ENGLAND played out a drab draw with Ukraine as they remained unbeaten in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Former Manchester City team-mates Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kyle Walker were the two scorers, with the latter getting his first international goal.
Gareth Southgate was forced to persevere with Harry Maguire and Marc Guehi in the heart of defence, but a lack of creativity in the final third will also frustrate the manager.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Stay up to date with all the latest from Wroclaw in our live blog…
The final word
We are now signing off from the live blog of England’s frustrating 1-1 draw away in Poland with Ukraine.
The Three Lions still remain in pole position in top spot of rRoup C and could seal their place at next summer’s European Championship in Germany in October when they face Italy at Wembley.
However, there’s a huge game first – despite it only being a “friendly”.
England head to Hampden Park on Tuesday to face the Auld Enemy Scotland, and you can follow all of the action live here on Sun Sport.
Here’s what Gareth Southgate had to say about that: “It will be a completely different game.
“They are going very well, they are a good side, strong in the middle of the park and difficult to score against.
“We have to reflect on tonight and improve on the performance.”
Gaffer’s verdict
Here’s what England boss Gareth Southgate had to say to Channel 4 after that game: “Very tough place to come. You could feel the atmosphere, a unique occasion.
“We controlled the game, we pacified a lot of that atmosphere by controlling the game. We didn’t create enough chances. If that is the case you have to make sure you don’t lose the game, so to come back from behind and get the point in terms of qualification is very important.
“When you have that much of the ball you want to create more chances but the attacking play didn’t click today.
“Once you go behind you have a bit of a mountain to climb away from home but you have to remain calm. After we scored we controlled the game and I thought if anyone would win it it would be us, but we didn’t create enough chances to do that.”
Credit: PA KANE’S PAIN
Harry Kane failed to see much action inside the area on what was a frustrating night for the England forward against Ukraine.
‘Tick it off’
Kyle Walker admitted his relief at finally getting off the mark for England – but insists defending is his job “first and foremost”.
The full-back scored his first Three Lions goal on his 77th cap to secure his country a 1-1 draw with Ukraine.
Afterwards he said: “It was a relief. To represent your country and be as fortunate as I have this many times, it had been on my mind but now I can finally tick it off.
“I’ve played with H [Harry Kane] for a number of years now and I know he likes to drop deep and spot that run. I saw the gap. I am pleased I could contribute at that end but my main job is stopping goals.
“It shows how intelligent he is as a footballer, he can drop deep and play as a number nine. We just need the best Harry Kane.”
Credit: Rex How it unfolded
KYLE WALKER
The England goalscorer gives his reaction to the 1-1 draw away to Ukraine:
“Listen, it’s a point away from home first and foremost.
“In front of goal we lacked a little bit of cutting edge but sometimes you have these games.
“Sometimes you just have these nights
“It’s a good Ukraine side. You take a point and move on and we move to Tuesday which will be a massive game.”
Credit: Getty FAN-TASTIC
It was a superb result for Ukraine and it was celebrated wildly by their supporters as they lit a number of flares after the whistle.
They remain second in the group, five points behind England but four ahead of Italy, who take on North Macedonia later tonight.
Credit: Reuters FRUSTRATING
England will now have to wait until next month’s Wembley clash with Italy, at the earliest, before they clinch qualification for the Euros in Germany.
The Three Lions now face an in-form Scotland in a Hampden Park ‘friendly’ on Tuesday.
And Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army will have little to fear on the basis of this sloppy display and will be licking their lips at the prospect of beating our boys.
Ukraine 1 England 1
FT: The final whistle goes and it’s honours even.
England’s 100 per cent record in Euro 2024 qualification is gone, but the point sees them remain in pole position at the top of Group C.
Zinchenko’s goal for Ukraine earned them a share of the spoils, and they are still unbeaten under their Serhiy Rebrov.
Credit: Getty Mudryk
The ace showed some flashes of danger, but he found Kyle Walker a tough nut to crack.
Ukraine 1 England 1
Four minutes of additional time to be played.
Come on England!
Ukraine 1 England 1
90. It’s now another substitute for the hosts.
The 26-year-old Yehor Nazaryna is on for what is his international debut for Ukraine.
He has been deployed in midfield for the final few minutes in place of Mudryk.
The Chelsea winger has been complaining of cramp. He is still yet to complete a full game for his country.
Ukraine 1 England 1
86. Another change for England.
Conor Gallagher earns his eighth Three Lions cap as he takes the place of Bukayo Saka.
Ukraine 1 England 1
85. Rashford goes down after trying to take the ball past Konoplya.
Free-kick to England down the left of the box as Harry Maguire goes up into the box again.
Rashford rakes it and drills it towards the back post but the goalkeeper parries away.
The ball comes back in and bounces down just yards out as Maguire lunges at it, but the England defender eventually ends up with a booking after catching Bushchan’s knee.
Ukraine 1 England 1
81. Mudryk gets the ball down the left and decides to go for it in a sprint against Kyle Walker.
The Ukraine winger knocks the ball past the full-back but the goalscorer sees off the danger as he holds off the attacker for an England goalkick.
Ukraine 1 England 1
79. Ukraine whip in a free-kick from out on the left.
Mudryk was the man on it, but it is an easy catch for England goalie Pickford.
Ukraine 1 England 1
76. The goalscorer Zinchenko makes way to a huge ovation.
He tries to whip the crowd up as he leaves the field.
Buyalskyi is on in his place.
15 minutes to go.
Credit: Reuters Willing them on
The partisan crowd are still making plenty of noise as they try to inspire their side to a famous victory.
Can England silence them late on?
Ukraine 1 England 1
72. Marcus Rashford leaves Mudryk down on the edge of the area with a late challenge while defending a corner.
Ukraine want a free-kick or penalty as it was right on the line, but England break forward and win a corner themselves.
Mudryk is down receiving treatment as a VAR check confirms it is no penalty.
Play eventually resumes and Maguire meets the corner with his head but it’s straight at the goalie.
Ukraine 1 England 1
65. Double changes for both teams.
Dovbyk and Sydorchuk replace Yaremchuk and Sudakov for the hosts.
Southgate responds by bringing on Rashford and Foden for Bellingham and Maddison.
Ukraine instantly win their first corner of the game but the Three Lions clear the danger.
Ukraine 1 England 1
64. It’s a first sight of goal for Harry Kane but it’s not one that he will remember.
The skipper takes a shot from 25 yards left-footed but it sails well wide.
Ukraine 1 England 1
63. Saka dances through the defence inside the area and pulls the trigger again.
His shot his blocked low by a Ukraine defender, with Saka instantly appealing for handball.
VAR check complete – no penalty.
Ukraine 1 England 1
59. Oh, so close for the Three Lions.
Harry Kane passes to Bukayo Saka on the corner of the box.
The Arsenal man comes inside and unleashes a piledriver from 20 yards with his left foot but his effort is tipped on to the bar by the keeper before the danger is clearered.
Credit: Reuters Heads up
Harry Maguire headed high over the bar with England’s only chance so far of the second half.
Ukraine 1 England 1
57. Zinchenko gets the ball on the edge of the box and sets up Sudakov from 20 yards, but the shot goes way wide.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
