Euro 2012: Group D matchday 1 analysis

FRANCE		1	:	1		ENGLAND
	Nasri 39'				Lescott 30'

My match rating: ★

My man of the match: Nasri (F)

UEFA report ---|||--- Player ratings ---|||--- Photos ---|||--- Highlights

When Spain and Italy couldn't topple one another, they gave life to an exciting and highly tactical game with many chances and a lot of creativity. When France and England couldn't, it was another Hundred Years' War.

Now you will very rarely hear me complain that a football game was "boring." That term has been forever marred by idiots who misunderstand the Beautiful Game and label it all as "boring," and I would most hate to sound like them. But this game was boring, not because there were few or no chances, but because there was little or no play. Detractors usually don't get that difference, but footy lovers surely do.

Neither France nor England bothered to express a rational and consistent style of play; or, to put it more maliciously, both refused to stick their heads out of the sand long enough to produce real football.

Given their current internal situations, can't say I blame them too much for being cautious, either. France need to erase a shameful World Cup 2010 exit, have undergone many federal changes in the last couple of years, and are in the middle of a difficult inter-generational shuffle after having been one of the most dominating teams in the history of the sport from 1998 to 2006. All of that applies to England too, minus the dominating part (because LOL). For them, the journey started in 2010 with an overall satisfying performance, and it must continue here, so the pressure on Hodgson must be tremendous.

Overall, not one for the books. Both teams will look to vanquish the opposition and move on, but given the outcome of the other game that might not be so easy...

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UKRAINE		2	:	1		SWEDEN
	Shevchenko 55', 62'				Ibrahimovic 52'

My match rating: ★★ ½

My man of the match: Shevchenko (U)

UEFA report ---|||--- Player ratings ---|||--- Photos ---|||--- Highlights

I'm too tired to write a full analysis; I will tomorrow. Slow first half, crazy second. Meanwhile, click here for some more Sheva photos, because awesome.
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GROUP D STANDINGS

team	points	wins	ties	losses	goals+	goals-
UKRAINE	3	1	0	0	2	1
FRANCE	1	0	1	0	1	1
ENGLAND	1	0	1	0	1	1
SWEDEN	0	0	0	1	1	2