Rotan stars in Ukraine defeat

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Football Soccer - Ukraine v Poland - EURO 2016 - Group C - Stade Velodrome, Marseille, France - 21/6/16 - Poland's Grzegorz Krychowiak and Ukraine's Ruslan Rotan in action. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh - RTX2HEYH
  • Post published:June 21, 2016

Ruslan Rotan was instrumental in the midfield for Ukraine despite their 1-0 defeat in their third and final Euro 2016 Group C match in Marseille. 

With their Euro 2016 exit immanent Ukraine had a number of chance to secure their first victory in this edition of the tournament, creating 19 chances at goal to Poland’s nine.

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk midfielder Ruslan Rotan was brilliant in midfield for Ukraine completing a total of 102 touches on the ball and winning the man-of-the-match award against Poland.

According to SASoccermag’s Opta-powered match stats the midfielder has managed to win seven out of 14 duels and has intercepted four passes in the midfield.
The 34-year-old’s work rate in defence has been incredible after winning three out of five tackles for Ukraine, while making two clearance to help his side in defence

The former Dynamo Kyiv midfielder saw his only shot at goal come from outside the Polish box and created one chance in attack for Ukraine.

Rotan  had a chance to level the match in the 83rd minute but  Polish goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski was forced into making a diving save to deny the midfielder the chance at getting Ukraine’s first goal of the tournament.

During his 90 minute performance for Ukraine, Rotan managed to complete an impressive 81 out of 89 passes, with 42.7% coming from the left and 27% coming from down the centre.

Although, Poland won the match, Ukraine controlled the match and had the best possession (66.4%), while the Polish side could only managed 33.6% of possession.

Ultimately, Ukraine suffered their third straight defeats in the Euro 2016 tournament and finishing at the bottom of Group C, despite putting in a match winning performance against the Polish side.

PHOTO: Reuters