UEFA Euro 2024 Team Previews: Ukraine
UEFA Euro 2024 is just weeks away from kicking off in Germany. Over the next 17 days, we will be previewing each team that will be taking part in Europe’s biggest football tournament. Check out all of the team previews that have been done so far. Up next is Ukraine.
Ukraine is a nation not known for its football despite having some outstanding players in the past. Euro 2024 will see a rather young side for “The Blue and Yellow” (Синьо-жовті).
In qualifying for Euro 2024, Ukraine just missed out on automatic qualification after drawing 0-0 with Italy on the final day. This meant they had to go through the playoff to qualify and wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland secured their place in Germany. They come into this tournament with only one loss in their last 12 matches.
Euro Appearances:
After having failed to qualify in their first four Euros following independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine will be heading to their fourth straight Euros. The first appearance for “The Blue and Yellow” came at Euro 2012 when they co-hosted the competition with Poland. Euro 2024 will be their fourth total appearance in their short history.
Best Finish at the Euros:
Ukraine saw group-stage exits in their first two Euros, winning just one of their six matches. However, at Euro 2020 a third-place finish in the group stage was enough to secure a spot in the knockout stage. In the round of 16, it took a last-second goal in extra time from Artem Dovbyk to get past Sweden and into the quarterfinals. “The Blue and Yellow” then faced England and were battered 4-0.
Key players:
Ukraine will have a mix of youth and experience throughout their squad at Euro 2024. Only five of the 26 players called up are 30 years old or older. It is headed by midfielder Andriy Yarmolenko. The 34-year-old has played in 118 matches for Ukraine while scoring 46 goals. Both of those are second in the history of Ukraine and his goal total is just two behind Andriy Shevchenko for the national lead. Only one other player on “The Blue and Yellow” has more than 65 caps, and that is Taras Stepanenko with 82.
Looking at the other side of things, Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko (27 years old) will captain his nation. He could be paired with fellow Premier League youngster Mykhailo Mudryk. The Chelsea player was one of three players for Ukraine to score multiple goals in Euro 2024 qualifying. He finished with two as did Artem Dovbyk, while Viktor Tsyhankov led the way with three goals. In goal will be Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin. Lunin took over while Thibaut Courtois was out injured, and in 21 matches he kept a clean sheet in 10 of them on the way to winning the La Liga title.
Manager:
Former Ukrainian international Serhiy Rebrov will be tasked with leading his nation at Euro 2024. As a player Rebrov made 75 appearances for Ukraine while scoring 15 goals, both are top 10 in the nation’s history. Rebrov has managed all over the world with stints in Saudi Arabia, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates before returning to Ukraine where he started his managerial career. While managing Ferencváros in Hungary Rebrov was named the team’s manager of the decade.
Biggest Group Game – vs Romania on June 17:
In a group where Belgium is favored, this could very well be the battle for second place in Group E. While the third-place team from this group could advance to the knockout stage it would mean a meeting with either the winner of Group B or Group C. That would possibly mean playing Spain, Italy, England, or Denmark. All four are brutal matchups. Romania and Ukraine matchup for just the seventh time in their history. Over the first six Romani has beaten Ukraine three times.
Prediction:
Ukraine has looked much better over the last few years, and with an array of younger talent rising the ranks a knockout stage appearance is expected. “The Blue and Yellow” should be able to get by Romania and Slovakia to finish second in Group E. However, this would lead them to play the runner-up of Group D which could very well be either France or Netherlands. Both of those nations are too good for Ukraine and the round of 16 is where their Euro 2024 campaign will conclude.
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