England 0-4 Ukraine
Cerebral Palsy 7-a-side World Championship
Rio de Janeiro 2007
Group B: England/Wales, Brazil, Australia, South Africa

England were knocked out of the Quarter Finals by European, World and Olympic Champions Ukraine on Tuesday.

The Eastern Europeans, full-time athletes and unbeaten in five years, are regarded at the toughest challenge in Celebral Palsy football and they certainly lived up to the billing in a 4-0 win.

But it could have been all so different if England, who held firm for the opening 20 minutes, had gone ahead when Michael Barker's sweetly struck free-kick was cleared off the line.

Head Coach Paul Harrison preferred Michael Wilson to Richard Fox in order to supplement the back line and the 21-year-old repaid the coach's faith with a strong showing throughout.

His partners in defence, Gary Davies and Andy Taylor, were equally resolute in denying Ukraine the space they are so ruthless in exploiting. On the occasions they did breach the England fortress the imposing Gavin Wood was there to thwart them.

But Ukraine eventually went ahead before the break when an innocuous looking cross resulted in a looping header which eluded Wood and floated into the net.

Another header proved to be England's downfall minutes after the restart, this time at the back post, but the Three Lions refused to buckle despite being 2-0 down.

With the England midfield doing their utmost to stifle the Ukraine's free-flowing football, Harrison's outfit remained within touching distance until the final five minutes when their opponents netted twice.

England play the Netherlands on Thursday to decide who will finish in fifth place.

England: Gavin Wood, Gary Davies, Andrew Taylor, Michael Wilson, Junior Gordon, Michael Barker, Wayne Ward.

Subs: Jordan Raynes, Richard Fox, Nick Jackson, Stephen Brown.