Leander Schaerlaeckens: Tomorrow is a day off. Join us again Thursday!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Thanks for joining us, all!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I quit.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I know.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Haha. Wrong again. Yes, follow @ESPNStatsInfo!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Oh, my. I screwed that up. The third quarterfinal is England-Italy, of course. Not Italy-Spain.

ESPN Stats and Info: From the Statsie collective, have a good day everyone!

@ESPNStatsInfo

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Before you leave us, do follow us on Twitter.

@JeffreyCarlisle

@LeanderAlphabet

@r_ubha

@ESPNStats

Jeff Carlisle: Ibrahimovic and Larsson with the goals. Some pride salvaged for Sweden, while France can now celebrate Mexes' suspension for the Spain game.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yes, we'll be there with you, as always.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The quarterfinals are set: Portugal-Czech Republic, Germany-Greece, England-Spain and France-Spain.

Jeff Carlisle: It's all over. Sweden 2-0 winners over France.

Jeff Carlisle: Wilhelmsson clean through on goal, but Lloris stuffs him.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not really. Let's be honest, they were offsides on the play already.

Jeff Carlisle: Sweden were already out. And yes, margin doesn't matter for France. They are going through it looks like.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Final whistle.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Just seconds left in England-Ukraine.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That's fortuitous.

Jeff Carlisle: Larsson cleans up the garbage after Holmen shot Wilhelmsson's cross off the bar.

Jeff Carlisle: GOAL SWEDEN!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Again, if these scores hold, England avoids Spain.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Iarmolenko attempts a curler, but it goes over.

Jeff Carlisle: Free kick for Sweden, which Lloris claims easily. Four minutes of stoppage time here.

ESPN Stats and Info: England hasn't won a EURO group since 1996. Stoppage time away from nullifying that fact.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Three minutes of added time.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Cole shields the ball very well.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 90th minute.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Ox gets on a run though but he's stranded by the Ukrainian box.

Jeff Carlisle: Nope. If things stay as they are, France (and England) are in.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England now just pummeling ball away.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Parker takes yet another one to the face, which seems to conceal a magnet below the skin.

Jeff Carlisle: Left wing cross finds Benzema, takes it down, but shot is blocked out for a corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Also, Portugal-Czech Republic and Greece-Germany.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We're looking at France-Spain and Italy-England in the quarterfinals. I can't wait!

Jeff Carlisle: Kallstrom with a try from distance, but he doesn't get all of it and it goes wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 88th minute.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney is off for Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Sheva gets a yellow for an almighty hack at Young, who looked for a second like he was going to get some payback, until Shevchenko immediately put his hands up in apology.

Jeff Carlisle: Clichy with a dangerous cross but not enough guys crashing the box for France.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukraine very much on the offensive this last while.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Oh, jeez. Parker seemed knocked out cold for a few seconds taking a Nazarenko cross to the face earlier.

Jeff Carlisle: About six minutes plus stoppage time to go in Kiev.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney lost Sheva there.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Shevchenko dives to the near post but can't quite make contact.

Jeff Carlisle: Benzema has been dropping very deep, but he has been involved.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 85th minute.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukraine with a second corner.

Jeff Carlisle: Giroud nearly scores with his first touch! Ball to the near post and Giroud just misses with a header.

Jeff Carlisle: SUB FOR FRANCE: Giroud on for M'Vila.

ESPN Stats and Info: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the first player to score 2 goals at 3 separate EURO tournaments.

Jeff Carlisle: Chance for France! Malouda feeds Menez, but he scuffs his shot a bit and Isaksson saves.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 83rd minute now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Andy Carroll on for Welbeck.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Tymoschuk manhandles Gerrard to the ground. No booking. He's already on one.

Jeff Carlisle: Yellow to Holmen for foul on M'Vila. That didn't take long for Holmen.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Nazarenko blasts over. He is no Garmash.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 80 minutes gone in Ukraine-England.

Jeff Carlisle: SUBS FOR SWEDEN: Wernbloom on for Toivenen. Holmen on for Anders Svensson.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We all love it.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yellow for Cole, BTW.

