Defoe Secures England Berne Win

 

Chelsea Terry Denies FA Charge

Chelsea captain John Terry has denied his Football Association charge regarding alleged abusive and threatening behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

The alleged incident occurred during the Premier League game between the two clubs on 23rd October 2011 and Terry was subsequently charged by police with a racially aggravated public order offence.

Terry was in July cleared in court of using a racial obscenity towards Ferdinand but faced a fresh inquiry from the FA.

The centre-half will still be available to play for England while the inquiry continues but he has denied the charge and requested a personal hearing.

An FA statement read: "John Terry has today [Friday 3 August 2012] denied an FA charge of using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour, which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race, towards Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand.

"The Chelsea player has requested a personal hearing, the date of which will be set in due course. During this period John Terry remains available to play for England.

"The FA will make no further comment during this time".

Pundit Southgate Breaks FA LInk

Gareth Southgate is to quit the Football Association after only 18 months - dashing hopes that the former England defender would become the body's new technical director.

Southgate is leaving is post as the FA's head of elite development and has said he no longer wishes to be considered for the role of technical director.

The former England international, who will continue to work as a pundit for ITV, said in a statement: 'I'd like to place on record just how much I've enjoyed working at the FA over the past 18 months. It really has been an honour and a pleasure.

'Hopefully, I have been able to play some part in delivering important changes to the way children play at the youngest levels. It has also been a tremendous experience to work on the delivery of St. George's Park.

'The FA is heading in the right direction in terms of developing more, better coaches and players at all levels of the game under the leadership of David Bernstein, Alex Horne and Sir Trevor Brooking. I would like to thank them for their support throughout my time with the organisation.

'I've advised The FA that I will be pleased to help with specific projects moving forward'.

Southgate will continue his role with ITV in the new season.

FA General Secretary Alex Horne added: 'Gareth has made an outstanding contribution in supporting Sir Trevor Brooking and myself across various aspects of our football development work over the last 18 months.

'We're disappointed, but understand his decision and would like to thank Gareth for his efforts and wish him well for the future.

'We continue to recruit for key technical positions within The FA at what is a very important and exciting time for the organisation, with the imminent opening of our new training centre at St. George's Park.'

Pirlo Picks England Apart

OSM News

England suffered penalty heartbreak at Euro 2012 after losing 4-2 on penalties to Italy after being outplayed in the quarter-final in Kiev.

Italy dominated for huge swathes of the contest, but were unable to make the breakthrough as England retreated further and further into their shell.

Penalties offered the Three Lions hope but, after Riccardo Montolivo fired wide, Ashley Young and Ashley Cole both failed from 12 yards to leave former West Ham forward Alessandro Diamanti as the man to step up and send Italy into a semi-final date with Germany.

Italy were almost in front inside the opening three minutes when Daniele de Rossi's deliberately sliced volley from 30 yards crashed back off the post with Joe Hart beaten.

England responded almost immediately as Glen Johnson found himself on the edge of the six-yard box, but his shovelled attempt produced a superb reflex stop from Gianluigi Buffon.

The enigmatic Mario Balotelli had numerous chances to put Italy ahead, but was denied by a block from John Terry and then alert defending from his Manchester City team-mate Joleon Lescott.

De Rossi had a golden opportunity to put the Azzurri in front three minutes after half-time, but snatched at his shot, while Balotelli was denied by club colleague Hart and then saw an ambitious overhead kick fly over.

England retreated more and more as the game wore on and were almost punished in the first period of extra-time when Italy substitute Diamanti saw his cross come back off the post.

The Azzurri finally had the ball in the net with five minutes left of extra-time, but substitute Antonio Nocerino was fractionally offside when he stooped to head home and England held out to force a shoot-out.

Before the drama, all those pre-match predictions of a tight, cagey affair had been blown to bits inside the opening five minutes.

