England Beat Ukraine 1:0 in Euro 2012 Group D

England have beaten co-hosts Ukraine 1:0 in their last match in Euro 2012 Group D.

England striker Wayne Rooney returned from a two-match suspension to head in the lone goal Tuesday and give his team a 1-0 win over Ukraine and a spot in the European Championship quarterfinals.

The co-host Ukrainians, however, will leave the tournament knowing that things could have been different.

Needing a win to advance, the Ukrainians thought they had equalized in the 62nd minute when Marko Devic's looping shot appeared to cross the line before it was hooked clear by England defender John Terry. But the goal was not awarded by the referee or his extra assistant, who was half-standing on the field only a few meters from the post.

Although a draw still would have eliminated them, the equalizer would have given the team hope knowing that another goal would put Ukraine through to the quarterfinals.

"I was sad because the ball was in the goal by one meter,'' Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said.

The controversey will likely add to the pressure on UEFA President Michel Platini to reverse his opposition to goal-line technology.

Ronney missed the first two Euro 2012 matches through suspension. He was sent off in the team's last qualifier in October, and received a three-match suspension that was eventually reduced to two.

The goal was Rooney's first at a major tournament since scoring four at Euro 2004 as an 18-year-old rising star. He failed to find the net at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, while England failed to even qualify for Euro 2008.

With the victory, England won Group D and will next face Italy in Kiev on Sunday. France also advanced, despite losing to Sweden 2-0 in the other group match. Ukraine, however, will have to watch the rest of the tournament as spectators, just like co-host Poland.

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