Marcus Danielson was sent off in the first half of it
The referee Daniele Orsato initially gave a yellow before upgrading it after consulting the pitchside monitor
But Sweden drew level when, two minutes shy of the interval, Emil Forsberg bought a ticket from 20 yards and saw his numbers come up thanks to the most fortunate of deflections off 18-year-old defender Illya Zabarnyi. Not that the scorer cared about the aesthetics of his fourth goal in as many games.
The RB Leipzig forward would have had his fifth had he generated more whip on a shot that kissed the base of the post early in the second half. The effort came at the end of an incisive Sweden break with Alexander Isak, the 21-year-old striker, the energy behind it.
The chances continued to come the way of both sides and Isak will regret a heavy touch when he appeared to be free inside the area.
His strike partner Dejan Kulusevski, also 21, showed far more composure when dropping a shoulder to escape his minder and only a flying save by Heorhiy Bushchan prevented his curler from tucking inside the far post.
Artem Besedin was on the receiving end of the tackle and hobbled off with ice on his left leg
But his side would win the game in the 121st minute with Dovbyk’s dramatic late header
But Bushchan would have been helpless had Forsberg’s dipping effort on 69 minutes crept a few inches lower and not rebounded off the crossbar.
Sweden’s Marcus Danielson was the victim of a freeze-frame red card in the first half of extra-time. Having won the ball, Danielson’s studs connected with the shin of the closing Artem Besyedin, forcing the withdrawal of the Ukrainian forward.
It looked awful in slow-motion – referee Daniele Orsato was sent for a pitchside review – but in real time there was little Danielson could do to avoid his opponent crashing into his boot. It was more unfortunate than malicious.
But that gave Ukraine the advantage and they made it pay when Dovbyk stooped at the death to keep alive their involvement in Euro 2020. Next up, England.
Andriy Shevchenko will now lead his side against Gareth Southgate’s men in the quarter finals
Olsen and Sweden meanwhile suffered a round of 16 exit having qualified for it for the first time since 2004
