Euro 2012 Bracket: Predicting Which Squads Will Advance from Group D

Much like every other group at the 2012 European championships, much is still at stake in the final day of play for the teams in Group D. While Sweden has been eliminated, France, England and Ukraine are still battling for the two quarterfinal slots.

Will France—the favorite in this group heading into play—be able to advance with a tough matchup against Sweden still to go? Who will be victorious when England meets co-host Ukraine, hoping to accomplish what Poland failed to do and reach the quarterfinals?

Let's take a look at each team, what they need to do to advance and predict whether they'll do so or not.

France

For France, it's pretty simple—with a win or tie, they automatically advance. Heck, even if they lose and England wins or ties, they still advance.

But if they lose and England loses, things could get interesting.

In that scenario, Ukraine would win the group and the French and English sides would be tied at four points. It would then come down to goal differential, and coming into play on Tuesday France has the better differential at plus-two to England's plus-one.

Where France could get themselves in trouble is if they lose to Sweden 2-0 and England only loses by one goal. In that case, the teams would be tied in goal differential but England would have more total goals for the tournament—heading into Tuesday, England has four goals and France three—which covers the next tiebreaker.

Thus, England would advance. Got all that?

Here's the skinny—barring the ridiculous scenario outlined above, the tournament will continue for France.

Prediction: They'll advance.

England vs. Ukraine

Like France before them, it's pretty cut-and-dry for England. Win or tie and they move on.

As I've outlined above, they can still advance with a loss but would need a ridiculous amount of help from France in that scenario.

It's simple for Ukraine as well—win or the tournament is over. A tie does them no good even if France loses since France won the match between the sides.

So who will it be?

England has surprised me in this tournament, tying the French side and overcoming Sweden 3-2 in what was arguably the most exciting match of the tournament. And they've done that with a number of injuries and no Wayne Rooney.

And now they get Rooney back, having already scored four goals in this tournament. Surely, England must be the favorites going into this match.

And Ukraine will likely be without star striker Andriy Shevchenko, who's nursing a knee injury. Remember, he's scored the only two goals for Ukraine in this tournament.

I wouldn't underestimate the co-hosts, who will have the support of a nation to inspire them. But against a superior side and possibly lacking its top player, I simply don't see Ukraine beating the English.

Prediction: England will advance.

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