Slovakia will face Ukraine at Düsseldorf Arena in their second group-stage match of UEFA Euro 2024 on Friday. Slovakia began their campaign with a surprising 1-0 victory over Belgium on Monday, while Ukraine suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Romania. Ahead of the Slovakia vs Ukraine game, let us take a look at the predictions.
Slovakia vs Ukraine Prediction
Despite their poor performance against Romania, the Opta supercomputer predicts a much-needed win for Ukraine in Düsseldorf. Rebrov’s side is given a 43.8% chance of victory, while Slovakia’s chances are ranked at just 29%. However, considering Slovakia’s impressive form and Ukraine’s recent struggles, we at Insidesport predict a 1-1 draw.
This match is crucial for the Blue and Yellow, who face Belgium in their final group stage game next week. Ukraine needs a victory to boost their chances of progressing to the knockout stages, making this encounter with Slovakia a must-win situation. Slovakia, on the other hand, will be looking to secure another historic win and solidify their place in the knockout rounds.
Slovakia form
Slovakia pulled off one of the shocks of Euro 2024 so far with their 1-0 win over Belgium, leaving Francesco Calzona’s side in control of their Group E destiny ahead of Friday’s meeting with Ukraine. Ivan Schranz was the hero with his seventh-minute goal against Belgium, the world’s third-best men’s side according to the FIFA World Rankings.
Slovakia aims to win two games at a single major tournament for the first time in their history, having managed just one victory in each of their previous campaigns (2010 World Cup, Euro 2016, Euro 2020, and this edition). The Group E joint-leaders will know that a point should almost guarantee their progression to the knockout stage when they meet an out-of-form Ukraine at Düsseldorf Arena.
Ukraine form
Ukraine, despite their possessional dominance against Romania, failed to convert it into goals, managing just two shots on target. After the 4-0 quarter-final defeat to England at Euro 2020, Ukraine has now lost their last two matches in the competition by three or more goals, having not suffered defeat by more than two in any of their first ten games in the competition.
Mykola Matviienko, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Illia Zabarnyi controlled the majority of possession in defense as Ukraine managed 71.3% possession. They are the first side since 1980 to have more than 70% possession and concede three goals in a European Championship match. However, this dominance did not translate into clear chances for their attacking players, including Mykhailo Mudryk, Viktor Tsyhankov, and Artem Dovbyk, resulting in a meagre expected goals (xG) total of 0.55.
Slovakia vs Ukraine Predicted XI:
Slovakia Predicted XI:
Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Haraslin, Bozenik
Ukraine Predicted XI:
Lunin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Zincheko; Sudakov, Stepanenko, Malinovskyi; Tsygankov, Mudryk, Dovbyk
Slovakia vs Ukraine Squads
Slovakia
Henrich Ravas, Marek Rodák, Martin Dúbravka, Adam Obert, Dávid Hancko, Denis Vavro, Milan Skriniar, Norbert Gyömbér, Peter Pekarík, Sebastián Kósa, Vernon De Marco, Juraj Kucka, László Bénes, Matús Bero, Ondrej Duda, Patrik Hrosovsky, Stanislav Lobotka, Tomás Rigo, Tomás Suslov, Dávid Duris, David Strelec, Ivan Schranz, Leo Sauer, Lubomír Tupta, Lukás Haraslín, Róbert Bozeník.
Head coach: Francesco Calzona
Ukraine
Anatolii Trubin, Andrii Lunin, Heorhii Bushchan, Bohdan Mykhailichenko, Illia Zabarnyi, Maksym Talovierov, Mykola Matviienko, Oleksandr Svatok, Oleksandr Tymchyk, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Valerii Bondar, Vitalii Mykolenko, Yukhym Konoplia, Andrii Yarmolenko, Heorhii Sudakov, Mykhailo Mudryk, Mykola Shaparenko, Oleksandr Zubkov, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Serhii Sydorchuk, Taras Stepanenko, Volodymyr Brazhko, Artem Dovbyk, Roman Yaremchuk, Viktor Tsyhankov, Vladyslav Vanat.
Head coach: Serhiy Rebrov
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