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Watch Euro 2012 Ukraine vs France Live Streaming Online
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Talk about everything going according to the script. Ukraine, the co-hosts, could hardly have had a better night than they did against Sweden in Kiev.Before a noisy and expectant crowd, the key questions were answered: could they handle the occasion? Could they score goals? Could Andriy Shevchenko, the 35-year-old talisman and national sporting hero, make the impact supporters craved?With the exception of a very jittery finale during which Johan Elmander missed a glorious chance to spoil things with an equaliser, Ukraine were energetic and enterprising. They reacted brilliantly after falling behind to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's strike, maintaining their belief and upping the tempo, and the two superbly-taken Shevchenko goals that followed showed that the old stager still has what it takes.But it wasn't all about him: many of Oleg Blokhin's less heralded players rose to the occasion, too. Andriy Voronin - who had faced sustained criticism after a series of underwhelming international performances over recent years - Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka also played major attacking roles. Ukraine, though, will have to tighten up defensively if they are to secure a second successive win: a more clinical side than Sweden would have punished the nervy indecision that characterised the closing stages of the opening game.But, on the evidence of their first group game, will France be that much more clinical? The possession statistics favoured them against England, and they had 15 shots on target to the grand total of one mustered by Roy Hodgson's side, but they did not look as threatening as that would suggest.Their goal, when it came, was beautifully struck through a crowd by Samir Nasri, but the French rarely hit any kind of real stride. Coach Laurent Blanc admitted as much when he lamented that they had finally started their Euro 2012 campaign with about 20 minutes of the match left. But the potential threat posed by a side now unbeaten in 22 games is unquestionable: Nasri, Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema, Florent Malouda et al can between them summon up much more than they did against England. Ukraine will not be as stifling as England were - more open in midfield and less rigid in their formation, the way they play looks set to allow the French more space in which to create. This could be an exciting, attacking occasion.
Ukraine player to watch: Yevhen Konoplyanka. In a team that enjoys playing on the counter, Konoplyanka provides plenty of direct running, can drift in from the left and offers dangerous deliveries. France should beware his potential on the break.
France player to watch: Karim Benzema. Benzema endured a frustrating time against England's defensive wall but still conjured up a couple of good strikes that were kept out by Joe Hart. He could have a happier night against a less defensively-minded side.
Key battle: Philippe Mexes v Andriy Shevchenko. England couldn't be accused of having been ambitious against the French, but Blanc's men didn't look entirely happy at the back. Mexes was the best of the defensive bunch: can he stop Shevchenko's glorious swansong from continuing?
Odds: Ukraine (3.75), the draw (3.30) and France (2.10) are on offer with bet365, while Shevchenko to be first goalscorer is available at 8.50.
Stat: France have won three, drawn three and lost none of six games against Ukraine.Trivia: Shevchenko's brace against Sweden made him the oldest player to score two in a match at an international tournament since 38-year-old Roger Milla did the same for Cameroon against Romania at the 1990 World Cup.
Prediction: Ukraine exceeded expectations last time, while France frustrated. Similar performances when they play each other would suggest a draw, but a hard-fought, Ukrainian euphoria-denting win for the French is a bit more likely.
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