DONETSK, June 20: Only one goal counted, and it belonged to Wayne Rooney as England finished top of Group ‘D’ and secured a clash with Italy in Kiev on Sunday.

The England striker returned from a two-match suspension to head in the lone goal on Tuesday and give his team a 1-0 win over Ukraine and a spot in the European Championship quarter-finals. The co-hosts, however, will leave the tournament knowing that things could have been different.

Needing a win to advance, the Ukrainians thought they had equalised in the 62nd minute when Marko Devic’s looping shot appeared to cross the line before it was hooked clear by England defender John Terry. But the goal was not awarded by the referee or his extra assistant, who was half-standing on the field only a few metres from the post.

“The goal that wasn’t given really changed our plan because if it was given, I think the whole game could have looked another way,” Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko said through an interpreter.

Although a draw still would have eliminated them, the equaliser would have given the team hope knowing that another goal would put Ukraine through to the quarter-finals.

“I was sad because the ball was in the goal by one metre,” Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin fumed.

If it did, England had a huge helping hand from the football gods who looked the other way in Bloemfontein two years ago when Frank Lampard scored a ‘goal’ against Germany in the World Cup.

That effort in South Africa definitely did go over the line although it was inexplicably missed by the referee and linesmen.

England coach Roy Hodgson said Devic’s shot on Tuesday had probably crossed the line but told reporters it was about time England’s luck turned after they also had a ‘goal’ harshly disallowed against hosts Portugal in Euro 2004.

“We’ve suffered with bad luck in the past, against Portugal and Germany, maybe it was a case of if there was going to be luck, we were going to get it.”

Relieved England captain Steven Gerrard admitted his side had been lucky — but said England had been due a break.

“To be successful in these tournaments, because of the standard of teams involved, you need that bit of luck going with you,” Gerrard said.

“Two years ago we didn’t get that luck with Frank Lampard’s goal, a big turning point in that game against Germany, and we ended up packing our bags and going home.”—Agencies