Claudio Marchisio picked out De Rossi with a peach of a cut-back and he let fly with a spectacular first-time volley, which curved away from Hart's despairing dive, only to crash back off the post.

Starved of possession in those early stages, England eventually countered through Johnson.

The Liverpool defender continued his run after laying a pass off to Ashley Young and was picked out inside the box by James Milner. Had the chance fallen to a striker, England surely would have scored.

As it was, Johnson took vital seconds manoeuvring the ball into a position from which he could shoot, and when he did, Gianluigi Buffon stood firm to make an excellent one-handed save.

They were the most notable efforts of a surprisingly open start, during which Wayne Rooney sent a diving header over and Andrea Pirlo released Balotelli, only for John Terry to rescue the situation with a vital tackle.

No-one could help when Riccardo Montolivo's disguised pass looped over the England defence and dropped invitingly for Balotelli, whose volley went straight to Hart.

At the other end, Danny Welbeck's precise effort sailed over after he had run onto Rooney's return flick.

It was spellbinding stuff, with Italy having the edge in craft and guile, whilst also looking vulnerable when England attacked at pace.

Balotelli's notoriously fragile temperament resulted in him lashing out at a post after spurning another opportunity, which Pirlo and Antonio Cassano combined to provide.

He ended the half driving over from long-range, extending a contribution substantially more effective than Rooney, whose failure to pick out a team-mate with a cross under no pressure was symptomatic of a player struggling to find his form.

England were caught cold straight after the interval when Marchisio found De Rossi in the box, only for the midfielder to mis-kick a volley wide from barely four yards when he had the time to do much better.

It was the start of an onslaught that had England teetering on the brink as Pirlo took command in imperious fashion.

At 33, the midfielder now assumes the Paul Scholes-role for his country, dropping deep and dictating the tempo, and for a while, England were powerless to stop him.

Terry denied Balotelli at the far post with a thunderous clearing header, then Hart repelled De Rossi's long-range effort and also Balotelli's follow-up. Montolivo got to the loose ball first but his shot sailed over.

Hodgson had seen enough and after Balotelli's overhead kick had gone over, Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott were introduced.

With Italy making changes as well, the game lost its shape, so, as had been imagined, extra-time was required.

After their defiant rearguard action, it would have been galling in the extreme for England's defences to be breached by a fluke.

Fortunately, what was intended as a cross by former West Ham man Diamanti clipped the far post after Hart reacted too late to the danger it was posing.

Nocerino thought he had won it six minutes from the end but his header was correctly ruled out for offside. It merely delayed the inevitable.

That England led after the first two rounds of penalties to give hope only made defeat all the more crushing as Diamanti delivered the final blow.

Pirlo Pokes England System

OSM News

Andrea Pirlo has labelled England 'very predictable' ahead of Italy's Euro 2012 quarter-final showdown with the Three Lions.

Sunday's encounter at Kiev's Olympic Stadium is expected to be a tight affair, with both sides having based their success so far on their ability to perform as a solid unit.

Italy are renowned for their defensive resilience and have favoured a counter-attacking approach for some time.

England are new to that system, under the guidance of Roy Hodgson, and have yet to prove that they can strike the right balance between defence and attack.

Pirlo believes that will work in Italy's favour, with the Azzurri brimming with confidence as they look to book a semi-final date with Germany.

The Juventus midfielder said: "People talk about England playing the Italian way, but that's rubbish. Only Italy can play the Italian way. And we do not care for anyone who tries to impersonate us. It's like trying to play against Spain the Spanish way.

"Roy Hodgson knows Italian football, which is a small advantage, and he is very tactically astute. But I have seen some of England's games in this tournament. They have been more practical than impressive, and we are confident of beating them.

"They have weaknesses that we can exploit, particularly in the midfield. They are missing some key players and I think we will have the measure of them in that area.

"They also look very nervous at times in defence and, France aside, they have not had to play too many big nations.

"I think they were more adventurous under Fabio Capello and I would have been more concerned if he was still in charge.

"It is very odd to see an English side play counter-attacking football. Maybe they will adopt a different approach against us, but I doubt it because in some ways they are very predictable.

"They have been very fortunate in getting this far. Against France they were completely outplayed, then they struggled against Sweden and were extremely lucky to win against Ukraine."

It has been suggested that England will look to target Mario Balotelli's fiery temperament should the Manchester City striker be handed a starting berth by Cesare Prandelli, and Pirlo admits he is 'slightly concerned' as to how the youngster will react if provoked.

He said: "As for Mario, he is very unpredictable but a very special talent. He's young and needs to mature but sometimes you have to treat players differently.

"He needs to be pampered a bit. He is fired up for this game and wants to do well with a worldwide audience watching.

"I just get slightly concerned that he is easily provoked and the English players will try and take advantage of this.

"He needs to stay calm and ignore any provocation because there would be dire consequences if he reacts to something and gets sent off and Italy lose the game."

Ferdinand Questions Hodgson Tactics

Rio Ferdinand has questioned Roy Hodgson's willingness to cultivate talent claiming that England's euro 2012 tormentor Andrea Pirlo "may have been overlooked" for the European Championship had be been English.

Ferdinand criticised Hodgson's management at Euro 2012, claiming the England manager underused his younger players and was too defensive in his tactics.

The 33-year-old defender, who was overlooked by Hodgson for his squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, wanted to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Phil Jones given more game time.

He also criticised Hodgson's choice of formation, and questioned whether Andrea Pirlo, the Italy playmaker who was instrumental in England's quarter-final exit, would even have been selected for the Three Lions squad.

He told The Sun: "I am a fan of The Ox and I wanted to see more of him but in the end he finished up as a spectator."

He went on: "Phil Jones is one of the most adaptable players we have in our country and where was he?

"When we need to take the ball from midfield, run 40 yards with it and put the other team on the back foot, he is the man for the job.

"Instead, we stayed cautious and Jordan Henderson was used instead.

"That's not a criticism of Jordan, he is a different player to Phil, but I thought it showed we were being too conservative."

Since England's exit, Hodgson has talked about getting more young players into the team for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ferdinand said: "I'm reading a lot of stuff about how it's time to get the youngsters in and all of that but you only find out if they can do it when you throw them in there.

"What did we learn about Alex and Phil at this tournament?

"Do we know how much influence Alex can have on a game in a finals?

"He did fairly well against France, so why not persist with him and let him grow into it?

"As for Phil, we will now have to wait until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, provided we qualify, to see how good he can be at the highest level. Expectations were low so the manager had a free shot to find out about our youngsters and I feel it was a missed opportunity."

Ferdinand was impressed by the performance of Pirlo, but added: "If Pirlo was English would he have made the squad let alone been on the pitch?

"I don't know as his qualities may have been overlooked ... not by just the current manager but maybe those before him too."

One England player who impressed Ferdinand was his Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck.

"The only time we really kept the ball properly was when Danny Welbeck dropped short to collect it and linked the play," he said.

"But, usually, he was having to stay up and wasn't allowed to drop too much because we had set out a certain way with a 4-4-2 which didn't offer a great deal of flexibility."

He added: "It's OK saying we were very good defensively and hard to beat but if you set out to be defensive then that's your first priority.

"I'd love to see us running at other teams. I want to see Alex and Theo and Adam Johnson, who I thought should have gone too, causing problems instead of worrying about covering back as the first thought."

Gerrard Hoped for Penalty Fortune

OSM News

England captain Steven Gerrard struggled to contain his disappointment after they crashed out of Euro 2012 on penalties.

Roy Hodgson's men rode their luck for large chunks of the quarter-final against Italy, who created numerous chances to win the game in both normal and extra-time.

However, Gerrard insisted they will leave Poland and Ukraine with their pride intact.

"We do but it still doesn't help with the heartbreak," he said. "You just feel for the players who since day one when we met up have given everything and today we did the same.

"I thought this time on a penalty shoot-out we would have got the luck that we need but it wasn't to be."

Proud

Riccardo Montolivo missed his spot-kick which put England ahead in the shoot-out, but failures from Ashley Young and Ashley Cole handed Italy back the initiative and they went on to win.

Gerrard added: "In a penalty shoot-out when you get your nose in front, you are praying that you see it out, but credit to Italy they are a fantastic team and they got the bit of luck in the shoot-out.

"The lads at the back were fantastic tonight and everyone has been great in training and every time we have come out we have done the country proud, but again we go home with heartbreak which is difficult to take."

England v Italy - Preview - Quarterfinal

OSM News

The real power of the Premier League will be tested in Kyiv on Sunday night when England face Italy in the last quarterfinals of EURO 2012 at the Olympic Stadium. The elite of England pitched against the might of Serie A and a team that supposedly would be distracted by the recent match fixing allegations. Or so England would have hoped at this stage.

The advantage though is more likely to be with England boss Roy Hodgson who spent two invaluable years in the cauldron of the San Siro with Internazionale Milan. At a time when the Moratti family were as desperate as ever to win trophies. Also a time when the team was in a rebuilding phase allowing the Croydon born Englishman test his views in Serie A - with mixed results. 

But to his credit Hodgson got his team to the final of the UEFA Cup in his last season and learned how to get the best out of stars like Javier Zanetti, Youri Djorkaeff and Roberto Carlos. All at a cost of blood, sweat and tears. This experience makes Hodgkin one of the few English managers at the helm of England's football dreams ,who has earned his keep on the continent . In the way parallels the achievements of the late Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Venables. Both of whom got England beyond the quarter-finals of a major tournament 

In the endless PR battle from Sky Sports that the Premier League is the best in the world, the case for England's national team does not prove all beneficial - given that 65% of the players are imported n grounds around the country every weekend. A natural problem for the nurturing of talent for the domestic game and confusing when the domestic clubs keep making inroads in the Champions League year on year. 

But at the Allianz Arena last month a goal from Chelsea’s Ivorian striker settled the Champions League in favour of the Londoners, leaving the favourites Bayern Munich to host a runners up party in their rather silent home stadium. After climbing the numerous steps to received the trophy, John Terry, lifted the trophy from the hands of UEFA President, Michel Platini and passed it on to his team-mates. Only two others of which were also English gibe that Chelsea is a true mix of nationalities. 

In contrast in the Bayern Munich starting eleven only three were imported players, Arjen Robben from Holland, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk from Ukraine and French man, Franck Ribery. When Chelsea lost the final in Moscow to Manchester United there were four English players on the team sheet - John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole. On that day the winners had six players in their team a statistic that had changed little when Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams went out of the tournament in Basel last December. 

Little will change it seems after United's latest purchase of Japanese striker Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund this week. 

However on Sunday night it is an England’s day and the lack of Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry has now been well compensated by the solid performances of Scott Parker, James Milner, Steve Gerrard and Ashley Cole. In their last match against Ukraine England were functional rather than sublime, perfunctory rather than stylish and rewarded rightly in the end - rather than feeling any sense of footballing injustice. 

With a calmness in the squad that seems a long distance from the tetchiness brought on by the isolated seclusion that so typified the regime of previous manager, Fabio Capello, in South Africa two years ago. More importantly, on the pitch the players are perfuming better and the bitter memories of that loss to Germany in Rustenburg, nearly erased. Or will be if thus team progress against Italy. Against whom you have to be confident given the availability of their talisman Wayne Rooney. 

Undoubtedly the Manchester United striker gives the team something more in the attach and his energy will cause Italy fear. Or Chiellini may find costly given his eagerness to get overly physical. 

With Italy destined to try and control things in the middle, and hold the high line to play England attackers offside, it will fall to Gerrard and other runners to penetrate from deep. The willingness of the Italians to be niggly in the tackle will demand patience also, which Hodgson's men have gained this summer. The need also to control Cassano and De Natale will be vital for Scott Parker. Should Italian manager, Cesare Prandelli opt to play Balotelli, he will give England an advantage from the get go. 

The threat of Andréa Pirlo from the set piece remains the Italians best weapon in a tight game as the England back four - Johnson, Cole, Terry and Lescott - solid so far. However they will have so stay on their feet to deal with the onslaught and energy of the Italian forward to avoid conceding penalties. The experience of all the defenders at Champions League should ensure that happens. 

But it will be the freedom that Hodgson gives them, and his lack of fear of the Italian way, that should give the three lions the advantage for most of the game. However the frustration that Italy can cause has got the better of the world's bets footballers. None more so than Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final. 

This probably won't be any prettier than the previous quarterfinals this week and Italy could squeeze it on the night the longer the game goes on. 

But as Hodgson knows, fear of failure might be the one thing that halts the Italians. That fear of not meeting the expectations of the nation. 

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Neville Learning New Trade

Gary Neville has admitted he finds it difficult to control his feelings in his new role as a coach with England.

The former Manchester United full-back is working alongside manager Roy Hodgson at Euro 2012 after being recruited at the end of the season.

He says it has been more of a struggle to keep his emotions in check than it ever was during his playing career.

"I was quite passionate on the pitch, but on the bench, I can't control myself," Neville, who won 85 caps for England, told FATV.

"It's good to have someone calming next to me, because I'm bobbing up and down like a cork really."

Sky Sports expert Neville has been impressed by Hodgson's calming influence and insists the players are all rallying behind the new manager.

He added: "(He) is calm, doesn't get carried away by things, brings a great deal of humility, trusts in his players and has faith in them and I think they are recognising that he is someone they like and want to play for.

"I think that's important and one thing about the group in this last three, four weeks, the work rate, the endeavour, the effort has been absolutely incredible.

"Even for me having played with quite a few of them, to see it from the other side is inspiring really."

Next up for England is Italy in the quarter-finals on Sunday, where centre-back Joleon Lescott could come up against his Manchester City team-mate Mario Balotelli.

And Neville claimed the maverick striker would be desperate to get one over on England.

"Joleon will know him better than we do, that's the great thing," he said.

"There will be no surprise for Joleon on Sunday and the same for John Terry who'll have played against him as well, so that's a good thing.

"But obviously knowing and playing against him means that there will be that added extra spice that Balotelli himself will want to put one over on England.

"He plays in the country, he's a big figure in England with respect to the media he gets and he's a champion of England now with Manchester City and he will be very difficult to play against."

Rooney Returns with Kiev Goal

Wayne Rooney lived up to top billing in Donetsk as he scored the goal which sent England into a Euro 2012 quarter-final meeting with Italy in Kiev on Sunday.

It was not quite the equal of Pele's sublime header in the 1970 World Cup final - but after comparing his star man to the brilliant Brazilian, manager Roy Hodgson would have been delighted nonetheless.

In truth, having already failed to take a glaring first-half chance, Rooney could not miss this one as Ukraine keeper Andriy Pyatov failed to gather a dangerous low cross from Steven Gerrard which took two deflections.

From barely a yard, Rooney thus scored his 29th England goal, one behind Nat Lofthouse, Tom Finney and Alan Shearer, who are joint fifth in the all-time list.

Now the Three Lions must hope their talisman quickly joins them as the scent of glory, absent for so long, is now in English nostrils, even if the path is barred not just by Italy, but Germany as well.

Not that England strolled through as some had suggested. The journey to victory had its uncomfortable moments, not least the controversy that once again erupted over a ball that crossed the line but none of the officials saw.

Instead of starting on the front foot, as Hodgson suggested, England found themselves penned back by a relentless tide of Ukraine attacks.

The general relief that greeted Andriy Shevchenko's absence might not have been so obvious if the talents of Serbian-born Marko Devic were better known.

Devic was at the centre of most Ukraine attacks, had a goalbound shot blocked by Scott Parker and triggering the move that ended with Andriy Yarmolenko stepping inside the box and forcing a low save out of Joe Hart.

Oleh Gusev shot over after being gifted possession by Ashley Young and in the final minutes of the opening period Yarmolenko slalomed his way towards the England goal Ricky Villa style, only for Joleon Lescott to make a very late intervention.

Throughout this, England had been urged to get themselves higher up the pitch by Hodgson's coaching staff, Gary Neville particularly agitated by the failing.

Yet all the angst would have been removed had Rooney taken his golden opportunity.

For all Hodgson's assurances to the contrary in recent days, it was evident that after just 37 minutes' action in 44 days Rooney was lacking sharpness.

The hoped for combination with Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck never materialised and his passing went astray too often.

This would have been forgiven if Rooney had turned Young's deep cross into the net.

It had been a brilliant move until final execution, started by John Terry's superb crossfield pass to the left touchline.

Young delivered the ball exactly where Rooney would have asked given he had intelligently peeled away from his marker. Level with the far post, the striker tried to glance it home and sent it bouncing wide.

In order to make the contribution Hodgson hoped for, it was evident Rooney required a bit of assistance.

Three minutes after the restart Pyatov failed to clear one of those teasing Gerrard crosses that have been a hallmark of his time in Ukraine. From roughly a yard, Rooney nodded in.

The band that had been banned on their last visit to Donetsk filled the noise vacuum created by the silencing of their hosts and when the big screens at either end of the stadium flashed up news of Sweden's goal in Kiev a few minutes later, English cheers went up once more.

They would have been silenced had the goal-line technology due to be voted on by FIFA next month already been installed.

But, just as Fabio Capello cursed Frank Lampard's goal not being awarded in Bloemfontein two years ago, so Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin now has reason to lament.

John Terry hacked Devic's half-blocked shot away but, within 60 seconds, all those millions watching around the world on TV knew it was, the fans in the stadium only left in the dark.

Welbeck and Rooney were replaced as the clock ran down, whilst Gerrard and Ashley Cole also picked up bookings which may yet come back and haunt them. Not that such matters should bother them too much right now.

England v Ukraine - Preview - Group D

England take on co-hosts Ukraine at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk knowing that a point is enough to take them through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012.

Oleg Blokhin's side, on the other hand, need to win to make it past the group stage, so tensions will be high in what is sure to be an intoxicating atmosphere.

Three Lions head coach Roy Hodgson will definitely pick talismanic striker Wayne Rooney and he is facing the classic dilemma of who to drop to make way for him.

Rooney will return to the team on Tuesday after completing his two-match suspension following his red card against Montenegro in Podgorica eight months ago.

Either his Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck or Liverpool striker Andy Carroll will lose his place in the starting line-up.

Carroll scored with a header and Welbeck cleverly flicked home the winner when England beat Sweden 3-2 on Friday which put them in sight of the last eight.

"They have given me the classic manager's headache but it's the headache we all want really, because they are players are in-form and competing for a place," said the former West Brom and Liverpool boss.

Meanwhile, skipper Steven Gerrard said: "Everyone knows what Wayne Rooney is all about. He certainly makes us a lot more threatening going forward and he is a world-class player."

The last time Rooney took part in a European Championship, he scored four goals in four games, back in 2004, so his first appearance at this summer's tournament will be much anticipated.

Hodgson has a clean bill of health in his squad with Theo Walcott available after a hamstring niggle.

And the 64-year-old is content that expectation levels are rising in England after the opening two games which have garnered four points, but he can give no guarantee of success.

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 decisive Group D clash.

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 shortly before the match.

Speaking through an interpreter, Blokhin said: "If he is not able to play, that would be a great loss."

