England's Comeback Draw Against Ukraine in Euro 2024 Qualifier

England's Comeback Draw Against Ukraine in Euro 2024 Qualifier

England's Comeback Draw Against Ukraine in Euro 2024 Qualifier(Image-Getty)

 In their Euro 2024 qualifier match against Ukraine on Saturday, England staged a remarkable comeback, securing a 1-1 draw and maintaining a six-point lead at the summit of Group C. Kyle Walker scored his maiden international goal, capitalizing on a sublime assist from Harry Kane.

England displayed dominance in possession, but it was Ukraine who surprised them with a goal in the 26th minute. Oleksandr Zinchenko found the net after a well-executed pass from the right by Yukhym Konoplia set up the midfielder to calmly sidefoot the ball past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Reflecting on the outcome, Zinchenko expressed his satisfaction, saying, "I think it's an amazing result for us. England are one of the best teams in the world, and in general, we did very well."

Ukraine, unable to play on home soil since Russia's invasion of the country in February 2022, with Moscow referring to it as a "special military operation," played in front of a fervent crowd at the Tarczynski Arena in Poland, where the noise was deafening at times.

England drew level just before halftime, with captain Kane seizing control of the ball in midfield and delivering a superb pass to Walker. Walker displayed excellent ball control and composed finishing, securing his first-ever goal for the England national team.

Walker acknowledged the missed opportunities by his team but emphasized the significance of earning a draw on the road, considering they had 11 attempts on goal compared to Ukraine's two. He stated, "It's a point away from home, and we're in a good position in the group, and it was always going to be tough as they're a proud nation. I thought we lacked a bit of cutting edge tonight but sometimes you have to take a point and move on."

In the second half, England adopted a more direct approach, leading to increased opportunities, including a Bukayo Saka shot that struck the crossbar. Approximately 25 minutes from the final whistle, manager Gareth Southgate made substitutions, introducing Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford for James Maddison and Jude Bellingham. However, neither substitute could breach Ukraine's determined defense, as Ukraine pushed higher up the pitch in the second half.

With this result, England, who conceded only their second goal in the qualifying campaign, maintained their position at the top of the group with 13 points from five games. Ukraine sits in second place with seven points from four matches. This draw marked the first time England dropped points in the qualifying campaign.