Jeff Carlisle: Nasri with a low cross for Mexes of all people and his shot looked like it deflected off Mellberg's arm but no call. That would have been harsh pk had it been given.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Garmash is off! Nazarenko on. My name anchor has left me. Now in trouble.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Butko is coming on for Milevskiy.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Konoplyanka hoofsw one over.

Jeff Carlisle: The half-time introduction of Wilhelmsson really turned the match around for Sweden.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: He does look a little chunk le funk for his week off.

Jeff Carlisle: Wilhelmsson released into space down the left wing, his cross looks inviting, but it's just a bit too far in front of Ibra.

Jeff Carlisle: Malouda with another shot. This one had more power, less accuracy. It goes well over the bar.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England in the box, but Welbeck and Rooney can't quite connect. Corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Now Rakitskiy with a yellow.

Jeff Carlisle: Malouda with tame effort that is easily caught by Isaksson.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Konoplyanka with a rocket. A very wobbly one. But Hart gets hands on it and Lescott clears.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Hart with the save!

Jeff Carlisle: France corner is taken short. Now France retreat to their own half. What the..?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Stevie G gets a yellow for some elbowage.

Jeff Carlisle: France go close again! M'Vila with a fierce drive, but Isaksson punches it away with two hands.

ESPN Stats and Info: SWE: 4 blocked shots today; 5 in 1st 2 games combined.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Of the England game, watch the second half.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Nice Ukraine play in the box. Earn a corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Since they've not been a country for that long. Duh, Leander.

Jeff Carlisle: Benzema with a shot on the run, but Jonas Olsson takes the sting out of the shot, and the deflected effort goes straight to Isaksson.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: All time, Statsie? I suppose it would be, wouldn't it?

ESPN Stats and Info: Andriy Shevchenko has scored four of Ukraine's seven goals at major international tournaments.

Jeff Carlisle: Well spotted Zeus.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Shevchenko is coming on too. For Devic.

Jeff Carlisle: And there was much cheering by French fans.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Silver lining, Jeff?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yes, Walcott is on for Milner.

Jeff Carlisle: Yellow to Mexes. He will miss the next match.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Young's corner punched away.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Piatov slapped the ball away on a Milner free kick ahead of Rooney's head and saved Cole's volley.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Cole goes close!

Jeff Carlisle: Gorgeous first touch by Benzema on that previous play.

Jeff Carlisle: Benzema does well to hold off a defender, feeds Ribery, but his shot is blocked.

ESPN Stats and Info: Scoring chances created: ENG 4, UKR 10

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Correct me if I'm wrong here, but these extra officials on the back line have been useless. They've missed penalties and the one time there's a close goal-line call, it gets blown.

Jeff Carlisle: France winning a series of set pieces. Here. Played short and Nasri goes close with a heavy shot.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Quite, Rich. Quite.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Milevskiy had gotten in well, shot at Hart, who blocked it only partly and Terry dove and kicked it off the line.

ESPN Stats and Info: France with a 113-58 touches in the attacking third advantage. Sweden, however, with a 10-9 touches in the attacking penalty area advantage.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: In the run-up to that should-have-been-goal, though, a Ukrainian was offsides.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney's free kick is into the side netting.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Scandal!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Oh dear! Replay shows that shot by MIlevskiy was over the line! And they had an extra ref standing right there on the back line!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yellow for Tymoschuk.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: At the other end Parker is brought down at the end of the box!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukrainian ball saved off the line!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Milevskiy with a header! Inches over. But he was offside. Nice cross from Iarmolenko.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 61st minute between England and Ukraine. 60th in Sweden-France.

Jeff Carlisle: SUB FOR FRANCE: Malouda on for Ben Arfa.

Ravi Ubha: Can the Swedes hang on to a lead?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Sarcasm, CJ...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another dangerous English cross, but headed away.

ESPN Stats and Info: Prior to Sweden's goal, France had trailed for 9 minutes at this year's tournament (9 vs ENG, 0 vs UKR).

