ENGLAND have been handed a Euro 2020 boost with the news that Ukraine star Artem Besedin has been ruled OUT of their quarter-final clash.
Besedin was the victim of a horror challenge from Marcus Danielson that saw the Swedish defender shown a straight red card.
Ukraine went on to score a winner in the final minute of extra-time – but are counting the cost of a long night’s work.
Besedin has returned home for treatment and is out of the rest of the tournament should Ukraine beat England.
The centre-forward came off the bench for Ukraine in three of their four matches at Euro 2020.
Playing a total of 36 minutes, Besedin played his part in his nation reaching the quarter-finals, although has failed to score or claim an assist.
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Sweden defender Danielson was given his marching orders via a VAR review into his challenge in extra time with the scores level.
The Swede was initially awarded a yellow after his attempted clearance ended with him catching Besedin on the follow-through.
However, Italian referee Daniele Orsato was advised to have another look at the tackle on the pitch-side monitor.
And replays showed that although Danielson got the ball first, his studs were high and they caught Besedin’s leg – bending it awkwardly.
The centre-back – who plays his club football at Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional – was furious with the decision.
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Danielson’s red card meant he became only the fourth player to receive his marching orders in extra-time of a Euros match.
And Ukraine finally made the extra man count with Artem Dovbyk’s stooping header enough to set up a quarter-final clash against England.
SunSport’s referee’s expert Mark Halsey believes Danielson can have no complaints over his red card.
He explained: “When you lunge at the ball with one or two feet you run the risk of being red carded for a challenge of this type.
“Danielson was high and, although he won the ball first, his follow through caught Artem Besedin.
“It was a challenge which endangered a player’s safety with excessive force and met the criteria for a dismissal for me.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk