Euro 2024: England March to Germany via Poland

Ukraine vs England

England continue their Euro 2024 qualification campaign on Saturday with a testing fixture away to Ukraine. 

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine makes a match in their homeland impossible, Sergey Rebrov’s side will host the game in Wroclaw in Poland and it’s a clash they need to get a result from to keep their hopes of qualification alive. England top Group C with a maximum 12 points while Ukraine are in competition with Italy for the second place. They have six points from three games while Italy have three from two; North Macedonia and Malta are making up the numbers in Group C.

Gareth Southgate’s England have beaten all four of their group rivals, latterly thrashing North Macedonia 7-0 while Ukraine come into the game on the back of an edgy 1-0 victory over Malta. A win for the Three Lions would all but seal their ticket to Germany in 2024.

Talking Points

Will Southgate play Henderson?

The Euro 2024 betting odds make England the joint favourites to win the tournament, alongside France, while hosts Germany will also be in the mix. After losing the 2021 final on penalties the Three Lions will be determined to go one step further in 2024 and they have a bright young group of players who can take on the rest of Europe. But Southgate has caused a few raised eyebrows with his selection of old boy Jordan Henderson, who recently joined his ex Liverpool mate Steven Gerrard at El- Ettifaq. Henderson was outspoken in his support of minorities when he was Liverpool captain but he managed to put those principles to one side when Stevie G came calling and the El-Ettifaq cheque book opened.

Southgate too has never been slow to take the high moral ground but he recently said it would be stupid to stop selecting Henderson since his move to Saudi, so I guess winning football matches matters more than anything else… and Hendo might even make an appearance on Saturday.            

Another experienced campaigner, who does his talking on the pitch, Harry Kane, wants to add to his 58 goals from 84 games while Arsenal livewire Eddie Nketiah may be in line for his debut alongside tea-mate Bukayo Saka, who is sure to feature. And north London rival James Maddison, who has made an impressive start to his Tottenham Hotspur career could also be in line for a start as Manchester City’s Jack Grealish has been withdrawn from the squad.    

Their Euro 2024 results have been perfect so far, but the Three Lions face a stiff test when they meet Ukraine.

Mudryk can shine for Ukraine

After losing to England in their opener Ukraine beat both North Macedonia and Malta to move into second place and another positive result on Saturday will put them in a really strong position. And Rebrov has some very useful players to choose from, including 22 year old winger Mikhailo Mudryk. The former Shakhtar Donetsk star went to Chelsea with a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders and has, so far, struggled to deliver. He is yet to score for the Blues in 18 appearances, but new Chelsea Mauricio Pochettino has faith in his young star and has used him three times already this season. Mudryk’s lighting turn of pace can leave defenders standing and draw fouls in dangerous positions and, once Mudryk finds his feet, he can be devastating.    

Dynamo Kyiv’s Andriy Yarmolenko is captain of Ukraine and he has 45 goals in 115 games, while there is more experience in the shape of Arsenal’s utility man Oleksander Zinchenko, who is a class act, and Everton wingback Vitali Mykolenko could also feature.

History

England have won five of their eight meetings with Ukraine, drawing two and losing just once. The Three Lions won 4-0 when the two teams clashed in the 2021 Euros quarter finals; and when they met in March England ran out 2-0 winners as Kane and Saka scored quick-fire goals just before half time.

In terms of recent form England have won five and lost one of the last six, while Ukraine have won three, drawn two and lost one.

Betting Tip

Ukraine are at SBOTOP odds of 5.42 to win this game and 4.07 to draw, while the Three Lions are red hot favourites at a price of 1.41. The hosts are playing in neighbouring Poland but they will have plenty of support in Wroclaw and will make things difficult for England.

But I think the visitors, and particularly the likes of Saka and Maddison, will be able to cut open the Ukraine defence and the Three Lions will continue their march to Germany.    

 

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