Jeff Carlisle: Wilhelmsson goes close! Gets behind France defense only for his shot to be saved by Lloris. Now Mellberg! Lloris touches his shot over the bar. France reeling right now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: High time we did away with all this entertainment and parity and expanded this tourmanet to 24 teams...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: As Sir Ian just pointed out, first time ever there hasn't been a single 0-0 draw in the group stage.

ESPN Stats and Info: ENG wins group, FRA still advances if results hold.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Statsie? I'm lost.

Ravi Ubha: Wilhelmsson made a big difference since coming on for Bajrami.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Now Milner is down.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Young curls a ball into the box but iit's way too high for Rooney.

Jeff Carlisle: That volley came from about 16 yards.Well placed to, as Lloris had a decent dive at it.

Jeff Carlisle: Larsson had just had a shot well-saved by Lloris. Ball goes wide, cross comes in and Ibrahimavic with a gorgeous volley to put the Swedes ahead.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Magical volley from Ibrahimovic.

Jeff Carlisle: Ibra!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Terry buldozes Milevskiy.

Jeff Carlisle: GOAL SWEDEN!

ESPN Stats and Info: 3rd headed goal for England at EURO 12, tied for first with Denmark.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney broke out on subsequent run but Iarmolenko caught up with him and forced him to lay it off to Milner, whose shot was poor.

Jeff Carlisle: Diarra has a dig, but it's right at Isaksson.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Finds nobody.

Jeff Carlisle: Played short, Spain-like, and it amounts to nothing.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Konoplyanka's cross put behind by Cole.

Jeff Carlisle: Ribery wins a corner after a nice pass from Nasri.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Konoplyanka takes it. Welbeck clears.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Headed behind again.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England puts a ball behind and concedes a corner.

Jeff Carlisle: Ooooh. Benzema's curling shot goes just wide. He took a through ball, cut inside onto his right foot and barely missed.

ESPN Stats and Info: 1.6 yards on Rooney's goal.

Jeff Carlisle: No worries guys, I know it's confusing.

Jeff Carlisle: Not talking about England/Ukraine, was taking about Swe/Fra.

Jeff Carlisle: Offside. Way off.

Jeff Carlisle: Make that free kick...

Jeff Carlisle: Corner to Sweden....

Jeff Carlisle: That was one of the great two-foot putts.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Corner was cleared, Johnson picked it up, back to Gerrard who run by his may, it skipped off Welbeck, the goalie couldn't grab it and Rooney headed into the wide-open net.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: ROONEY ON HIS ROO-TURN!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: ENGLAND SCORES!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: GOAL!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Tymoschuk heads away.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard to take it, naturally.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England with the corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: As established, we are all Garmash, but not as much as we are all Statsie.

Jeff Carlisle: And we're off! Wilhelmsson comes on for Bajrami and is immediately offsdie.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: No subs.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And we're off again!

Jeff Carlisle: If it stays as is, France and England go through. I believe France takes the group on goal difference.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Total Statsie.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: As said, they are many, they are one. If there was more than one account, it would overwhelm Twitter and the internet would come crashing down.

ESPN Stats and Info: @ESPNStatsInfo

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ravi is @r_ubha

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Jeff is @JeffreyCarlisle

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not a ton yet. Found a pickup game. Going to first one tomorrow night. But if anybody knows where to watch/play/coach soccer in Fishkill, NY, do shout! I'm @LeanderAlphabet.

Jeff Carlisle: ..to push him even wider. No angle at the end.

Jeff Carlisle: Just looking at the replays again, after Mexes' mistake, (or 'defending") Toivenen's first touch really hurt him by taking wide. Made it easier for Lloris.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Being like England makes nobody feel better though, now does it?

ESPN Stats and Info: Wayne Rooney finishes first half with 24 touches, 1 shot (0 on target)

Leander Schaerlaeckens: /sad

Leander Schaerlaeckens: /unintentionally

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ok. It's decided. I'm Pierce, whoever that is.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ah, mine was only two snores. Really good to hear.

