Euro 2012
2012-06-19 - England vs Ukraine
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Match Preview :
England takes on co-hosts Ukraine knowing that a draw is good enough for them to progress to the quarter-finals at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk.
Ukraine need to win to make it past the group stage, so there will be no love lost between these two sides in what is sure to be a hostile atmosphere.
England coach Roy Hodgson will definitely welcome back Wayne Rooney and he will need to decide who to drop in order to make way for his return.
This is because Rooney will return to the side after completing his two-match suspension following his red card against Montenegro in Podgorica eight months ago.
That means either his Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck or Liverpool striker Andy Carroll will lose his place in the starting eleven. Carroll scored with a header and Welbeck cleverly flicked home the winner when England beat Sweden 3-2 on Friday which put them level with France with 4 points in the group.
Nevertheless, the last time Rooney took part in a European Championship, he scored four goals in four games, back in 2004, so his first appearance will be much to look forward. The good news is Hodgson has a full squad as Theo Walcott available after a hamstring problem.
Meanwhile, Ukraine are sweating over the fitness of team captain Andriy Shevchenko who is rated as a "50-50 chance" of recovering from a knee injury in time for the start of the match.
Shevchenko completed a squad training session on Monday, having sat out training the previous day because of a swollen left knee. But he remains an injury doubt and Blokhin says he will only decide whether or not to play the striker an hour or so before kickoff.
Blokhin said that if he does not feature then it would be a big loss as the former AC Milan and Chelsea striker would be a huge blow for Ukraine because not only is he the country's all-time top scorer but he is a key figure in the dressing room.
The 35-year-old has also scored four of Ukraine's seven goals at major international tournaments. But Blokhin said the pressure will be on England given their higher status in the game and greater expectations
Predictions :
Take England to win this match!
The Pick :
England 1-0 Ukraine
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take England to win.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Main Bet :
Get on England and give the -1/2 ball here.
Get on England and give the -1/2 ball here.
