Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Ukraine vs. Sweden
Euro 2012 Group D live commentary
Monday, June 11, kickoff 2:45 p.m. ET
The match between Ukraine and Sweden will conclude the first round of group-stage matches at Euro 2012. Both these teams will be trying to upset European heavyweights France and England to make it to the next round and hope to get off to a good start.
Join me here before the game for team news and lineups and stay on for commentary throughout the game. You can also check out some post-match reaction after the game.
As we wait for the game to begin, you can take the time to check out these articles on the teams and the tournament itself:
Euro 2012 Preview: 10 Things to Know About Ukraine National
This summer, the Euro Cup 2012—hosted by Poland and Ukraine—runs from June 8 to July 1.
As the various teams begin to consider their final squads, training methods, team tactics and travel arrangements, we'll take a look at things worth knowing about co-hosts Ukraine; from players, route to the final, history and more.
Here are 10 things to know about the Zhovto-Blakytni (the Yellow-Blues):
Ukraine are the co-hosts for this summer's Euro 2012 tournament alongside Poland.
As co-hosts, Ukraine automatically qualified for the finals of the competition and were placed in group D.
This is their first European Championship finals.
EuroFootball/Getty Images
Andrei Shevchenko is perhaps the most famous player that Ukraine has produced over recent years, but they can also call upon players with the reputation of Bayern Munich's Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and former Liverpool player Andriy Voronin.
Ukraine have the arduous task of bypassing England, France and Sweden in the group stages if they want to make the next round of the competition.
Ukraine are ranked 49th in the world, England sixth, France 16th and Sweden 17th.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Ukraine are managed by Oleh Blokhin who himself was a great footballer.
Blokhin won the Ballon d'Or in 1975 and played as a striker for Ukrainian side Dinamo Kyiv as well as his national side.
As a coach, Blokhin started out in Greece where he managed Olympiakos, PAOK, and AEK Athens to name but a few.
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Ukraine are ranked as ninth favourites by English bookmakers William Hill, who have the co-hosts at 40/1 odds.
Fellow hosts Poland have 50/1 odds, with Spain the current favourites at 9/4.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Unfortunately Ukraine's history in international competition is rather unimpressive.
A quarterfinal finish in 2006 was the country's stand-out World Cup performance, with 2012 marking Ukraine's first foray into the European Championship finals—a foray that was only achieved courtesy of being co-hosts.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
As co-hosts, a lot of eyes will be fixed upon Ukraine's performance come the tournament start.
Their opening fixture is against Sweden who are 66/1 outsiders.
The game takes place on June 11 at the Olympic Stadium, Kyiv.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Captaincy in a major tournament is paramount to any teams success.
Andrei Shevchenko is the leader of the Ukraine team and has amassed over 105 caps—55 as captain—which is the second highest in Ukraine's national team history.
Shevchenko is also Ukraine's top goal scorer of all time with 46 strikes to his name.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Despite having home country advantage, I can't see Ukraine progressing from the group stages in this tournament.
Whilst their opening fixture against Sweden may provide them with a victory, Ukraine will suffer losses to England and France before exiting the competition early.
Fortunately they won't have far to travel home.
Expect a huge following for Ukraine due to the fact they are one of the co-hosts.
Home support almost always betters away support, and Ukraine has a rather large following that will back their team till the end.
Stadiums will become a sea of blue and yellow once Ukraine are on the fixture list.
It could be a short and sad tournament for hosts Ukraine and Poland alike.
Supporters would have been hoping for a generous draw for the finals, but England and France aren't likely to be as forgiving as rank outsiders Sweden.
There is always hope though, and Ukraine will be banking on plenty of that.
Thanks for reading and be sure to check out 10 Things To Know About the Netherlands, as well as 10 Things To Know About Portugal.
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