Rooney returns for England against Ukraine
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}England and Ukraine will battle it out for a place in the quarterfinals as both sides wrap up Group D play on Tuesday in Euro 2012.
Co-hosts Ukraine will find themselves in the last eight with a win over the English, while the Three Lions need only a draw to advance, and will be handed a major boost with the return of star striker Wayne Rooney, who missed the first two games of the tournament through suspension.
England looked sluggish in attack in its opening match with France, which ended in a 1-1 draw after the English managed to put just one shot on goal.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But manager Roy Hodgson decided to start Andy Carroll up top alongside Danny Welbeck in a 3-2 win over Sweden on Friday, with both players scoring goals, including a highlight-reel tally from Welbeck 12 minutes from time to win the game.
Hodgson has already confirmed that Rooney will take his place in the starting 11 for the match against Ukraine, leaving the boss to decide whether it will be Rooney's Manchester United teammate, Welbeck, or Carroll who partners him up top.
Theo Walcott's performance off the bench in the second half of England's win has also made Hodgson's team selection an interesting one, with the Arsenal winger scoring a goal and assisting on Welbeck's winner in a 30-minute appearance.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Of course I believed in Theo, I think he's a good player with good qualities, that's why I selected him," Hodgson said. "I'd be lying if I said I know these players as well as (the English media) do, you have watched them many times. I have worked with them for one month and am still learning what they are really good at and what areas we can improve upon."
The England manager may be learning on the fly having had a little over one month since he took charge, while Ukraine's Oleh Blokhin is very much aware of what his team needs to do after taking a step back in a 2-0 defeat against France.
Ukraine was buoyant after opening the tournament with a 2-1 win over Sweden as captain Andriy Shevchenko netted both goals in the victory.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But Blokhin feels as though his side got a dose of reality against the French, and that they must dig down in order to find themselves in the last eight.
"As I said, the win against Sweden didn't mean anything, so if we thought we were through, we were wrong," Blokhin said. "I think some players thought that, and we'll have a serious conversation with them. This European Championship isn't the Ukrainian League; we have to play at a higher level and game after game."
After a scoreless first half, France netted both of its goals in a three- minute span, and Blokhin saw his players drop their heads and offer little in reply.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The manager may have to do without the services of Shevchenko, who is battling a knee injury, but Blokhin will hope that the defeat against France serves as a wake-up call for his side, because if not, the only role that Ukraine will play for the rest of the tournament is that of gracious hosts.