Euro 2012: Lucky England, beaten France advance | Bangkok Post: learning

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England reached the quarterfinals with a 1-0 over the Ukraine, thanks to a refereeing mistake which disallowed a clear Ukrainian goal. France lost to Sweden but still managed to advance.

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English defender John Terry (right) clears the ball after what television replays showed what should have been a goal in the England vs Ukraine match at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk. AFP

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Lucky England beat Ukraine to advance

France loses, but still reaches quarters

DONETSK, Ukraine — England scraped into the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 here Tuesday after a goal-line refereeing blunder helped them to a 1-0 win over Ukraine which sent the co-hosts crashing out.

A 48th-minute header from returning talisman Wayne Rooney was enough to see England finish top of Group D and send them into a quarter-final in Kiev on Sunday against Italy.

English defender Glen Johnson (L) tackles Ukrainian midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka . AFP

Somehow England had managed to stay level at the break and then three minutes after the restart they got a goal that stunned the hosts.

Gerrard beat Yarmolenko down the right and sent a dangerous cross into the six-yard box.

The ball took touches off two Ukrainian defenders before skidding through goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov to Rooney for the simplest of headers.

However Ukraine – missing injured captain Andrei Shevchenko –  were desperately unlucky not to have earned at least a draw after Marko Devic had a clear goal wrongly disallowed on 62 minutes.

Devic, who appeared to have been offside in the build-up to the goal, had powered into the box and saw his shot fly over keeper Joe Hart towards goal.

However, John Terry launched himself into an acrobatic clearance to hook the ball away and despite furious Ukrainian appeals no goal was given.

Television replays showed the ball had crossed the line by several inches but had incredibly been missed by the additional assistant referee stationed behind the goal.

It was a goal-line controversy that echoed Frank Lampard's disallowed effort for England against Germany at the 2010 World Cup and is almost certain to hasten the introduction of goal-line technology.

Relieved England captain Steven Gerrard admitted his side had been lucky but said England had been due a break.

"To be successful in these tournaments, because of the standard of teams involved, you need that bit of luck going with you," Gerrard said.

"Two years ago we didn't get that luck with Frank Lampard's goal, a big turning point in that game against Germany, and we ended up packing our bags and going home. Today the luck turned.”

But Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin was scathing of the decision which had denied his team a goal which could have swung the contest back in his side's favour.

"There are five referees on the pitch and the ball is 50 centimetres behind the goal-line," Blokhin fumed. "You write what you want - you've seen it. I don't want to criticise the referee.

Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LCR) starts his celebration after scoring a goal during the match between Sweden and France at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. AFP

Meanwhile in Kiev, Ukraine, France qualified for the knockout stages of a major finals for the first time in six years despite losing their final Group D match 2-0 to already eliminated Sweden.

A brilliant bicycle kick by Sweden's inspirational captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 54th minute gave them the lead with the outstanding Sebastian Larsson adding a second in the final minute of normal time.

It handed the Swedes not only their first points of the group stage but also their first win over France in almost 43 years dating back to October 1969.

French midfielder Jeremy Menez (L) vies with Swedish midfielder Kim Källström. AFP

The French, who also saw their 23-match unbeaten run ended, progress in second place in the group after England beat co-hosts Ukraine 1-0 in the other game to finish top.

France – who last reached the knockout stages of a major finals in the 2006 World Cup – will play champions Spain in the last eight. AFP