Jeff Carlisle: And there's the whistle for half-time. I rate that half three snores.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I'd know what you were talking about, if only I had seen Community even once.

Jeff Carlisle: Toivenen goes down under a heavy challenge, but the flag is up for offside.

Jeff Carlisle: One minute of stoppage time for Swe/Fra.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Time to mute one screen and turn up the other.

Jeff Carlisle: Nasri's corner is eventually cleared.

Jeff Carlisle: Ribery in space after a nice pass from Benzema, but the shot is deflected wide. Corner to France...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And on that note, half-time between England and Ukraine.

ESPN Stats and Info: France with a 81-33 advantage in attacking 3rd touches.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Long ball from Garmash to Garmash, but it's too far for Garmash.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I get a lot of pity in my everyday life.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: This meta soccer society of ours is the way of the future.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not sad at all! Beautiful!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Minus the actual skill on the ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It was Parker, literally brought to his knees.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Comes to nothing.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Or Iarmolenko. Trouble is these Ukrainian names are often transliterated differently.

Jeff Carlisle: Benzema drops deep to collect the ball, turns, fires, and watches it go wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yarmolenko dribbles through the box until Lescott can tap it into corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: [Insert inappropriate joke here.]

Ravi Ubha: Not quite happening for Ben Arfa so far. A lot of huffing without any end product.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney and Welbeck break away. Rooney's cross is poor. Parker attempts something from far, but it's far off.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: See, again, my entry looks silly.

Ravi Ubha: After a promising start, this game is fizzling.

ESPN Stats and Info: That is so not true Leander.

Jeff Carlisle: Nasri is back up and looks to be okay.

Jeff Carlisle: Nasri feeling a lot of pain in his right knee.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I'm going to stop typing. Because whatever I type will just look silly next to Statsie's entries.

Jeff Carlisle: Nasri down after a heavy challenge from Kallstrom.

ESPN Stats and Info: 6 scoreless first halves thus far...no scoreless games.

No day has seen both games go to halftime scoreless yet at the tournament.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yeah, and every other machine ever. But whatever.

Jeff Carlisle: Except for the HAL 9000.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Half Stats. Half Machine.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Machines never fail.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Garmash (the original one) with the shot but it's wide.

ESPN Stats and Info: There have been 16 headed goals this tournament, including 2 by England.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Young makes the back line but Rakitskiy clears.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukraine lifts a ball over the top but it bounces innocuously to Hart.

Jeff Carlisle: Oooh. Ben Arfa with a shot from about 30 yards goes just over the bar.

Jeff Carlisle: Larsson with a slick backheel to Bajrami, but his cross is defended by Mexes.

Jeff Carlisle: Lloris with what looked like a point-blank save on Toivenen, but offside flag was up.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Devic well into the English box, but his cross is headed away.

ESPN Stats and Info: Scoring chances created (passes that lead directly to shots): UKR 7, ENG 2

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard deposits it pin-point perfectly on Terry's head, but like Rooney he mistimes it and it sails over.

Jeff Carlisle: That's better approach work by France, but Clichy's cross is just a bit too tall. Debuchy puts in another cross, easily caught by Isaksson.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Young cuts inside from out wide and gets a shot off. Deflected for a corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 31st minute in both games.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That's a few good chances for Ukraine now, to one for England.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Milevskiy with a shot! His finish was rather poor and it's simple for Hart. Nice setup from Devic.

Jeff Carlisle: Ribery wins yet another free kick, about 35 yards out. Nasri (!) to take it. It's easily headed clear.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Torrooney?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That's a few sloppy touches from him now. Starting to show that he hasn't played all that much of late.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Terry with a long ball to Young, sharp cross to Rooney at the far post, who heads his cross well wide when he should have scored.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Rooney with the chance!

Jeff Carlisle: Benzema with a twisting run, but Jonas Olsson is there to block his shot.

ESPN Stats and Info: England had 7 shots in the first half of its first two matches. 0 shots today.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England appears to be getting a grip on this game as they cease pretending to be all tiki-taka-like and start playing it forward.

