Slovakia will look to build on their sensational win over Belgium when they square up against Ukraine in a Group E clash at the Dusseldorf Arena.
After suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Romania, Ukraine will look to keep themselves alive in the Euro 2024 with all three points against Slovakia, who could book a place in the knockout rounds with a positive result here.
Slovakia surprised everyone with an excellent defensive display in their opening fixture against Belgium. They took an early lead and managed to keep it intact even though they were under pressure for the majority of the match.
Not many saw it coming but with this win, they have inched closer to a place in the knockout rounds. If Slovakia manage to secure all three points against Ukraine it should be more than enough for the lowest-ranked team in Group E to qualify for the next round.
Ukraine did not start their Euro campaign in the best possible way as they ended up suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Romania. Despite having the majority of the ball, they could not create enough goalscoring chances which frustrated their manager Serhiy Rebrov.
Group E seems to be quite open following the results on Matchday 1, and things will take shape after the end of matchday two. While the defeat against Romania was a big blow, all is not lost for Ukraine, and they can still bounce back with a win against Slovakia. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Slovakia
Slovakia do not seem to have any fitness concerns heading into this fixture, and it won’t be a surprise if Francesco Calzona goes ahead with an unchanged XI.
They are expected to stick to the 4-3-3 formation, with Martin Dubravka in goal. The back four will consist of Peter Pekarik and David Hancko who will feature as the full-backs, while Denis Vavro and Milan Skriniar be the central defenders.
In the centre of the park, Juraj Kucka will feature alongside Ondrej Duda and Stanislav Lobotka. They will look to control the tempo of the game and ensure they have the majority of the ball.
Ivan Schranz and Robert Bozenik will provide the width of their attacks. They will look to stretch the opposition defence and provide goalscoring opportunities to Lukas Haraslin, who will lead the line for Slovakia against Ukraine.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Haraslin, Bozenik
Ukraine
Vitaliy Mykolenko, who missed their UEFA Euro 2024 opener with an injury concern, will be assessed ahead of this fixture, and he could make a return. Despite the disappointing defeat at the hands of Romania, Serhiy Rebrov is unlikely to make any major changes to their XI. Ukraine will stick to the 4-3-3 formation against Slovakia, with Andriy Lunin in goal.
Yukhym Konoplya and Oleksandr Zinchenko will feature as the full-backs for the away team with Mykolenko unlikely to start even if he is fully fit. In the heart of the defence, Illia Zabarnyi will pair up with Mykola Matviyenko.
The back four will look to keep things tight at the back, and they will be supported by Taras Stepanenko, Ruslan Malinovskyi, and Heorhiy Sudakov, who will take charge in the centre of the park. The midfield trifecta will look to ensure Ukraine have the majority of the ball.
Mykhailo Mudryk and Viktor Tsygankov will feature on the flanks, they will provide width to their attacks, while Artem Dovbyk will be spearhead the Ukrainian attack against Slovakia at the Dusseldorf Arena.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Lunin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Zincheko; Sudakov, Stepanenko, Malinovskyi; Tsygankov, Dovbyk, Mudryk
Key Stats
- Slovakia have won their tournament opener at back-to-back European Championships.
- Ukraine have only won one out of their last four games.
- Slovakia have won each of their last three games and have kept a clean sheet in those fixtures.
- Ukraine have avoided defeat in seven out of their last eight outings against Slovakia.
- The Falcons’ surprise 1-0 win ended Belgium’s 15-match unbeaten run.
Player to Watch
Mykhailo Mudryk
Mudryk’s big-money move to Chelsea hasn’t worked out yet. He was inconsistent throughout the 2023/24 campaign, and the 23-year-old did not start the Euro 2024 in the best possible way. He struggled to get going against Romania and will hope to get things back on track when they face Slovakia. Mudryk surely has the talent, and he will be eager to showcase it on the biggest stage.
Prediction
Slovakia 1-1 Ukraine
Slovakia are heading into this one on the back of a sensational 1-0 win over Belgium, while Ukraine will take the field on the back of a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Romania. While the current form suggests Slovakia will have the upper hand, we might end up seeing an evenly contested fixture where neither team manages to come out on top. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between the two teams.
