Euro 2012: England 1-0 Ukraine - Returning Rooney Scores

England have topped group D after beating the Ukraine 1-0 coupled with France's surprise 2-0 loss to Sweden. A header by the returning Wayne Rooney was enough to see England through to the quarter finals, and more pointedly, avoid Euro Giants Spain. Though Italy will still be a stern task for Roy Hodgson's men on Sunday, England fans will be breathing a collective sigh of relief at avoiding Fabregas, Silva, Xavi and co. The victory came in controversial fashion however as Delvic sent an effort over the line for the Ukraine which was not spotted by the referee or either of his officials. The debate about goal line technology now looks certain to rear its head yet again once the hysteria of England topping their group dissipates. It was the Ukraine in fact who started proceedings the better side. They showed all the forward running, ambition and drive that England sorely lacked in the opening stages. Knowing a point would be enough, there was more than a slight hint of suspicion that England were far too content to rest on their laurels. There was a slight surprise at the start of the evening when the squad was announced - Theo Walcott, who was so instrumental in England's comeback against Sweden, was left on the bench for the more defensive minded James Milner, reaffirming these suspicions. With Andriy Shevchenko only making the bench for the Ukraine through slight injury, England could have perhaps been forgiven for going for the jugular against a team bereft of their talisman. Yet for much of the first half it looked as though the Ukraine would draw first blood. Yevgen Konoplianka thought he would test Joe Hart early on with a speculative shot from a long way out which went harmlessly wide of the right-hand post. Then on seventeen minutes Konoplianka was at it again when his shot inside the area was charged down by John Terry. The ball cannoned back to the edge of the box and an effort from just outside the area by Anatoliy Tymoschuk sailed over the target. England weren't really in it until just after the twenty minute mark when a Steven Gerrard freekick caused confusion in the Ukraine penalty area, forcing Andrei Pyatov into an awkward parried save for a corner kick, which was duly wasted by Gerrard. There were very few clean-cut chances to speak of for much of the first half, that was until, in spite of the Ukraine's vastly superior possession, an Ashley Young cross found its way to the far post just before the half hour mark, only for Rooney to somehow squander his header from close range when it looked harder to miss. It was the best chance of a first half that lacked end product from a possession-dictating Ukraine and motivation from a disappointing and lethargic England. The second half could hardly have been any worse than the first, and any concerns that a repeat of the bore of the preluding period of play was on the cards were quickly put to bed 3 minutes in. Steven Garrard found time and space down the left flank before sending a rasping drive through a crowd of Ukraine defenders. The ball deflected slightly and somehow squirmed under the dive of Pyatov, rising kindly to none other than Wayne Rooney to head home from point blank. There was almost an inevitability that Rooney would score on his return, and though it is he who's name is on the scoresheet, it should be noted that this was the third assist in three group games for Steven Garrard. There was still a feeling of unease though for England, though some jangling nerves were put at ease moments later when news filtered through that Sweden had taken the lead over France, putting the three lions in pole position at the top of the group. Any feeling of complacency was short lived though when Artem Milevskiy should have had Ukraine level on the hour mark. A corner kick was sent in, only for him to head over from all of three yards. Though replays showed he was offside, the flag stayed down and it would have counted. What didn't count through was the Ukraine's eventual equalizer as the game took a controversial turn. Marko Devic found his way into the area and sent a shot past Joe Hart. The keeper could only get fingers to it as the ball drifted despairingly towards goal. John Terry slid in and hooked the ball away at the last moment, but replays clearly showed the ball cross the line as Oleh Blokhin went berserk on the touchline, frantically venting his frustrations at anyone who would listen. His reaction was justified - that the officials stood four feet behind the goal line didn't notice the ball go over the line is a mystery. Still, play resumed and still England led. Perhaps filled with renewed vigor having survived being pegged back, Ashley Cole almost settled proceedings. James Milner sent a cross in to the Ukraine penalty area only for Pyatov to palm it away. Cole hit a low half volley on the turn however which was well saved in the end. Andriy Shevchenko eventually climbed from the bench hoping to rescue something for his team, but was denied a romantic swansong of qualification to the quarter finals as his team failed to create any more chances to equalize. England knew they were group winners as Sweden took a two nil lead over France in the last minute of stoppage time, though it was scant consolation for the Swedes who join Ukraine in elimination. France will play Spain on Saturday and England will face Italy on Sunday in two of the four quarter finals as Euro 2012 edged closer, slightly closer, to its dramatic conclusion.