Enjoy your moment, Danny Welbeck. The 21-year-old Manchester United striker scored arguably the most spectacular goal of Euro 2012 to date, hitting a back-heeled volley into the bottom corner. Welbeck's inspiration was the third and final lead-change in a 3-2 thriller at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv. The result, witnessed by 64,000 fans on site, put Sweden out of the tournament.
Roughly 20,000 Scandinavians set the tone before the match, drowning out their British counterparts with their fan anthem: "Stand up, we're yellow and blue." The Swedes outnumbered traveling England fans by about four to one, though their staunch support wasn't quite enough.
Liverpool are no longer renowned for the pass-and-move football that was the lynchpin of their past glory. Nor are England - not that the national side was ever famed for "sexy football." The first goal couldn't match Spain's style, but was still a screamer. Captain Steven Gerrard picked out his Liverpool teammate Andy Carroll with an inch-perfect long ball - the big man's header was unstoppable.
England's opener had a negative effect on Roy Hodgson's side, who started to cede the lion's share of possession to Sweden. The pressure told twice from free kicks. Olof Mellberg (airborne) might have hoped to be credited with a brace - but the defender's first strike was classed as a Glen Johnson own goal. By the 59th minute, Sweden was leading 2-1, thanks to two in ten minutes.
England dipped into their bench far earlier than in the 1-1 draw against France, bringing pacey attacker Theo Walcott (#7, being bear-hugged) into the fray. The Arsenal winger equalized with a curling shot from the edge of the box that completely wrong-footed Isaksson in the Swedish goal. Super-sub Walcott also burst between two defenders to deliver the low cross for Welbeck's spectacular winner.
The English fans celebrated a dramatic turnaround against stout opposition. England's winless streak makes Germany's 16 years without a major tournament triumph seem rather paltry. The men with three lions on their shirts can see those 16 years, and raise a further 30 on top. Prior to that 1966 World Cup win at Wembley, the England trophy cabinet was bare. Improvement in 2012 still seems unlikely.
A sudden storm, a lengthy suspension of play, and then a scoreline most expected. Dark horses France beat Ukraine 2-0, dampening the Euro 2012 euphoria after the co-hosts beat Sweden first time out. Coach Laurent Blanc's side had not won a major tournament game since 2006 - and this triumph poistions them well to reach the last eight. But be warned, "les Bleus" are on a 23-game unbeaten run now.
Shortly before the start in Donetsk the heavens opened. The players gamely sought to brave conditions better suited to a stadium with a closed roof.
Within five minutes, referee Björn Kuipers of the Netherlands saw the writing on the wall and brought the game to a temporary halt. Thunder and lightning had begun to accompany the torrential downpour that was already threatening to turn the pitch into a swimming pool. It was the first delay of its kind in European Championship history.
After almost an hour, play resumed. France, who had by far the better of their earlier draw with England, looked more than a match for Ukraine, dominating the game. Yet it took time for them to show their superiority on the scoresheet. After the second break, this time a scheduled one, France found the net. Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema provided Jeremy Menez with a simple strike on 53 minutes.
Once Blanc's blues found the net, it didn't take them long to double their money. Real Madrid striker Benzema provided the assist for midfielder Yohan Cabaye. His shot took a defelction off Oleg Gusev (sliding), rendering keeper Andriy Pyatov helpless. The French two-goal cushion never came under serious threat thereafter. France play eliminated Sweden in their last Group D game.
France took a step towards the last eight with a wet and wild win over co-hosts Ukraine on Friday. England and Sweden, meanwhile, played out a five-goal thriller. Here are the Group D highlights in pictures.
France took a step towards the last eight with a wet and wild win over co-hosts Ukraine on Friday. England and Sweden, meanwhile, played out a five-goal thriller. Here are the Group D highlights in pictures.
