Ukraine vs. France is the first match on Friday at Euro 2012. Host Ukraine is riding high after a win over Sweden in the opener, while the French are looking to build momentum after starting its play in Group D with a draw against England. Sports World Report will be following all of the action live from Donbass Arena in Donetsk, so keep checking in for updates on the match and leave your thoughts on the action in the comments section.
1' - Action is underway in hot and rainy Donetsk. Andriy Pyatov in goal for Ukraine, with Hugo Lloris his opposite for the French.
2' - The rain is definitely going to make for tricky conditions, and possible opportunities resulting from mistakes. Hugo Lloris had a slight scare early, struggling to handle a pass back from Philippe Mexes.
4' - Pyatov very proactive, coming out of the box to kick away what could have been a great chance for Nasri.
5' - MATCH SUSPENDED! Just too rainy in Donetsk, apparently, with thunder and lightning visible above Donestk Arena. Match will resume at 19:00 CET (1 p.m. Eastern in the U.S.)
5' - And we are back underway under clear skies in Donetsk. Dropped ball restarts, France in possession.
6' - Karim Benzema puts the first shot on goal for the France, a high shot from the left side that gave Pyatov some work.
7' - Ukraine crowd is on fire for the home side, and a good run looked to give them a chance, but the ball was smartly seized by the French defenders.
9' - Benzema looked to have another chance, but the Ukrainian defense swarmed him before he could get a shot off.
10' - Corner to France, Debuchy gives it a go but Pyatov is right on it.
13' - Dangerous looking cross from Gusev, but Debuchy breaks it up.
14' - Ukraine's supporters are on fire whenever their team has the ball with any kind of pace. Could that energy come into play as this game goes on?
16' - Crowd noise notwithstanding, France is controlling the ball well and showing their quality. It's going to take a good counter-strike and perfect defense for Ukraine to win here.
17' - Offsides call negates what looked to be a Menez goal.
19' - Ukraine starting to get a bit more possession, but yet to pose a real threat.
23' - More excitement for Ukraine as they look to make a run, but Mexes takes away a pass and ends the mild threat.
25' - First really good chance of the day for Ukraine. Andriy Yarmolenko gets a shot off that makes Lloris dive, but it rolls a couple of feet wide of the goal.
26' - Menez launches a shot high of the goal. Most dangerous position for France so far, but Menez can't finish.
28' - Benzema's low shot finds the waiting arms of Pyatov.
29' - HUGE save by Pyatov on a point-blank shot from Menez.
32' - France's defense just seems to be a step too quick for Ukraine. Some good possession, but seems to always be broken up before Ukraine can get a shot off.
33' - Yevhen Konoplyanka's shot is well high of the goal. That's what happens when you're having trouble getting shots - you rush them from mediocre position.
34' - Best chance of the day for Ukraine as they're able to spring Andriy Shevchenko on the left side, but Lloris makes a fine save.
38' - Ukraine corner mis-kicked by Benzema, but the danger is ended. A second corner is denied by Mexes, and France winds up with it.
39' - Great save by Pyatov, who's really giving the home fans something to cheer. Mexes looked to have a goal when Mexes headed Nasri's free kick, but Pyatov was right there.
40' - Jérémy Menez gets a yellow card for France.
42' - Crowd cheers as Jarmolenko gets into the corner on the right side, but his cross is high and goes out.
44' - Benzema sends a cross into the box, but easily cleared away by Ukraine.
45' - More sustained possession by France here, but Selin gets the ball back for Ukraine, by putting it out off Menez.
45 + 1' - Collision between Menez and Selin, no yellow card.
HALFTIME, UKRAINE 0-0 FRANCE. Lots of good action, but no goals to show for it. Ukraine feeding off the emotion of their home crowd, but France is asserting itself as the more skilled side. However, it's certainly anyone's game.
46' - Marko Devicin on for Ukraine in place of Andriy Voronin.
47' - France back on the attack early on, continuing to possess the ball well and make Ukraine chase it.
49' - Another good save by Pyatov on Menez, and back at the other end, Shevchenko sends a curling shot just wide.
50' - Anatoliy Tymoschuk tries one now, and it sails high of the goal. Ukraine taking its opportunities where it can get them.
51' - Rami just shoves Shevchenko down as he tries to turn the corner.
53' - GOAL, FRANCE! Jérémy Menez with a fine left footed shot, squeezed brilliantly between Pyatov and the right goalpost. Pretty goal.
56' - GOAL, FRANCE! Yohan Cabaye with the score for France, getting the ball from Benzemam and he sends a turning left-footed shot under the leg of Gusev and past Pyatov.
58' - France not content with a two-goal lead, still attacking hard. Ukraine needs something soon to stop the momentum.
60' - Artem Milevskiy on for Ukraine to try to shake things up, replacing Serhiy Nazarenko.
62' - Benzema sends a turning shot in, but it's scooped up by Pyatov.
64' - Good active play by Pyatov, running out to get to a ball before Benzema can get it.
65' - Nifty passing by the French resultts in a shot by Cabaye off the post. France is looking great here.
68' - Yarmolenko had a try, but his own teammate Milevskiy was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Cabaye done for the day for France, in favor of Yann M'vila.
69' - Yarmolenko done for the day now, as Oleksandr Aliev is in for the home side.
71' - Devich gives the Ukraine fans something to cheer about, but he can't get much on his shot and it goes well wide.
73' - Ribéry tries one off a free kick from 20 yards out, but it's a bit too high. Menez done for the day now, as Marvin Martin takes his place.
76' - Last sub of the day, as France puts in Olivier Giroud and gives Karim Benzema a rest. Benzema had a very productive day with a pair of assists.
77' - Corner for Ukraine headed away harmlessly.
79' - Yellow card for Mathieu Debuchy, and an ill-advised one at this juncture.
80' - Giroud's first effort of the day is well high of the goal.
81' - Mexes gets hit with a yellow card for fouling Milevskiy. Free kick to Ukraine in a dangerous spot.
82' - Aliev goes for goal, but it's well high of the mark.
84' - M'Vila gives it a go, and it's his turn to blast one high of the mark for France.
85' - Lloris gets a bit more work, first on a shot off a free kick by Aliev, and then to bring down a high ball and take it back for France.
87' - Tymoschuk gets a yellow card for an ill-considered challenge on Alou Diarra. Really not what the team needed at this point in time.
90' - Pyatov slides in to break up a chance. A great goalkeeper who was just on the wrong side today.
90 + 1' - Into the first of three minutes added time.
90 + 2' - Ukraine makes another run, but France is just too solid.
FULL TIME, UKRAINE 0-2 FRANCE. Long-awaited win for France, which hadn't won a competitive international game since 2006. They truly earned it, too.
