WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Co-host Ukraine beats Sweden 2-1 in Kiev in the second Group D match at the European Championship. Earlier, France and England drew 1-1.
Here is a running account of Monday's action. All times are local to Poland.
___
2242: Sweden missed a couple of late chances to equalize there. John Elmander had his head in his hands after volleying wide following a clever flick-on from Ibrahimovic. Then Mellberg lofts a shot on the stretch just over the crossbar. It proved to be the Swedes' last opportunity and they have tough games against France and England to come. For Ukraine, it doesn't get much better — a 2-1 victory and Shevchenko scoring the winner. Perfect.
___
2238: FULL TIME: UKRAINE 2, SWEDEN 1
___
2235: This is getting tense. Ruslan Rotan comes on for Andriy Voronin as Ukraine makes its second switch. A midfielder on for a striker — surely a sign that Ukraine is setting up to defend its way to victory. We're into injury time.
___
2230: Shevchenko is being substituted for Ukraine, to be replaced by Artem Milevskiy. The cheers when his number goes up is nearly as loud as when he scored. Five minutes left for Ukraine to hang on.
___
2224: Ibrahimovic stings the wrists of Pyatov with a fierce half-volley. It nearly knocks the Ukraine goalkeeper over but he gets enough on it to send the ball away from goal. If Ibrahimovic puts it a meter either side of Pyatov, Sweden is level because the ball is travelling that fast. It's all Sweden now with 10 minutes left.
___
2216: Three substitutions by Sweden as it looks to get back in this game. Anders Svensson replaces Ola Toivonen for Sweden, Christian Wilhelmsson is on for Sebastian Larsson and Elmander comes on for Rosenberg. Seventeen minutes left. 2-1 to Ukraine.
___
2210: Shevchenko's first goal might have blown the roof off, but the Olympic Stadium is bouncing off the ground after his second. Shevchenko shows he's lost none of that predatory attacking instinct which made him one of the most feared strikers in Europe by losing his marker, Ibrahimovic, and glancing a header inside the near post. Incredible turnaround from Ukraine. That's three goals in 10 minutes!
___
2206: GOAL! UKRAINE 2, SWEDEN 1 (Shevchenko)
___
2204: Two goals in three minutes and this game has really exploded into life. Sweden led, briefly, after Ibrahimovic sidefoots home from six yards out following a pull-back from Kallstrom. The lead lasts a matter of minutes though, as Shevchenko replies instantly, getting across his marker and heading in Oleh Gusev's cross to send the thousands of home fans wild.
___
2200: GOAL! UKRAINE 1, SWEDEN 1 (Shevchenko)
___
2158: GOAL! UKRAINE 0, SWEDEN 1 (Ibrahimovic)
___
2132: HALFTIME: UKRAINE 0, SWEDEN 0.
___
2127: Should have scored there, Zlatan. A lovely cross is floated across by Sebastian Larsson, finding the Sweden captain unmarked, but his header bounces agonizingly against the post, with Pyatov beaten. Ibra looks on ruefully — he knows he might not have a better chance. Halftime is approaching. This has been a lively game.
___
2121: Rosenberg tests Pyatov in the Ukraine goal with a vicious swerving low shot but it is well saved. At the other end, Andriy Voronin almost sends Isaksson into the back of his own net with a fierce drive that is fisted away by the goalkeeper. As with the France-England game, a draw wouldn't be the worst result for either side here.
___
2116: (at)mattekaren Sheva would have scored that 10 years ago. Maybe even five. (via Twitter)
We're past the 30-minute mark and it's still 0-0.
___
2108: Ibrahimovic is Sweden's danger man. And Ukraine knows it. Whenever he gets the ball, there are two or three defenders around him. Shevchenko just flashes wide a good chance for Ukraine. The angle was acute, to be fair, but he could have tested Andreas Isaksson.
___
2101: The co-hosts are enjoying plenty of early possession and the fans are vociferously backing their side but there hasn't been too much for them to shout about after Yarmolenko's early effort. Sweden's Kim Kallstrom shown a yellow card after sliding in on Oleh Gusev and catching only his foot.
___
2055: An early touch for veteran striker Andriy Shevchenko — he of AC Milan and Chelsea fame — brings a roar from the home fans, as does the first shot of the night from Andriy Yarmolenko for Ukraine. Still 0-0.
___
2051: (at)mattekaren Ibra's lips didn't move during national anthem (although the lyrics were flashing karaoke-style on the video board). Looked determined. (via Twitter)
Not much is expected of Ukraine this tournament but playing all three group games gives them a chance to reach the knockout stage. No real openings yet.
___
2045: We've just kicked off at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, which is where the final will be played on July 1. It holds 65,720 spectators and was completly rebuilt for the European Championship. It's a raucous sea of yellow and blue tonight.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is Sweden's star player and coach Erik Hamren has built his team around the AC Milan forward, who is playing in a withdrawn role nowadays for his country. Markus Rosenberg is up front in place of Johan Elmander, who has been injured for the past month.
___
2038: Here are the lineups for Ukraine vs. Sweden:
Ukraine: Pyatov, Gusev, Mykhalyk, Khacheridi, Selin, Yarmolenko, Tymoschuk, Konoplianka, Nazarenko, Voronin, Shevchenko.
Sweden: Isaksson, Lustig, Mellberg, Granqvist, Martin Olsson, Elm, Kallstrom, Larsson, Ibrahimovic, Toivonen, Rosenberg.
Subs:
Ukraine: Koval, Kucher, Garmash, Aliev, Shevchuk, Rakitskiy, Butko, Goryainov.
Sweden: Wiland, Svensson, Jonas Olsson, Antonsson, Wernbloom, Safari, Holmen, Hansson.
