England were held to a 1-1 draw by home side Ukraine Saturday evening in a Group C game as both nations battle for a place at the Euro 2024 Championship in Germany.
England saw their winning streak in the qualification campaign to the Euro 2024 showpiece come to an end after the stalemate albeit they are still six points adrift of the Ukrainians.
Ukraine were backed by 40,000 loud fans in the Tarczynski Arena, giving the game the fervent feel of a home fixture despite the hosts being unable to play in their own country because of the war with Russia.
Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko put Ukraine ahead after 26 minutes when he turned in a cross from Yukhym Konoplya.
Bayern Munich new signing Harry Kane was instrumental in the equaliser by the Three Lions four minutes before half-time as he delivered a weighted pass to right back Kyle Walker to finish.
The strike was Walker’s first international goal on his 77th appearance.
Gareth Southgate’s side had the better of the second half, going close when Anglo-Nigerian Bukayo Saka’s shot was turned on to the bar by the slightest touch from Ukraine keeper Georgiy Bushchan.
Nigerian-born England international duo of Eberechi Eze and Fikayo Tomori were unused substitutes in the game.
England are still firmly on course to qualify from Group C for next summer’s Euros in Germany, but Saturday’s display was a lacklustre performance.
Harry Kane’s goalscoring importance for England is proved by his status as the country’s record marksman, but his development into the complete player cannot be under-estimated.
Gareth Southgate’s side will head to Glasgow for Tuesday’s friendly against Scotland.
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Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.