advance – to move to the next level of a competition เข้ารอบ
quarters (quarter-finals) – competitions between the last eight competitors remaining in a tournament การแข่งขันก่อนรอบบรองชนะเลิศ
scrape into – to manage to get something, but with difficultyเบียดผ่าน
referee – a person who is in charge of a sports game and who makes certain that the rules are followed ผู้ตัดสิน, กรรมการตัดสิน
blunder – a careless or embarrassing mistake ความผิดพลาดจากความสะเพร่า
co-host – one of two countries, cities, groups, people, etc. which provide the space and other things necessary for a special event เจ้าภาพร่วม
talisman – an object (or a person, in this case) that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck  เครื่องราง, สิ่งนำโชค
level – (in sports) with both teams having the same score เสมอ
stun – to surprise or shock somebody so much that they cannot think clearly or speak ทำให้ตะลึงงัน,  ทำให้งง
cross – (in football) the action of kicking the ball from one side of the field to someone in the middle or on the other side เตะบอลขวางสนาม
box – penalty box or area; the area in front of the goal เขตโทษ
touch – touch of the ball
skid – to slide along a surface ลื่น,เลื่อนไถล
simple – very easy ง่าย
injured – hurt in an accident, attack or, in this case, in a sports competition ซึ่งได้รับบาดเจ็บ
desperately unlucky – extremely unlucky โชคร้ายมาก
draw – a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points เสมอกัน
disallow – to not allow something, in this case, to not allow a goal to be counted ไม่อนุญาต, ไม่ยอมให้
offside – in the wrong position according to the rules in a game such as football or hockey ที่อยู่ในตำแหน่งล้ำหน้า
build-up – the time before something happens when people are preparing for it การเสริมกำลัง,การพัฒนา
launch – to start something เริ่มต้น เริ่มทำ
acrobatic – involving balancing, jumping, or turning your body with great skill การแสดงความแข็งแรงและยืดหยุ่นของร่างกายโดยการเล่นห้อยโหนโยนตัวเป็นต้น
clearance – (in football) kicking (or hitting) the ball away from the goal to a safe area การเตะออกไป
hook – to hit or kick a ball so that it goes to one side instead of straight ahead  โค้ง
furious – extremely angry ซึ่งโกรธจัด
appeal – a request that a decision be change การอุทธรณ์
incredibly – in a way that is difficult to believe อย่างไม่น่าเชื่อ
station – to cause someone to be in a particular place to do a job ตั้งประจำ
controversy – a disagreement that a lot of people have strong feelings about ความขัดแย้ง
echo – to repeat a quality or situation สะท้อน, หวนกลับ
hasten – to make something happen sooner or more quickly เร่งมือ
relieved – happy that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended โล่งใจ, เบาใจ, หมดกังวล, ผ่อนคลาย
admit – to agree that something is true, especially when you are unhappy, sorry or surprised about it  ยอมรับ
due – owed something; deserving something ที่ค้างอยู่
break – an opportunity to do something, usually to get something that you want or to achieve success (in this case through luck) โอกาสที่ดี
standard – a (high) level of quality มาตรฐาน
turning point – a time when an important change takes place in a situation, especially one that makes it better จุดที่มีการเปลี่ยนแปลง
scathing – criticising someone or something in a very strong way เสียดแทง (คำพูด), เจ็บแสบ (คำพูด)
deny – to cause to be unsuccessful; to not allow someone do something ทำให้เไม่สำเร็จ, swung
contest – a competition การแข่งขัน
favour – advantage; benefit ความได้เปรียบ
pitch – an area painted with lines for playing particular sports, especially football สนามฟุตบอล
fume – to be very angry about something พลุ่งพล่านด้วยความโกรธ
criticise – to say that you disapprove of somebody/something; to say what you do not like or think is wrong about somebody/something วิจารณ์, ติเตียน,จับผิด
meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
qualify – to be of a high enough standard to enter or continue in a competition; to defeat another person or team in order to enter or continue in a competition  เข้ารอบ
knock-out stage – the part of a tournament where the loser leaves the competition
eliminate – to require to leave (a competition) ทำให้ออก, ตัดทิ้ง, ลบทิ้ง
brilliant – very skilful, impressive, or successful ยอดเยี่ยม
bicycle kick – a physical move made by throwing the body up into the air with the back towards the ground and getting one leg in front of the other without holding on to the ground จักรยานอากาศ
inspirational – making you want to be better, more successful, etc  เป็นการดลใจ, ที่สร้างแรงบันดาลใจ
outstanding – clearly very much better than what is usual ยอดเยี่ยม, ดีเด่น
unbeaten – not having lost in a single competition ไม่เคยแพ้
progress – to move to the next level of a competition เข้ารอบ

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