Jeff Carlisle: Rami puts it into orbit.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another sharp delivery but it's cleared.

Ravi Ubha: Kallstrom having tough time in midfield.

Jeff Carlisle: Ribery wins a free kick about 40 yards out.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another free kick to England.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I thought so. But then again: I'm stupid.

ESPN Stats and Info: From shot to goal, Leander.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gives it away. Garmashdammit.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: On the ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Garmash!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: KonoplyankaKonoplyankaKonoplyanka on the ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Low and Terry's diving header doesn't connect.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard on corner duty now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dangerous, that!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gerrard with a dangerous free kick, but Rooney can't quite get to it and Garmash-Goalie taps it away.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: From shot to goal or once it leaves field of play, Statsie?

ESPN Stats and Info: Avg shot distance for Ukraine tonight: 28.4 yards

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Scarlet.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: No corner called.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Seemed like Hart got a wee piece of it.

Jeff Carlisle: Well played, Alex.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gusev with a rocket from outside the box, having gone on an unchallenged run, but it was inches over!

Jeff Carlisle: Nasri has been invisible so far. Can't remember his name being called once.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: If we translated Sweden's names literally, it would read "Son of Lars misses the target with a shot after a knockdown from Jonas the Son of Ols." I think we should do that.

Ravi Ubha: Diarra and Ibra having a running battle. Ibra so smooth and composed on the ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another ball into the England box, hoofed away.

Jeff Carlisle: Larsson misses the target with a shot after a knockdown from Jonas Olsson.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: He's made a half dozen important clearances already.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gusev with a cross on another handsome Ukrainian attack. But Terry heads it away.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: KonoplyankaKonoplyankaKonoplyankaKonoplyankaKonoplyanka.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 20th minute, and England is getting a bit domianted.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Copy-pastes.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Did not!

ESPN Stats and Info: France with a 32-9 advantage in the attacking third touches.

Jeff Carlisle: Ribery does well to get away from Granqvist, but Benzema make a hash of his cross.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Spelling on that shout? Anyone?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukraine certainly has the better of this game so far.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Blocked in the box.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kapanoplanka with a shot!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Mean no offense. There: it was a play from Tymoschuk to Devic. I know how to spell both of those!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I am humbled and may well retire at my peak. Right now.

ESPN Stats and Info: Three Lions is derived from the Coat of Arms of England. There was a song called "Three Lions" written for Euro '96 and it was the only single to ever go to top the British charts twice with different lyrics. ('96, '98).

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Garmash to Garmash! Terry got just enough of a touch to interfere.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I know, but two was weird. Hence: three. See? All adds up.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukraine breaks out but plays a poor ball and loses it to the sideline.

Jeff Carlisle: Outside of Mexes, France looking pretty comfortable on the ball. Outside backs getting forward easily.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Corner punched and cleared.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yes. True.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Johnson lofts a ball into the box. It's deflected behind.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: When dealing with lions, always opt for prime numbers.

Jeff Carlisle: Three lions on the crest I believe. Why that is I have no idea.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Because calling yourself the Two Lions would just sound weird.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Devic with a shot! Blocked in the box.

Jeff Carlisle: Debuchy with good work down the right, crosses for M'Vila, but he mis-hits his volley and it goes wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Almost-fluid England attack ends when Ashley Cole slides a meek shot towards goal from the side, easily picked up by Garmash-Goalie.

Ravi Ubha: Mexes back to his old ways.

Jeff Carlisle: Toivenen with a glorious chance! Mexes with a huge mistake, falls down, and Toivenen is in alone. He rounds Lloris but hits the post from extreme angle.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England, for all intents and purposes, looks like its ambition for this game is a 0-0 draw.

Jeff Carlisle: Ben Arfa has a go from distance, it lands in Poznan.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: How creative, England wins the ball and lumps it forward. Welbeck brings it down but Rooney can't control simple roller.

Jeff Carlisle: Poor clearance by Sweden, Ribery pounced on the loose ball, and his tight-angled shot forced a save from Isaksson.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukraine with an awful lot of room to play.

