Euro 2020. Ukraine in extra time defeated Sweden and for the first time in history reached the quarterfinals

30.06.2021 01:37

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Today in Glasgow, the national team of Ukraine held the first match in its history of the playoffs of the European Championship. Ukrainians with Swedes from'found out who will be the last participant in the quarterfinals of the Euro and argue with England to reach 1/2-th.

Compared to a group tournament match against Austria there were two changes in the composition of Ukrainians. Instead of Mykolenko and Malinovsky, Kryvtsov and Stepanenko came on the field from the first minutes. The arrangement was different. For the first time at Euro 2020, the coaching staff applied a scheme with three central defenders, and for the first time Ukraine started the game with two supporting midfielders at once.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

As Andriy Shevchenko said at the pre-match press conference, the factor of struggle and rivalry for controversial balls acquires special importance in the meeting with the opponent, who is distinguished by athleticism. Therefore, it is not surprising that his team from the very beginning tried to maximize the value of the ball, using mostly short and medium passes.

And although the Swedes struck the first blow in the match, the Ukrainians were the first to create the real moment. In the 11th minute Yaremchuk finished the attack, punching from the middle distance, and Olsen recorded the first save. In general, the Scandinavian team allowed our players to play the ball in their own half of the field, without resorting to pressure. But this slow draw was not successful, and it was possible to create tension at Olsen's goal after winning controversial balls in the center of the field and quick transfers forward. The Swedish team also did not force the event, but it was able to threaten the goal, even at a mediocre pace. In the 19th minute, Janne Andersson's charges were close to success, when Isaac, punching from outside the penalty area, almost hit the bottom corner.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

But the fresh course of the match in the 27th minute was interrupted by the Ukrainians, who stunned the opponent, playing a great combination even without high speeds. Shaparenko, Karavaev, Yarmolenko and Zinchenko - each of them showed the highest skill in this attack, and that was enough to open the score. 0: 1.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

In the time left before the break, the Swedes managed to win back. Larsson's free kick neutralized Bushchan, but then the Ukrainians sat very deep in defense and allowed opponents to make a lot of dangerous canopies. However, Forsberg struck a productive blow not from the second floor, but from outside the penalty area, and a ricochet helped him. 1: 1.   

In the second half, the rivals kept the Ukrainian defense in suspense thanks to canopies and long-range shots, but Shevchenko's team also created sharpness. In the 55th minute, Sydorchuk scored from Yarmolenko's pass into the post, and in a minute Forsberg hit the frame of the goal. In general, after the break, the ball was more held by the Swedes, and in the 69th minute Forsberg shook the crossbar with a roundabout shot.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

After Malinowski's replacement, the Ukrainians' ball control indicators improved, and in martial arts our teams proved to be the best, selflessly fighting for every controversial ball. Towards the end of regular time, both teams began to act as carefully as possible, trying to minimize the risk, and the match went into overtime.

In extra time, both coaches made numerous substitutions, and Danielsson played extremely rough against Besedin, who had just entered the game, injuring him and leaving his team in the minority. Kryvtsov and Yarmolenko were also injured, and our captain also had to be replaced.

The second extra time also proved to be extremely hard and physically difficult. The Ukrainian team attacked a lot, trying to use the numerical advantage and decide the fate of the confrontation during the game. And she succeeded. In the 120 + 1 minute, Dovbyk scored his debut goal for the national team with a header from Zinchenko's pass, which became the winner!

For the first time in history, the national team of Ukraine made its way to the eight best teams of the European Championship and will play against England in Rome on July 1/4.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Euro 2020. 1/8 finals

Sweden - Ukraine - 1: 2 (1: 1, 1: 1) 

Goals: Forsberg (43) - Zinchenko (27), Dovbyk (120 + 1).

Sweden: Olsen, Lustig (Kraft, 83), Lindelef, Danielsson, Augustinson (Bengtsson, 83), K. Olsson (Helander, 101), Ekdal, S. Larsson (k) (Klasson, 97), Forsberg, Kulusevsky (Quayson, 97) ), Isaac (Berg, 97).

Substitutions: Jonsson, Nordfeldt, Svensson, Sema, Jansson, Kayuste.

Trainer: Janne Andersson.

Ukraine: Bushchan, Karavaev, Zabarny, Kryvtsov, Matvienko, Zinchenko, Stepanenko (Makarenko, 95), Sidorchuk (Bezus, 118), Yarmolenko (k) (Dovbyk, 106), Shaparenko (Malinovsky, 61), Yaremchuk (Besedin, 91, Tsygankov , 101).

Substitutions: Pyatov, Trubin, Sobol, Marlos, Mykolenko, Timchyk.

Trainer: Andrii Shevchenko.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy).

Booked: Kulusevsky (69), Forsberg (85) - Yarmolenko (79), Dovbyk (120 + 1).

Sent off: Danielsson (98).

June 29. Glasgow. Hampden Park Stadium.