Hammer faces big test in Scotland

While on eyes are on the England v Germany game at 5 pm with Hammer Delcan Rice another Hammer quietly prepares for his last 16 game at 8 pm this evening.

Hammer Andriy Yarmoleenko and his Ukraine side will face Sweden at Hampden Park in Scotland.

This is the first time Ukraine have qualified for a EURO directly; after co-hosting in 2012, they beat Slovenia in the play-offs to reach the 2016 event.

Ukraine finished third in Group C thanks to a 2-1 defeat of North Macedonia in Bucharest on Matchday 2, in between losses to the Netherlands in Amsterdam (2-3) and Austria in Bucharest (0-1).

The West Ham attacker has been in fine form throughout the tournament – he has scored twice and set another.

“Of course, we wanted to continue our performance at the tournament,” he explained when asked how he reacted to Sweden’s result against Poland.

“Contradictory impressions remain, as we have not yet shown our maximum. We understood what result we needed last week. All the guys were worrying, while watching the Sweden match.

“I can express thanks to Sweden. Now we will meet them. We will try to play our football, show the maximum.

“This is a good team that plays aggressive football, they deservedly won their group. We are preparing for a good match. The strongest will win.”