Ukraine-Sweden gives later European Championship 2020 drama, as match winner Dovbyk appears as the unlikely hero
It would never live up to Monday’s drama, but Ukraine and Sweden closed the round of 16 with a dramatic end to their own, after an extremely absorbing match. Ukraine has a new folk hero, his name is Artem Dovbyk and generations of Dovbyks will remember the moment he scored his very first international goal. Or better yet, they’ll post it on YouTube, because if they can just tell the story, they might not believe it.
Dovbyk, a 24-year-old forward with SC Dnipro-1, made his international debut only in March and is not exactly what one would call a rising star. He is a young man whose itinerant career has seen him play in the Ukrainian second division, the Danish league and the Moldovan league. Before Tuesday night, he had only played 51 minutes of international football … against Kazakhstan and Bahrain.
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On Wednesday, however, he became a household name in Ukraine, as his buzzing diving head – after slipping between the Swedish slopes Victor Lindelof and Filip Helander – drove Ukraine past Sweden 2-1, and into a settlement with England in the quarterfinals of the European Championships 2020, which ends a straight match in Glasgow.
His celebration – and the visiting fans’ – said it all. He whipped off his shirt and ran: his eyes wide, his fists pumping, his muscles flexing as he galloped towards the bench. A late goal, an unlikely hero, a huge moment for a nation and pure, unbridled joy.
“I think the guys played for their supporters. We are really happy. Our diaspora really supported us,” manager Andriy Shevchenko said afterwards. “I think some people would have spent their last penny to get here – we heard you, and thank you so much for your support.”
It had been a hot, sunny day in Glasgow and when the two teams started, the obvious change was that Ukraine had a game plan for the Swedes. Andriy Shevchenko switched to a three-man back after going 4-3-3 in the group stage. The goal was to blunt the Swedes’ young dynamo at the front – Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski – while, just as importantly, freed Oleksandr Zinchenko to do what he does in Manchester City on the theft flank: start wide, with the opportunity to drive. inside to create or attack by-line to cross.
Zinchenko had played centrally in previous matches and at some level it made sense. Shevchenko wrestled with a challenge that many “mid-majors” faced in this tournament: what happens when your most talented football player plays a role week in, week in at club level that risks leaving him on the periphery of the game? Are you moving him to a more central and therefore influential position to get him more of the ball? That was what Shevchenko had done in previous matches, not least because that was also where Zinchenko had started his career, but the Cityman had been poor.
Sweden’s line-up looked familiar, which made it look skewed. Again, another medium-sized problem: balance. Nominally, it was 4-4-2. But the man wide right was Sebastian Larsson, a 36-year-old defensive midfielder. Wide left, on the other hand, we got Emil Forsberg, a dynamic, graceful, attacking force that has played a lot forward in Leipzig over the years. It was the same layout as the previous games, but it was a different approach, as the game turned into an open, engaging back and forth.
The minimalist defensive and counter-side we saw in the initial group games was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a page that shouted “We have come this far, we are playing with house money, let’s take it.” Ukraine adopted a similar mentality. Despite omitting the highly hyped Ruslan Malinovskyi, Shevchenko’s troops happily advanced, spreading to play to both flanks and allowing the hyperactive Mykola Shaparenko to wreak havoc.
It was he who picked out Andriy Yarmolenko with one just inside the penalty area. Yarmolenko turned, feinted and delivered a scooped ball with the outside of his boot that looked like a trick shot that you can see on the billiard blanket. It bent around the Swedish defenders, landed softly and stood up for the tumultuous Zinchenko’s overturned finish from the opposite side. Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen got a hand in it, but no more.
“After the first three matches we got a lot of criticism, I wanted to show them that they should be quiet because we are a team that deserves [praise] when we struggle to perform our tasks. “I showed that they need to support us,” Zinchenko said after the match.
Sweden immediately pressed the equalizer and were rewarded just before half time, when Forsberg’s shot outside the penalty area slammed off the big body of 18-year-old Ilya Zabarny (“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough” … and he is) and in on the back of the net. Bend? Sure. Deserved? Yes. Both things can be true.
In the second half, the woodwork rattled three times, as both Sweden and Ukraine tried to find their momentum. First it was Serhiy Sydorchuk, then Forsberg, who found the outside of the post. With 20 minutes left, little Forsberg danced, the soft contours of which reminded you of an Ewok with the heart of a Berserker, a diabolical slalom through Ukraine’s ranks, corking a shot that slammed into the crossbar. You did not want this to end because the match was approaching extra time.
Ukrainian fans, permeated by a corner of Hampden Park, toned down an ovation for Shevchenko, the hero of yesteryear. He greeted with a hint, deep in thought. And just maybe wished he could come up with to break down the Swedish ranks, as he had done nine years earlier against the Swedes when he made a standings in a 2-1 victory in Ukraine at the European Championships 2012.
Sweden manager Janne Andersson made a triple change five minutes into extra time and removed both Isak and Kulusevski, as well as Larsson. It was a bold statement about a move, but barely a minute later it became meaningless when Marcus Danielson’s misplaced boot found replacement Artem Besedin just above the knee, forcing Besedin away with a nasty injury. Referee Daniele Orsato had no choice. Danielson was sent off.
“I would like to dedicate this victory to Besedin, he suffered a terrible injury – when I came back to the locker room I was apart of myself. I’m sure he will come back stronger,” Zinchenko said of his fall. team-mate.
Sweden closed the gaps and it looked like we were on our way to penalties, even though the chances kept coming. And then came Zinchenko’s post, Dovbyk’s nod and the moment that will live on in Ukrainian football for many years to come.
Shevchenko pumped his arms in the air, embraced his assistant (and former Milan teammate Mauro Tassotti). That was the kind of goal he used to make. Not so much the main body, but it was the smallest. Rather the timing of the run, gives two defenders slip, making sure to stay on the side and leaving the goalkeeper no chance.
Next is England but Shevchenko does not back down from the challenge.
“To achieve a result like this, we needed to believe and be strong. Our players showed it today. The English team is a fantastic team, they also have a fantastic replacement bench,” said the former Chelsea striker.
“I saw the first half, they are very strong and I know it well. They have a fantastic coach. We understand how tough this match will be.
“Now we just need to recover and from tomorrow we will start our preparations. We will try something to give us a positive result in the end.”
Ukraine may have entered the tournament as outsiders, but Shevchenko’s boys are doing well.