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AS IT HAPPENED

LIVE: Euro 2012, day 8

Moving swiftly on… It’s back to Group D later this evening and we’re all over it, throughout the day, so open up the Viscounts and get that kettle on. It was all just a bad dream, after all…

OK, well, that wasn’t pleasant but life and the European Championships go on! Join in and contribute to the fun and frolics by tweeting @TheScore_ie or checking out our Facebook page.

How’s the head? Not great? Let me prescribe a cure of three more hours in bed/some ‘shut eye’ under the desk. Failing that, we’ll do our best to keep the spirits up with news and pictures, tweets, videos and nonsense throughout the day.

If you’re only surfacing and missed everything after the final whistle last night, let us direct you to…

In early team news for tonight’s clash between England and Sweden, it looks like Andy Carroll will come into Roy Hodgson’s team in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. We sincerely hope this means Carroll will be starting as a left winger, but it’s unlikely.

Expect to see Danny Welbeck drift out to the fringes instead.

Ashley Cole remains a minor doubt, while Scott Parker is prepared to play through the pain of an Achilles injury.

Martin Kelly has a virus, but would not feature anyway.

Meanwhile, Swedish captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic has passed a fitness test and will take his place up front.

There’s more here.

No sooner had I written that than the Sweden team was announced…

Isacsson; Graqvist, Mellberg, J Olsson, M Olsson; Larsson, Kallstrom, Svensson, Elm; Ibrahimovic, Elmander.

No place for Markus Rosenberg, who looked fairly ordinary in the defeat to Ukraine.

15 years ago today…

Sweden’s Andes Svensson – who used to play for Southampton (THAT’S where you remember the name from) – has come out with this cracker…

“England think they are a bit better than they are. And we are a bit better than England think we are.”

Just reading that Owen Hargreaves is contemplating retirement, having been released by Manchester City this summer. Hargreaves is younger than both Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker, who will play for England against Sweden tonight.

Sad to see such a talented played felled by constant injuries.

Yeah yeah, VERY funny…

Nicklas Bendtner has been charged with improper conduct for his goal celebration against Portugal.

Down with this sort of thing, say UEFA…

RTE, once again, reached an audience of over 2 million people last night, though figures were slightly down on the Croatia game.

One would not like to speculate on numbers for the Italy game at this point.

But they’ll be way down.

There’s a characteristic, and it’s called reason. This man has it.

It’s looking like former striker Michael Owen will be making three substitute appearances for Stoke City in the Premier League next season.

Billo has my vote, given the fact that I drew England in the office sweep, but he might have a hard time convincing some of my brethren.

Poll: Will you shout for England, now that Ireland are out of the tournament? Let us know in the comments…

Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil missed training for Germany’s final group game against Denmark on Sunday, but he should be fine.

They’ve come a long way since the dentist’s chair.

The FA, keen to show that their merry band of lovable rogues have come a long way since the antics of Gascoigne, Sheringham, et al, posted the following video of the England players relaxing the other day.

How is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain not 12-years-old?

(Click on video, then click ‘Watch on YouTube’)

OK, predictions from The Score lads for today’s football…

Ukraine v France:

Conor Nagle says: “2-1 to France.”

Niall Kelly says: “2-2.”

Ben Blake says: “2-0 to France.”

Sean Farrell says: “Ukraine 1-2 France.”

Tony Cuddihy says: “Ukraine 1-2 France.”

Sweden v England:

Conor Nagle says: “1-1.”

Niall Kelly says: “1-0 to Sweden.”

Ben Blake says: “2-1 to England.”

Sean Farrell says: “1-1.”

Tony Cuddihy says: “0-0.”

The Croatian FA have been fined £20,179 by UEFA for the behaviour of their fans in the 3-1 win over Ireland last Sunday.

UEFA says the sanction was imposed for “the setting off and throwing of fireworks and missiles, and a pitch invasion by a supporter.”

Now, to the good bit!

We’re only half an hour from kick off and the Ukrainian and French teams are in…

Ukraine line out like this…

Pyatov, Gusev, Mykhalyk, Khacheridi, Selin, Yarmolenko, Tymoschuk, Nazarenko, Konoplianka, Shevchenko, Voronin

While France have dropped Patrice Evra…

Lloris, Debuchy, Rami, Mexes, Clichy, Diarra, Cabaye, Menez, Nasri, Ribery, Benzema

And with that, I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Niall Kelly, who has just started his live coverage of Ukraine v France… Thanks for following today and enjoy tonight’s coverage!

Preview: Les Bleus look to see off Ukraine in their own backyard >