Ukraine vs France 16 june 2012

Ukraine are on the top of the group and a draw here would give them decent chance to progress through the knock out stage while a win would secure them a place. As for France, only a win can put their qualification hopes at their own hands. A draw might still put them through but they will have to win their final game and hope for England or Ukraine to do them a favour.



With the way Andriy Shevchenko is scoring the goals for Ukraine in this Euro Championship, he could well be running for a minister’s post in the next few years after he retires! Shevchenko had a quiet game but the former Ac Milan and Chelsea man came to life after Ukraine went behind and was superb in converting both chances into goal.

Let’s face the fact, yes Shevchenko can get you the goals and his goal scoring instinct is still there but he is no longer the Shevchenko he used to be at his prime. At 35, Shevchenko might struggle to play three games in a week and after featuring for almost 75 minutes four days ago, it will be interesting to see how he will be in the 2nd half.

Apart from Shevchenko, Ukraine have several veterans in the team and it will be interesting to see can they handle three games in a week. I am expecting to see signs of tiredness in the Ukraine side in the 2nd half today and France should have enough get a win.

We already know the threat that Shevchenko possesses, but I feel the key player for Ukraine would be Anatoliy Tymoschuk. Tymoschuk might not be as quick as he used to be but his ability to protect his defense and link the play up from back to front will be key. He will have a vital role tonight to protect his defense, especially from the runs of his club teammate, Frank Ribery. Should tymoschuk have a poor game, I cannot see how this Ukraine defense can contain the strike force of Benzema and co.

France on the other hand was fairly impressive. They dominated the game against England and their ball movement was quiet impressive. Should they do the same again today, I firmly believe that it should be sufficient to seal them all three points.

The key play for France would definitely be Karim Benzema. The Real Madrid striker had a very quiet game against England in their opening game and the Frenchman will want to join the likes of Mario Gomez and Fernando Torres in the spot light. Benzema who has proven himself at club level has yet to step up in the big stage for his country and this could very well be a good opportunity for him to do so.

Benzema had a superb season with Real Madrid will give the Ukraine defense a hard time as well as Ribery and Nazri down both flanks. The trio in my opinion might just rip the home side defense into pieces if they can get it right. Let’s not forget, Ukraine’s defense looks shaky every time Sweden got into dangerous position, more so in the dying stages of the game while Sweden had several glorious chances to tie the game. With the kind of form Benzema is in, I do not believe he will be as forgiving as the Swedes.

Take France and accept the -0.5 head start. However, for those of you who might feel that Ukraine might be able to hang on to a draw, consider the -0.25 handicap.

Categories: Ukraine vs France , Ukraine vs France 16 june 2012