Euro 2012 news: Oleg Blokhin blows top after England defeat

Oleg Blokhin rages at the fourth official

The Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin hit out at anyone and everyone after the co-hosts were knocked out of Euro 2012 – even offering to fight a local journalist.

Wayne Rooney’s header in the opening moments of the second half in Donetsk gave England a 1-0 win which ensured that Three Lions finished top of Group D and eliminated the Ukraine, who join fellow hosts Poland in falling at the first hurdle.

After the game – which saw England survive a contentious decision when Marko Dević’s shot crossed the goalline before being cleared by John Terry – Blokhin was in no mood to pull any punches, almost literally given one exchange with a Ukrainian journalist.

“Respect my job,” he told the journalist. “Let's go this one on one. You want to go with me? Let's have a man conversation. You should respect that I played football. Did you play football?

“Respect my job and me. I won't allow anyone to criticise my team, about [Oleg] Gusev or [Andriy] Shevchenko. If you're a man, go with me. One on one.”

Blokhin – who appeared to shove England’s James Milner during the match – then reserved his force for the officials, who failed to spot Dević’s ‘goal’ and didn’t pick up on what he saw as fouls from Terry and Andy Carroll.

“There are five referees on the pitch and the ball is 50cm behind the goalline,” he said. “Why do we need five officials?

“They don't spot Carroll's elbow, either? Or that Terry fouls one of my players in the back?

“(Pierluigi) Collina told us that every movement with an elbow is a card, and every foul from behind is a yellow card. And yet where was that today?

“You write what you want - you've seen it. I don't want to criticise the referee.”

England weren’t criticising anyone after their victory booked a quarter-final meeting with Italy on Sunday.

With the nation relieved that they have avoided holders Spain after finishing top of the group, captain Steven Gerrard was quick to warn of the threat posed by the Italians.

“Italy is not going to be an easy game for us,” said Gerrard, who provided his third assist of the tournament for Rooney’s goal.

“People say we've avoided Spain but I don't want to underestimate the Italians. Italy isn't going to be an easy game. Spain are a fantastic team, sure, but our plan was to finish top of the group.

“Now we are just going to concentrate on our next match.”

England will head into the last eight off the back of a win unlike France, who ended their Group D campaign with a surprise 2-0 defeat to an already eliminated Sweden in Kiev.

The loss means that the French will now face Spain in the last eight, but goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is looking to gloss over the defeat.

“I have mixed feelings,” said the French captain.

“We were playing to win but, unfortunately, we could never find the right pass. I think Sweden deserved to win.

“A positive point is, of course, the fact we have qualified, and we have to bear that in mind. We must forget what happened tonight, remain positive and prepare for what will be a difficult quarter-final, a great match.”

Mark Jones – follow me on twitter

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