The loss of 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.

Blokhin said the pressure was on Ukraine's opponents given their higher status in the game and greater expectations.

"They are one of the favourites, so the pressure is on them," he said.

"We have a more relaxed approach, we have nothing to lose, even if we don't get a great result, if we show fight on the pitch till last minute that will be no disgrace," he said.

UEFA Open Proceedings Against FA

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association regarding the behaviour of fans during England's win over Sweden.

England picked up their first victory of Euro 2012 on Friday evening after coming from 2-1 down to prevail 3-2 in Kiev.

However, the success has prompted an investigation by UEFA following an attempted pitch invasion by England supporters.

A UEFA statement read: "UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association of England (FA) for the inappropriate behaviour of their supporters - attempted invasion of the field of play - at the UEFA EURO 2012 Group D match against Sweden in Kyiv on Friday.

"The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on Wednesday 20 June."

Andy Carroll had given England a first-half lead in the game before Olof Mellberg's double put Sweden in the ascendancy.

Substitute Theo Walcott equalised for England just minutes after coming on before he set up Danny Welbeck for an instinctive winner 12 minutes from time.

Spain Prefer England to France - Albiol

Spain would rather face England than France in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals according to Raul Albiol and Alvaro Negredo.

At present France and England are the top two in their group, on four points, one ahead of co-hosts Ukraine while Sweden are out of contention after two defeats.

However, Albiol said that, from what he had seen of France's 2-0 win over Ukraine and then England's thrilling 3-2 victory over Sweden on Friday, he knew which team he would prefer to face in the last eight.

"France played really well against Ukraine. They are one of the teams who for me are among the favourites," said the Real Madrid star.

His team-mate Negredo agreed with him and said that a clash with England or Ukraine would be preferable.

"I think that France is a little stronger (than Ukraine and England). France has more quality to my mind," said the Sevilla marksman.

England wrap up their group games against Ukraine on Tuesday needing just a draw to progress while France play Sweden where a point would also suffice if the other match produces a winner.

Meanwhile, Albiol also denied claims that Spain would look to draw 2-2 with Croatia, which would deny Italy progression, no matter what the Azzurri do against Ireland.

Albiol sought to assuage Italian fears as expressed in their media that they would fall victims to a "biscotto", or biscuit in English.

In Italian it is the term used for an arrangement between two parties at the expense of a third, but Albiol said: "It is clear there will be no pact.

"Each team is targeting victory so as not having to depend on others.

"Now obviously a 2-2 draw is a result that can happen, just as a 1-0, a 0-1 or a 1-1.

"Italy can rest easy: Spain will be looking to win this match just as it always does.

"We are looking for the three points that will assure us of topping the group and I am sure that Croatia will also play this game with the ambition of winning it.

"We are not insulted by these claims. These anxieties are not coming from the Italian team, but from the press.

"It is true that with a draw, we will qualify for the quarter-finals, but we want to win."

England End Sweden Hodoo in Kiev

A devastating cameo from Theo Walcott and magical finish from Danny Welbeck saw England end their hoodoo against Sweden after a 3-2 win in Kiev.

England had never previously beaten Sweden in a competitive fixture and things were looking ominous in this Group D encounter when Olof Mellberg's early second-half double had cancelled out Andy Carroll's opener.

However, substitute Walcott's introduction swung the momentum back in England's favour as he equalised before creating the winner for Welbeck to leave England in a strong position to progress and Sweden on their way home from Euro 2012.

Scott Parker produced a flying save from Andreas Isaksson on seven minutes after an improvised one-two with Welbeck, but there was nothing the Sweden goalkeeper could do about England's opener on 23 minutes.

Steven Gerrard directed an angled ball into the box and his Liverpool team-mate Carroll eluded his marker to power home a header from near the penalty spot.

Ashley Young wasted a good chance before half-time, but whatever the two coaches said at the break, Erik Hamren's words had the most positive effect as Sweden turned the game on its head within 15 minutes.

