England’s path to Euro 2024 qualification hit a minor roadblock as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ukraine in Poland, marking the end of their flawless qualifying streak.
Despite asserting control over possession in the early stages, England found themselves trailing after Ukraine’s Oleksandr Zinchenko, representing Arsenal, netted the game’s first shot on target following a breakaway down the right flank.
England managed to level the score just before halftime, courtesy of Kyle Walker’s first international goal on his 77th cap. The Manchester City defender found the back of the net in the box, capitalizing on Harry Kane’s exquisite defence-splitting pass from deep.
In the second half, Gareth Southgate’s team continued to dominate, coming close to taking the lead when Bukayo Saka’s shot struck the crossbar, deflected ever so slightly by Ukraine’s goalkeeper, Georgiy Bushchan.
While England remains firmly on course to qualify from Group C for next summer’s Euros in Germany, this performance left much to be desired. The draw serves as a reminder that even the strongest teams can face challenges on their journey to international glory.
