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Ukraine 0 France 2: Les Bleus strike twice after lightning and thunderstorms halt clash
Posted Saturday, June 16, 2012 by Dailymail

An impressive victory for France on Friday night and a game and an occasion that will live long in the memory of all those who were here.

At 7.30pm local time, with the sky a murderous black and the rain cascading down, there seemed no chance of getting a football match on at all.

Ukraine 0 France 2: Les Bleus strike twice after lightning and thunderstorms halt clash
Delight: Jeremy Menez is mobbed after opening the scoring for France

Ukraine 0 France 2: Les Bleus strike twice after lightning and thunderstorms halt clash
UEFA's Euro 2012 planning looked on the verge of meltdown courtesy of a thunderstorm that had forced these teams from the field after only four minutes of play.

But, astonishingly, the pitch at the terrific Donbass Arena withstood the deluge and we had a contest. A super game it was, too.

With both teams playing football that always looked likely to produce goals, France secured the lead courtesy of a strike from winger Jeremy Menez eight minutes into the second half. They built on it with an equally well-worked effort from the terrific Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye a few minutes later.

Ukraine had their chances, too, and were impressively ambitious and gutsy, even when chasing the game late on. They will be no easy opposition for England when the teams meet back here again on Tuesday night.

This, however, was a victory France thoroughly deserved on a night when all of their attacking players impressed.

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Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia