Kyle Walker’s first senior international goal saw England fight back to snatch a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying.
Oleksandr Zinchenko fired Ukraine in front from a quick 26th minute attack as he met Yukhym Konoplya’s pullback pass.
Walker however equalised with a close-range 41st minute strike after he latched onto Harry Kane’s direct long ball into the box from 45 yards.
The draw meant that England remain top of Qualifying Group C with a six-point lead over second-placed Ukraine.
Sat comfortably at the top of Qualifying Group C with a six-point lead over their hosts, England enjoyed a confident start with firm control of possession.
That early pressure almost paid off in the fourth minute as Jude Bellingham slipped Bukayo Saka through into the box, yet Saka ultimately was unable to get a touch before the ball rolled out of play.
England thereafter struggled to create chances against a deep-sitting Ukraine team which proved their undoing in the 26th minute, courtesy of a quick breakaway from Viktor Tsyhankov in midfield as Konoplya overlapped him up the right flank into the box.
Tsyhankov selflessly rolled the ball forward for Konoplya, from which the right back calmly pulled back for Zinchenko to sweep in beyond Jordan Pickford’s reach, which stunned the away crowd into silence much to the delight of Ukraine fans in Wroclaw, Poland.
Ukraine’s lead was almost cancelled out shortly after the restart as James Maddison picked out Saka with a 29th minute pass, from which Saka held up for Jordan Henderson who blazed his shot over the bar to waste a huge chance for the Three Lions.
England eventually found their equaliser 12 minutes later as Kane dropped deep and found the ball just inside Ukraine’s half, from which he found Walker who met a direct long ball up the right and fired in from close range to restore parity at the break.
Walker’s goal also marked his first senior goal for England in 77 international appearances, having failed to find the net in any of his 76 previous caps.
Ukraine made a change at half-time as Serhiy Kryvtsov replaced Mykola Matvienko in central defence, which almost backfired early in the second half as Bellingham headed Henderson’s chipped 48th minute pass towards the top-right corner but Heorhiy Bushchan made the save.
Harry Maguire headed over three minutes later from a free-kick as England continued to apply early second-half pressure, with the defender then chopping Maddison’s corner into the air but Bushchan managed to punch the dipping ball away from goal.
England almost took the lead in the 59th minute as Kane teed up Saka to cut in from Maddison’s initial pass, but the Arsenal winger unfortunately saw his shot rebound off the crossbar.
Kane then saw his own chance go begging five minutes later as he rifled wide across goal, as his shot narrowly evaded the bottom right corner.
Ukraine subsequently responded with a double substitution as Roman Yaremchuk and Heorhiy Sudakov came off for Artem Dovbyk and Serhiy Sydorchuk, which sparked them back into life in terms of attacking energy.
Gareth Southgate meanwhile substituted Bellingham and Maddison for Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden at the same time, which led to a tense finish.
Mykhailo Mudryk almost won a 71st minute penalty for Ukraine as he drew a foul from Rashford during a corner kick, during which England broke on the counter but referee – Georgi Kabakov and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) both deemed Rashford’s foul as a legal challenge.
Neither team were able to eventually find a breakthrough winner as England retained their six-point lead over Ukraine at the summit of Qualifying Group C.
What’s Next?
Ukraine will now meet Italy in Milan on Tuesday 12 September at 8:45pm CET in a must-win match for both teams, with the winner of that match likely to secure the second automatic qualification spot behind England.
England will visit Scotland at Hampden Park, Glasgow in an 150th Anniversary Heritage Friendly Match, on Tuesday 12 September at 7:45pm BST.
Southgate’s Three Lions then host Australia in a friendly on 13 October, before resuming their Euro 2024 Qualifying campaign with a home clash against Italy on 17 October, with both latter matches held at Wembley Stadium, London.
Teams
Ukraine: Heorhiy Bushchan, Yukhym Konoplya, Illya Zabarnyi, Mykola Matvienko (Kryvtsov 45′), Vitaliy Mykolenko, Oleksandr Zinchenko (Buyalskyi 76′), Taras Stepanenko, Viktor Tsyhankov, Heorhiy Sudakov (Sydorchuk 65′), Mykhailo Mudryk (Nazaryna 90′), Roman Yaremchuk (Dovbyk 65′)
Substitutes: Bohdan Mykhaylichenko, Serhiy Kryvtsov, Serhiy Sydorchuk, Andriy Yarmolenko, Artem Dovbyk, Anatoliy Trubin, Vitaliy Buyalskyi, Vladyslav Vanat, Denys Popov, Yehor Nazaryna, Oleksandr Karavayev, Andriy Lunin
England: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell, Jude Bellingham (Rashford 65′), Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Bukayo Saka (Gallagher 86′), Harry Kane, James Maddison (Foden 66′)
Substitutes: Kieran Trippier, Sam Johnstone, Levi Colwill, Fikayo Tomori, Kalvin Phillips, Lewis Dunk, Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher, Aaron Ramsdale, Callum Wilson
Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria)
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