Jeff Carlisle: Oooh! Ribery tests Isaksson!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yarmolenko with a shot! Stopped.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Surprised Zlatan "I don't give a s*** who wins, I'm going on holiday" Ibrahimovic has even showed up!

Jeff Carlisle: Rami fouls Ibra on the left wing...Larsson to take the free kick...headed clear by France.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Huzzah! Would it be bad to call all the Ukrainians Garmash?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Garmash with a shot from distance, zips well over.

Ravi Ubha: Great, open start in Sweden-France.

Jeff Carlisle: Benzema puts Ben Arfa into space, but shot is well off target.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Scouser-love.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I think Steve McManaman rates Wayne Rooney.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: For those asking, it's to sit deep in two tidy banks of four and absorb pressure even though your team has plenty of attacking weapons.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukraine on the ball, while England Hodgson's.

Jeff Carlisle: Sweden looking motivated. Sebastian Larsson with a header right at Lloris.

Jeff Carlisle: Toivenen with a header that goes jus wide. French defenders caught watching.

Ravi Ubha: The French are rolling but they'd like Benzema to get on the score sheet. Need him for the games ahead.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Confident Joe Hart with a daring manoever in front of a charging striker. No danger though.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Right. That one.

Jeff Carlisle: Ribery is sent flying by Svensson. Welcome to the game Franck.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: If I don't identify a Ukrainian shooter, it's only because I can't pronounce or spell it.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A first shot for Ukraine sails well wide.

Ravi Ubha: A moment of silence before the game in memory of French broadcasting legend Thierry Roland. Died Saturday aged 74.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: If your mind boggles from all this bloggy goodness, go look at some highway traffic. It promises to be less frenetic than this.

ESPN Stats and Info: ESPN Soccer Power Index Projections
Pct
England win 44.8
Tie 27.2
Ukraine win 28.0


Pct
Sweden win 36.9
Tie 27.4
France win 35.8

Jeff Carlisle: And we're off!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And we're off between England and Ukraine, which I'll keep you abreast of. Jeff will cover you on France-Sweden!

Jeff Carlisle: Ah, 2-1 England; 2-0 France.

Jeff Carlisle: In caution trouble for France...Bebuchy and Mexes among the starters. Menez on the bench.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Lizzel?

Ravi Ubha: England 3-0 Ukraine. France 2-1 Sweden.

Jeff Carlisle: In caution trouble for Sweden...ah never mind.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: One.

ESPN Stats and Info: Scenarios
Sweden-France
- France advance with win/draw.
- France advance with a loss AND Ukraine win ONLY IF England fail to make up the difference in overall goal difference and goals scored.

England-Ukraine
- England advance with win/draw.
- England advance with a loss AND Sweden win ONLY IF it matches France on group goal difference and goals scored.
- Ukraine advance with win.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England 3-2 Ukraine. France 4-1 Sweden.

Ravi Ubha: You start!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We have not.

Ravi Ubha: Have we done predictions yet?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: They're kept in cages and only fed every few days to keep them focused. But if they were to be unloosed, ESPN's TV feed would just be a bunch of numbers on a white background.

Jeff Carlisle: We would be assimilated.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It really has.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Google a picture of him from a year ago. The hair was, erm, less prevalent.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Full house + A STATSIE!!! You should all know how lucky you are.

Ravi Ubha: I think Svensson and his 35-year-old legs will be up against tonight vs. M'Vila and Diarra.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Did Wayne Rooney not look like he was just mouthing "mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes" like in the old pre-talkie movies>

ESPN Stats and Info: Hello everyone, Jason York from ESPN Stats and Info here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: In fairness, seven of 16 teams are already out.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gotta win at something, no?

Ravi Ubha: The Swedish fans deserve something. Already singing to my left.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Like that one?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Defensive responsibilities and all that.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Yeah, as a sub. I think that's when he's at his best. When his defender is winded and he can provide a burst of energy.

Ravi Ubha: There was a slight concern about Walcott's fitness.

