Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin wasn’t just angry with his players after the team’s 2-0 defeat by France. The supporters didn’t please him much either.
For large parts of Friday’s match in Group D, the home crowd booed the European Championship co-hosts.
It was all very different to the rousing support Ukraine got during its 2-1 win over Sweden in Kiev just four days prior.
“I think it’s not fair,” Blokhin said through an interpreter. “If we are winning, everything is fine. If we are not winning, we are shot.”
The first whistles filled the Donbass stadium in the first half. After an interruption for almost an hour because of thunder, lightning and torrential rain, Ukraine lost its grip on a French team that handled the conditions better, thanks to its technical superiority.
The booing got louder early in the second half as France converted two goals in the space of three minutes.
In the other Group D match, Theo Walcott came off the bench to score one goal and set up another in England’s come-from-behind 3-2 win over Sweden. Walcott came on in the 61st minute and made it 2-2 in the 64th. He then set up Danny Welbeck for the winner in the 78th.
The result eliminated Sweden and leaves England needing only a draw in its final Group D match against Ukraine to ensure a spot in the quarterfinals. For that match, England striker Wayne Rooney will be back from suspension.
Also, UEFA is looking into reports that Croatia fans threw a banana at the pitch and racially abused Italy striker Mario Balotelli in Thursday’s 1-1 draw.
UEFA said Friday it is seeking more information about the incidents.
An anti-discrimination group appointed by UEFA to work at Euro 2012 said it has “categorical” accounts from two monitors that around 300 people directed monkey chants at Balotelli, who is black.
