England vs Ukraine: Ghost goal returns to haunt football

On an bizarre night at Donbass Arena, the co-hosts of the Euro Championship have decided to carry on the tradition of not progressing past the group stages which was started by Austria and Switzerland in 2008.

Ukraine’s manager, Oleh Blokhin had a fit when the match officials did not award his side a goal after John Terry made a crucial goal-line clearance when England were leading 1-0.

Replays showed that the ball had indeed crossed the line, but Marko Devic was offside when the ball was played. Earlier, Milevskiy’s header from three yards out almost gave Ukraine an equaliser, but he was offside too before the ball was played into the box. On both occasions, the fifth official and the linesman bore close resemblance to plastic models in a shop window for their inaction

It was just yesterday when Uefa president, Michel Platini pat himself on the back for using five match officials in every game, and the very next day a ghost goal returns to haunt football.

“How is it that you’re seeing more goals scored in this tournament? I think you know the answer: five officials makes things easier,” Platini said, speaking to Sky Sports.

“With extra officials you’re aware of more things: the fear of getting caught is there. There’s no more shirt-pulling, players know that the referee is there.

“With five, officials see everything. They don’t make decisions without being fully aware.

It was a delight to watch Ukraine attacking England from the middle in the first half, but its midfield hit a brick wall trying to open up England’s defence.

Ukraine’s frustration spilled from the dugout onto the pitch as their efforts from the distance would have so much as annoyed the fans sitting in Row Z.

Wayne Rooney, playing his first match in Euro 2012, missed an easy chance to score from a splendid cross by Ashley Young in the first half. However, Rooney scored his first goal in the Euros since his last against Croatia in 2004, when Steven Gerrard‘s cross took three deflections before Rooney nodded it into an empty net. This goal ended his 673 minutes of goal drought for England at major tournaments.

England and France qualify for the knockout stages from Group D. However, France appears to have drawn the short straw as they finished behind England on points and will now face Spain in the quarters. Italy wouldn’t be an easy ride for England either, especially for an England side that is trying to push itself past the finish line on three wheels.

^G.L