Jeff Carlisle: Tough on Walcott though. Immense against Sweden.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I think Walcott and Ox will be dynamite off the bench, and are rightly being saved for that.

Ravi Ubha: As Leander said.

Ravi Ubha: Young keeping his spot based on past performances. He looked good in pre-tourney friendlies when Rooney was out.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I think Young's been pretty good for England at recent times.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Travis: I don't see it. England faces either Italy or Spain. And, should they survive that, probably Portugal or Germany. All of those teams are better.

Ravi Ubha: Clichy keeps his spot ahead of Evra, who started vs. England. Good to see.

Jeff Carlisle: Indeed. Time for Young to step up.

Ravi Ubha: And M'Vila replaces Cabaye, who had a slight thigh problem.

Jeff Carlisle: Changes for Sweden, Bajrami in for Elm, Toivonen in for Elmander.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ben Arfa is on for Menez.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And thus it was confirmed by Jeff.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Never mind! Rugger has helped us out!

Jeff Carlisle: Sweden, allow me:

Isaksson, Granqvist, Mellberg, J. Olsson, M. Olsson, Svensson, Kallstrom, Larsson, Ibrahimovic, Bajrami, Toivonen

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ravi, Jeff, do you have the Sweden lineup?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Let's bring you lineups:

France v. Sweden:

France:
Lloris; Debuchy, Rami, Mexes, Clichy; M'Vila, Diarra; Nasri, Ribery, Ben Arfa; Benzema

Sweden: Can't find it!

England-Ukraine:

England: Hart; Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole; Milner, Gerrard, Parker, Young; Welbeck, Rooney

Ukraine:
Pyatov; Gusev, Rakitskiy, Khatcheridi, Selin; Yarmolenko, Tymoschuk, Garmash, Konoplyanka; Milevskiy, Devic

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Assembling them all as we speak!

Jeff Carlisle: Are we ready for lineups Leander?

Ravi Ubha: I thought for sure Sweden-France was going to be the more meaningful game.

Ravi Ubha: I have a TV beside me showing Eng-Ukraine. Very tempted to ...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Welbeck and Rooney.

Jeff Carlisle: I believe Roy of the Rovers went with Welbeck.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Assuming, of course, they advance today.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: No. They face Italy or Spain next. And whatever the team they don't face in the quarters, they get in the semis. I don't see England beating either.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And tennis gives him a reprieve from exposure to nincompoops such as myself.

Ravi Ubha: I love covering Roo-fael Nadal and Roo-ger Federer.

Ravi Ubha: My left hand does tennis and my right soccer.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: One sport couldn't contain him.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Sheer awesomeness.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Happy Roo-turn, Ravi!

Ravi Ubha: Hey, Leander, and hello, everyone.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: *Fails again.*

Leander Schaerlaeckens: My name is like Rooney's hair. Robust and fancy, but ultimately incomprehensible.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Pretty good!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not as unlike as... *tries to think of good joke* a... *buys time*... hair-trick. *Realizes he's failed. Hits publish button anyway.*

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Harsh.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Merely a 3 or so. Ukraine is a decent team, even if they are Andrey Shevshenko-less today. And they're at home.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The deep end isn't so grim, I've found.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: As are we, Seth. As are we.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Let's see what's in the mail.

Jeff Carlisle: Roo-rah!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Happy Roo-turn, Jeff!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Given that their head-to-head score was 1-1, it would come down to goal difference.

Jeff Carlisle: Greeting everyone from the Warsaw Hilton!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: In that case, France and England are tied for second on four points.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The only complicating scenario is if Ukraine and Sweden win.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Sweden is already out.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ukraine wins and it's trough.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: England wins or ties and it's through.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: France wins or ties and it's through.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The scenario in Group D is straightforward.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: As Chris Jones would say: we live in the future.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: At. The. Same. Time.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I'll be joined by Jeff Carlisle, Roger Bennett and Ravi Ubha as we bring you the final group stage day from Euro 2012. Jeff and Ravi will cover France-Sweden while Rog and I cover England-Ukraine.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And a happy Roo-turn to you all!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Good afternoon, Everybody!