Torrents of rain and goals pour in

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This article was published 16/06/2012 (5202 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WARSAW, Poland — A torrential storm and a deluge of goals hit the European Championship as France and England swept to victories Friday.

Pounding rain and lightning around the Donbass Arena in Donetsk threatened to wash away Ukraine’s match against France, forcing the referee to suspend the match in the fifth minute.

When play resumed after a rain delay of nearly an hour, France doused home fans’ hopes with a 2-0 victory.

The storm’s effects were felt 700 kilometres west in Kyiv, where the kickoff between England and Sweden was pushed back 15 minutes to ease broadcasters’ schedules.

England, sparked by substitute Theo Walcott, beat Sweden 3-2 in a thrilling seesaw match in the Olympic Stadium.

Racism remained an issue at Euro 2012 as UEFA received reports that Croatia fans threw a banana toward the field and racially abused Italy striker Mario Balotelli on Thursday.

UEFA’s busy disciplinary department also hit Denmark forward Nicklas Bendtner with an improper-conduct charge for revealing an unofficial sponsor’s name on his underpants during a goal celebration.

France made no mistake at the second attempt in Donetsk in what proved an easy victory to follow its 1-1 draw with England on Monday.

Jeremy Menez had an eventful first half by missing a clear chance, having a goal ruled out for offside and being shown a yellow card. But the winger took his chance in the 53rd minute with a powerful shot from 14 metres. Three minutes later, midfielder Yohan Cabaye scored with an accurate shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko looked a shadow of his inspirational self four days earlier when he scored twice in a 2-1 win over Sweden.

England led when Andy Carroll rose to score with a powerful header from a 23rd-minute cross delivered by captain Steve Gerrard.

Sweden seized the lead when twice taking advantage of slack England defending at set pieces. England defender Glen Johnson sent the ball into his own net as he tried to intercept Olof Mellberg’s close-range shot in the 49th minute. Ten minutes later, the veteran Sweden defender got a goal of his own when he headed in unmarked from a free kick.

England coach Roy Hodgson sent Walcott on to chase the game, and he scored with a swerving shot from 20 metres in the 64th minute.

Walcott’s burst of speed created space for his cross, which Danny Welbeck, with his back to goal, steered in with a deft flick in the 78th.

Today, the final round of group games begins, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarter-finals.

— The Associated Press