Euro 2012: group D matchday 2 analysis

UKRAINE		0	:	2		FRANCE
					Menex 53' Cabaye 56'

My match rating: ★★

My man of the match: Menez (F)

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

Because awwww.

The most memorable feature of this match was the 57-minute suspension of play because of heavy rain and lightning striking the stadium. A mere ten minutes into the first half, the referee ordered both teams in.

When play resumed, the French dominated. The first half was a succession of Bleus goal chances, now with Benzema, now Menez. The latter had a goal ruled off-side and an incredible miss from the goal box; another way to look at it is that Ukrainian goalkeeper Pyatov made a miraculous save. We'll go with that.

The second half started in much the same vein. France quickly got on the board after a hammering attack that left Ukraine shocked, awed, and down 1-0. This time Menez did admirably, controlling a difficult pass at the edge of the box and grazing the near post with a precise zinger. Not 3 minutes later, the young Cabaye doubled the lead.

This is yet another instance of back-to-back goals in this Euro 2012. Spain-Italy, Ireland-Croatia, France-England, Greece-Czech Republic, and Denmark-Portugal all featured two goals scored in quick succession, though rarely by the same team. After that, France looked good and Ukraine looked dead; at least as dead as their supporters sounded. I have seldom heard a stadium silenced so swiftly and so bluntly by a visitor goal.

As an AS Roma supporter, then, I was especially pleased to see Menez get international recognition. When he's focused, he is among the most technically proficient strikers I have ever seen play the game of football. No, that's not an overstatement. He is capable of superb ball control and has a remarkable football vision, which makes him both a deadly striker and an intelligent winger or trequartista. Too bad that he rarely lives up to his potential, a problem that has damned many wanna-be champions to oblivion. But he still has time to shine and I'll definitely be rooting for him.

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SWEDEN		2	:	3		ENGLAND
	Johnson (og) 49' Mellberg 59'				Carroll 23' Walcott 64' Welbeck 78'

My match rating: ★★★

My man of the match: Walcott (E)

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

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GROUP D STANDINGS

team	points	wins	ties	losses	goals+	goals-
FRANCE	4	1	1	0	3	1
ENGLAND	4	1	1	0	4	3
UKRAINE	3	1	0	1	2	3
SWEDEN	0	0	0	2	3	5