A stirring second half comeback saw Ukraine fight back from the brink of crisis at Euro 2024, with goals from Mykhola Shaparenko and substitute Roman Yaremchuk earning them their first three points of the competition with a 2-1 come from behind win over Slovakia. The result leaves Group E intriguingly balanced, three teams on three points with Belgium propping up a table they were expected to top after their defeat on Monday.
Friday's remaining games saw Group D reach the two game mark. Austria won 3-1 against Poland in Berlin while France and the Netherlands failed to live up to their big billing in Leipzig, refereeing controversy one of the few notable instances in a dull 0-0 draw.
Euro 2024 scores for Friday
All times Eastern
- Slovakia 1, Ukraine 2
- Poland 1, Austria 3
- Netherlands 0, France 0
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Netherlands 0, France 0: Simons denied by VAR
A night of great profligacy by Antoine Griezmann went unpunished as the Netherlands were denied what might have been a winner in Leipzig in contentious fashion. Xavi Simons drilled home from the edge of the box midway through the second half only to see his goal chalked out as first the assistant referee and then the VAR concluded that Denzel Dumfries had been standing too close to goalkeeper Mike Maignan as the ball flashed into the net.
It was not the only time the Dutch went close in a match where they saw little of the ball but were prepared to fly forwards on the counter whenever favorites France turned over possession. Jeremie Frimpong went close in the first half, his shot well saved by Maignan, while Cody Gakpo also tested the opposition goal.
France might well have had more clear cut chances but for a bafflingly imprecise game from the usually excellent Griezmann, who twice failed to get convincing efforts away when the ball broke to him in the penalty area. N'Golo Kante flexed his creative muscles with a string of elegant passes into the penalty area, the former Leicester City and Chelsea midfielder seemingly back to his best after several injury-plagued seasons before his move to Saudi Arabia.
His excellence was not quite matched by others, Adrien Rabiot fluffing a late cross in the direction of Kingsley Coman. Missing the spark that might have come from Kylian Mbappe, confined to the bench after his broken nose against Austria, Les Bleus ground their way to the first goalless draw of the tournament, one which makes Poland the first side eliminated from Euro 2024.
Slovakia 1, Ukraine 2: Yaremchuk fires Ukrainians to big win
Forty five minutes from the brink of elimination, Ukraine delivered the sort of quality their talent has suggested they might so far in Euro 2024, overcoming an impressive start from Slovakia to move firmly into contention for a spot in the round of 16.
Such an outcome had seemed unlikely on occasions in Dusseldorf, where Slovakia started with the purpose and organisation that had taken them to a surprise 1-0 win over Belgium in the opening round of games. After more than a thousands days without a goal for club and country, Ivan Schranz delivered two in the space of a week, such that at half time Slovakia could have been dreaming of a berth in the round of 16, rather than the four way tussle for the last 16 they may soon be facing. Ghosting away from Oleksandr Zinchenko at the back post -- the Arsenal defender guilty of an all too familiar lapse of concentration -- met Lukas Haraslin's cross with authority, bouncing his header low and beyond goalkeeper Anatolii Trubiin, who might feel he could have done more to keep his side level.
Ukraine, who made four changes from their opening game including dropping Real Madrid shot stopper Andriy Lunin, were much improved from the disappointing (if heavily punished) display that saw them defeated 3-0 by Romania in the opener but in the first half they were guilty of too much passivity without the ball, allowing Slovakia to settle back into the groove from their openine game.
With 45 minutes left to revive their hopes in the tournament, Ukraine rallied. Mykhailo Mudryk led a purposeful break from the edge of his box, Zinchenko then offering a reminder of his offensive qualities with a well placed pass for Shaparenko to strike. Serhii Rebrov's changes brought more purpose to the Ukrainian press and the second half was dominated by the team in yellow.
UKRAINE TAKES THE LEAD 🇺🇦
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 21, 2024
Yaremchuk with a beauty!! pic.twitter.com/QsQj20Gm15
A looming meeting with Belgium, pre-tournament favorites to top the group, might have added impetus to the Ukrainian cause and in the 80th minute they got the rewards that had eluded them for much of Euro 2024. Shaparenko's ball over the top was killed with one brilliant touch by Roman Yaremchuk. His second wasn't too bad either, rolling the ball past Martin Dubravka and earning a priceless three points for his nation.
Poland 1, Austria 3: Rangnick's solid win
It's a huge win for Austria as the side coached by former Manchester United coach Ralf Rangnick was able to score three goals and beat Poland in Berlin. Austria's Gernot Trauner opened the scoring nine minutes into the game, but the advantage didn't last long as Krzysztof Piatek scored the equalizer in the same stadium where he used to play with Hertha Berlin. In the second half, despite Poland star Robert Lewandowski making his UEFA Euro 2024 debut, Austria scored two goals and finally won their first game of the tournament.
AUSTRIA TAKES THE LEAD 🇦🇹
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 21, 2024
Christoph Baumgartner with the goal 👏 pic.twitter.com/0umkMQceK8
Christoph Baumgartner netted the leading goal thanks to a nice play of Inter striker Marko Arnautovic, before the same Arnautovic scored the last goal of the clash with a penalty that closed the game on the 3-1. Austria will now meet in the same stadium Netherlands on Tuesday, while Poland will face France in their last clash of the tournament.
Group D outlook
| Rank | Team | W | D | L | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Netherlands | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
2 | France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
3 | Austria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
4 | Poland | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
Group E outlook
| Rank | Team | W | D | L | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Romania | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
2 | Ukraine | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
3 | Slovakia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
4 | Belgium | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
What happened on Thursday
Not a lot, at least if you were watching England's draw with Denmark. Their tedious 1-1 draw gave them enough of a points tally that they are almost certain to reach the last 16 and they remain top of the Group B table after Serbia's late equaliser denied Slovenia victory earlier in the day. The only one of the three games that ended with a winner was the final one, an impressive display from Spain downing Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Riccardo Calafiori turning into his own net in a match where the holders had to weather an almighty Spanish storm.
Saturday's fixtures
All times Eastern