After Carroll had given away a needless free-kick, and England had failed to avert the danger, Mellberg eventually saw his shot cross the line despite Glen Johnson's desperate attempts to clear.

If there was fortune about his first goal, the former Aston Villa defender would not have believed his luck at the space he was afforded on 59 minutes to head home Sebastian Larsson's inswinging free-kick.

Roy Hodgson responded by throwing on Walcott for James Milner and the England coach was rewarded within three minutes when the Arsenal winger lashed home a dipping shot from the edge of the area.

Joe Hart produced a brilliant save from Zlatan Ibrahimovic before Walcott's pace had Sweden retreating inside their penalty area on 78 minutes and his cross was superbly flicked home by Welbeck.

Captain Gerrard had a late chance to score a fourth, but was denied by an excellent reaction stop from Isaksson as England held on to secure a win which leaves them needing to only avoid defeat against co-hosts Ukraine on Tuesday to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals.

England made just the one change from Monday's 1-1 draw with France as Carroll started alongside Welbeck, with Ashley Young moving to the left wing and teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dropping to the bench.

Drama

There was no sign of the drama to come during a drab first half. Parker brought a fine save out of Isaksson after Welbeck rolled an inviting lay-off into his path.

Welbeck guided a header wide from James Milner's cross too when the Manchester United striker probably should have tested Isaksson.

Sweden had a few half-chances and Larsson brought a decent save out of Hart.

However, with Ibrahimovic enduring one of those evenings when English fans wonder what the fuss is all about, Sweden seemed to be there for the taking.

The opportunity England craved was a while in coming and, as so often, Gerrard provided it. The skipper launched an inviting cross into the box as Carroll got between defenders and rose majestically to power his header into the bottom corner.

Much as he may bristle at what is perceived to be the criticism of straight-forward tactics, if England are good at it, Hodgson should make no apology for playing to such strengths.

It is not as though England are incapable of incisive passing when it suits.

Cole threaded an excellent ball through Sweden's defence for Young to run on to. A poor first touch cost the Manchester United winger valuable momentum, though, and he ended up snatching at his shot, which Isaksson saved by the near post.

Carroll needlessly brought down Kim Kallstrom and, in lifting the ball back into the box after his initial free-kick had been blocked, Ibrahimovic could not have expected to pick out Mellberg, completely unmarked, eight yards out.

Hart made a terrific one-handed save, only for the ball to bounce straight into Johnson, whose desperate attempt to keep it out of the net met with failure.

Worse was to come. Having proved how adept they at scoring from deep crosses, England showed a shuddering ineptitude at defending them as Larsson drove a touchline free-kick deep into the box.

Despite so many bodies around him, Mellberg was completely on his own and gave Hart no chance from point-blank range.

Hodgson took immediate action, replacing Milner with Walcott. Once again his decision was a master-stroke.

Three minutes later, Walcott, hanging back at a Gerrard corner, collected the loose ball from a Sweden clearance, and with defenders and attackers merging in a frenzy of movement to retake their positions, fired through the lot.

Isaksson, unsighted, was totally deceived and could only watch helplessly as the shot flew past him, only a few inches away but completely out of reach.

It was Walcott's first goal since that hat-trick in Croatia almost four years ago - and probably his best international performance too.

The goal blitz had squeezed the contest completely out of shape. Even though both sides could still advance with a last-game triumph as things stood, neither were prepared to settle for it.

Hart shovelled Ibrahimovic's shot wide before England countered and got their winner.

Walcott drove toward the by-line, he pulled a cross back to the near post, where Welbeck, instinctively, back-heeled it in.

The result leaves Hodgson wondering how to restore star man Wayne Rooney to his starting line-up given Carroll and Welbeck were so impressive. hat is a problem for another day.

Gerrard was foiled by Isaksson in stoppage-time to deny England a more handsome final scoreline.