As England looks to secure a place in the quarterfinals at Euro 2012 with a positive result against Ukraine on Tuesday, Roy Hodgson's team knows a better effort is needed than what was produced on Friday against Sweden. While England can advance to the quarterfinals with a draw against the host Ukrainians, there's a world of difference between finishing first in the group and earning a quarterfinal berth against Italy, and finishing second behind France and being slotted in against reigning champion Spain in the quarterfinals. And, after a sloppy defensive effort punctuated by a Glen Johnson own goal nearly squandered a halftime lead before Theo Walcott and Danny Wellbeck came to the rescue, England will need to send a message on Tuesday.
England vs. Ukraine: Euro 2012 Watch Online Live Stream
On that score, there's good news in the form of the returning Wayne Rooney, who is expected to see his first action of Euro 2012 on Tuesday afternoon at Donbass Arena in Donetsk. Rooney, who was suspended for the first two games of the tournament after kicking Miodrag Dzukovic in England's final qualifier against Montenegro.
Rooney, who is coming off of a dynamic season for Manchester United, with 27 goals and four assists in 34 appearances, had been in top form for England during qualifying for Euro 2012, with three goals and three assists in the seven games before his red card against Montenegro. His firepower should be a big lift for England, which has scored four goals in two games but trails France on goal differential, requiring a massive offensive output on Tuesday if England is to secure a more favorable matchup with Italy in the quarterfinals.
All things considered, England did well without Rooney in the team, playing France to a draw and earning a first-ever win over Sweden in a competitive international match, but bigger things are needed if the Three Lions are to make a deep run at Euro 2012, and Rooney will look to provide those "bigger things" when he returns on Tuesday.