___
1955: So, France's unbeaten record is extended to 22 games but Blanc will feel his team could have snatched a win in Donetsk after having 60 percent possession. England will be the happier with the point after defending for large periods and scoring with its only attempt on target. It keeps them unbeaten under Roy Hodgson.
___
1948: FULL TIME: FRANCE 1, ENGLAND 1
___
1946: Milner delivers a low ball into the near post for Danny Welbeck but Phillipe Mexes gets their first and pokes it out for a corner, which France clear. That is as close as England have come to scoring this half. We're into stoppage time.
___
1943: France makes some substitutions, too. Hatem Ben Arfa on for Yohan Cabaye and Marvin Martin replaces Florent Malouda. Five minutes left and the French doing all the attacking.
___
1938: Welbeck deflects Cabaye's volley just wide of Hart's post. That was as close as we've come for a while. 10 minutes left.
___
1933: (at)mattekaren England's wingers largely uneffective so far. Walcott much be chomping at the bit on the bench. (via Twitter)
It's not Walcott coming on, though. It's Jordan Henderson and Jermain Defoe for Parker and Oxlade-Chamberlain.
___
1926: Still France 1, England 1. Twenty minutes left.
___
1920: Not much happening out there, to be honest. Although Benzema has just smashed a low shot from 25 yards at Hart. Comfortable save. Given the heat, maybe time for some subs.
___
1913: (at)RobHarris Partial reason for quietness in stadium is the England supporters' band not being allowed in after coming here by road from England. (via Twitter)
Still no clear-cut opportunities in the second half.
___
1908: France dominating possession at the start of the second half but struggling to break England down once it gets into the final third of the pitch. Whenever England players get the ball, they don't look comfortable in possession. No chances yet, though.
___
1902: Players are back out and second half is under way. No substitutions yet.
___
1853: The French have just about had the better of proceedings in the first half at the Donbass Arena but stubborn defending from England has reduced them to mainly shooting from outside the penalty area. England dropped deeper and deeper after taking the lead. May be a theme in the second half if things continue the way they are.
___
1846: HALF TIME: FRANCE 1, ENGLAND 1
___
1842: Joe Hart makes a superb reflex save from Alou Diarra's header but he is beaten moments later — and maybe could have done better. Franck Ribery plays the ball to Samir Nasri, who knocks the ball onto his right foot before letting fly with a shot identical to the one that was inches wide of goal earlier in the half, except this time it sneaks inside Hart's near post. That's two scorers from English champion Manchester City.
___
1838: FRANCE 1, ENGLAND 1 (Nasri)
___
1832: Steven Gerrard whips a free kick into the area and Joleon Lescott is first to reach the ball, directing his header into the back of the net from close range to give England the lead after 30 minutes.
___
1829: FRANCE 0, ENGLAND 1 (Lescott)
___
1823: Welbeck is down holding his ankle and looks in pain. He goes up for a header with Adil Rami, who accidentally lands on the England player's left ankle. That looked painful. Welbeck had an injury to his ankle in the run-up to the tournament but will be OK to play on, it seems.
___
1818: James Milner misses a great chance to give England the lead. Young plays him through one-on-one with Lloris and he rounds him with his first touch but takes the ball a fraction too far wide. He has an open goal to aim at, but hits the side-netting from an acute angle. He slams his fist on the ground in frustration. Best chance of the game so far.
___
1814: France has started the stronger. Terry intervenes to keep Benzema at bay before Nasri shoots just wide minutes later. England goalkeeper Joe Hart also fails to hold a relatively routine catch from a corner. Early nerves?
___
1810: jeromepugmire: Bizarre: Loudest chants at the stadium are for Russia. (via Twitter)___
1805: There are a few empty seats in the stadium. Oxlade-Chamberlain makes an early break but his pass into the area is blocked. The 18-year-old is making only his third appearance for England and his first start at international level.
___
1800: After a 10-to-1 countdown by the stadium announcer, England kicks off...
___
1758: Players out and singing the national anthems (apart from Ribery and Benzema for the French).
___
1753: RobHarris: Hodgson on (at)Alex_OxChambo: "He gives a balance to our team which is very useful." but alternatives "if he tires or things don't work out" (via Twitter)
___
1748: Some stats for you. France has won 15 and drawn six of its last 21 games. England is beginning to forge a reputation as the king of the 1-0 win. Five of its last seven results have finished that way. Hodgson likes to keep it tight in defense.
___
1741: Nineteen minutes until kickoff at the Donbass Arena. The players head back down the tunnel and into the dressing rooms as Roy Hodgson and Laurent Blanc prepare to give a few final words of wisdom to their players.
___
1736: Remember, no Wayne Rooney for England. He's suspended for two matches. Rooney's sat in the dugout, chewing gum and looking on enviously as the teams warm up. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a surprise starter for England in midfield. As for France, Alou Diarra starts in central midfield in place of Yann M'Vila, who is only on the bench after an ankle injury. It's hot, hot, hot in Donetsk.
___
1730: It's Day 4 of Euro 2012. Here are the lineups for France vs. England.
France: Lloris, Debuchy, Rami, Mexes, Evra, Diarra, Cabaye, Ribery, Nasri, Malouda, Benzema.
England: Hart, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole, Parker, Milner, Gerrard, Young, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck.
Subs:
France: Mandanda, Giroud, Matuidi, Reveillere, Menez, M'Vila, Martin, Ben Arfa, Valbuena, Clichy, Koscielny, Carrasso.
England: Green, Walcott, Henderson, Carroll, Baines, Jones, Jagielka, Downing, Defoe, Butland.
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).