Ukraine and Belgium will be eager to seal a spot in the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 when they clash at the MHPArena on Wednesday.
The curtains will fall on the group stage of UEFA Euro 2024 on Wednesday with the final four games. Group E is evenly poised after the first two rounds of fixtures, with all four teams on three points. Slovakia vs Romania and Ukraine vs Belgium will kick off simultaneously, with the qualification picture going down the wire.
Ukraine began the UEFA Euro 2024 campaign with a heavy defeat to Romania, leaving them in a spot of bother going into Matchday 2. However, the Blue and Yellow bounced back with a narrow win over Slovakia to leave their fortunes in their hands. While Serhiy Rebrov’s men remain at the bottom of the standings, they can finish atop the standings when Matchday 3 ends.
Belgium, like Ukraine, kicked off the UEFA Euro 2024 campaign poorly, suffering a shock defeat to Slovakia. However, the Red Devils bounced back with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Romania in Matchday 2 to head into Matchday 2 with renewed confidence and belief. So, Domenico Tedesco will believe his charges have the chance to reach the knockout phase.
Wednesday’s match-up will be the first-ever clash featuring Ukraine and Belgium. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Ukraine
Serhiy Rebrov does not have any new issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Belgium on Wednesday, Ukraine’s head coach will have a full-strength squad.
Vitaliy Mykolenko is the latest player to leave the sidelines, with the Everton full-back fit and available to take on Belgium. Myklokenko should feature in the starting eleven, occupying the left-back berth.
Mykolenko will join Mykola Matvienko, Illia Zabarnyi, and Oleksandr Tymchyk in the backline. The defensive quartet will protect Anatoliy Trubin, who will get the nod to feature between the sticks ahead of Andriy Lunin.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Georgiy Sudakov, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Taras Shaparenko. The trio will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park and allow the attackers to express themselves freely. Finally, Artem Dovbyk should lead the line for Ukraine vs Belgium, with Mykhailo Mudryk and captain Andriy Yarmolenko completing the numbers in the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Trubin; Tymchyk, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko; Sudakov, Zinchenko, Shaparenko; Yarmolenko, Dovbyk, Mudryk
Belgium
Unlike his counterpart in the Ukrainian dugout, Domenico Tedesco has a few pressing issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the MHPArena. Belgium’s head coach might be without three first-team players on Wednesday.
Tedesco is sweating over the fitness of Axel Witsel (adductor) and Thomas Meunier (thigh), with the duo recovering from their respective injuries. In addition, Dodi Lukebakio will serve a suspension and will not take on Ukraine.
Belgium will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Ukraine, with Koen Casteels taking his spot between the sticks. The backline should feature Timothy Castage, Wout Faes, Jan Vertonghen, and Arthur Theate.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana in the double pivot. The duo will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park, while Kevin De Bruyne will reprise the no. 10 role, pulling the strings from advanced positions. Finally, Romelu Lukaku will spearhead the Belgian attack, with Leandro Trossard and Jeremy Doku being the wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Theate; Tielemans, Onana; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; Lukaku
Key Stats
- Wednesday’s match be the first-ever meeting between Ukraine and Belgium. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 22 matches when facing a side for the first time (W13 D9) since losing 1-0 in a friendly against Egypt in March 1999. On the other hand, the Blue and Yellows have only lost one of their last 11 matches when facing a side for the first time (W5 D5), going down 1-0 against Malta in June 2017.
- Belgium have not lost their final group game at any of their last six appearances at a major tournament (W5 D1) since a 2-0 loss against Turkiye as hosts in UEFA Euro 2000.
- Ukraine maintained their record at the Euros of either not scoring (8 games) or scoring exactly two goals (5 games) in their 2-1 win over Slovakia on Matchday 2. All four of their wins at the European Championship have been via a 2-1 scoreline.
- Belgium have won six of their last seven group-stage games at the UEFA European Championship, failing only against Slovakia on Matchday 1 this year (0-1) and will aim to extend that record vs Ukraine. In the World Cup and Euros combined, the Red Devils have won 14 of their last 18 group stage matches (D1 L3), only failing to reach the knockout rounds in one of their last six major tournaments (2022 World Cup). The Red Devils have lost just one of their 17 most recent games in all competitions (W11 D5).
- Kevin De Bruyne has been directly involved in 31 goals in his last 32 appearances for Belgium in all competitions (12 goals, 19 assists), and he has scored three goals in his last five games for his country, as many as his previous 17 beforehand.
Player to Watch
Romelu Lukaku
Kevin De Bruyne rediscovered his best form in the win over Romania on Matchday 2 to keep Belgium alive in UEFA Euro 2024. However, his fellow veteran Romelu Lukaku has not been at the races thus far at the European Championship.
The experienced striker can be devastating on his best days but a frustrating mess on his worst. Lukaku will be eager to rediscover his best form and take Belgium deep into UEFA Euro 2024. Should that not happen, the Red Devils might stare at an early ouster from another major international tournament.
Prediction
Ukraine 1-2 Belgium
With the margin of error being negligible, neither team can afford to make any mistakes at the MHPArena on Wednesday. Ukraine will take the game to Belgium, hoping that Mykhailo Mudryk’s raw ability trouble the Belgian defenders throughout the ninety minutes.
However, with Kevin De Bruyne getting back to his best, the match can turn into a procession for Ukraine. The veteran playmaker should make his mark, but Romelu Lukaku will frustrate again, although we expect him to find the back of the net. The Hard Tackle predicts Belgium to clinch a narrow 2-1 win vs Ukraine this midweek.