UKRAINE are taking on Austria for the Group C runners-up spot in a winner-take-all Euro 2020 clash.
The winner tonight will secure a quarter-final against Italy while the loser will have to wait on other results to see if they can qualify as one of the best third placed teams.
Should the match end in a draw, Ukraine will progress in second place on goals scored.
- TV channel: ITV 4.
- FREE live stream: ITV Hub.
- Ukraine XI: Bushchan; Karavaev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Sydorchuk; Yarmolenko, Shaparenko, Zinchenko, Malinovskyi; Yaremchuk.
- Austria XI: Bachmann, Alaba, Hinteregger, Dragovic, Lainer, Grillitsch, Laimer, Schlager, Sabitzer, Baumgartner, Arnautovic
- Follow all the action from North Macedonia vs Netherlands with our live blog
UKRAINE 0-0 AUSTRIA
8. Arnautovic nods the ball into the path of Sabitzer who hits a volley about a mile over the bar from just outside the area.
UKRAINE 0-0 AUSTRIA
4. A quick throw releases Yarmolenko down the right. He cuts inside but his cross is claimed by Bachmann. It’s been a lively start.
UKRAINE 0-0 AUSTRIA
2. Schlager gets in behind the Ukrainian defence but his cutback is turned behind by Zinchenko.
UKRAINE 0-0 AUSTRIA
1. We’re off and under way. It all comes down to this. Whoever wins will progress to the last 16.
PEEEEEEEEEREEEEEEEEP!
HERE WE GO!HERE COME THE TEAMS
There’s good backing for both sides here in Bucharest.
.Credit: Getty HAVE YOUR SAY
Fancy winning £50 in cash? Just predict the score before kick-off to be in with a chance! If you get it right, you’ll enter our prize draw…
WE’VE GOT HISTORY
Ukraine and Austria have faced each other in two friendlies, each side winning once. This is their first encounter at a major tournament.
The two previous games between Ukraine and Austria produced eight goals, an average of four per match.
SPECIAL SABITZER
FourFourTwo went for Marcel Sabitzer as Austria’s main man prior to the tournament.
They wrote: “The RB Leipzig midfielder, 27, has established himself as one of the finest all-round attackers in the German Bundesliga.
“With some sensational strikes on the big stage in the Champions League and the knack for a good free-kick, he possesses just the kind of technical quality and flair that this Austria team sorely lacks.”
.Credit: Getty
ONE TO WATCH
FourFourTwo magazine picked Oleksandr Zinchenko as Ukraine’s key man ahead of the tournament.
The publication wrote: “Though [Andriy] Yarmolenko is Ukraine’s most talked-about star, Zinchenko has become integral to this team.
“A left-back for Manchester City, the 24-year-old is a central midfield general for his country, making up for his slight build with quick thinking and precise passing.
“More than that, he’s a leader.”
.Credit: Getty PLAYING FOR A DRAW?
Austria have insisted they will not consider the option of playing for a draw against Ukraine.
Back in the 1982 World Cup, Austria lost 1-0 to West Germany in a result that saw both nations through to the next stage at the expense of Algeria.
An early West Germany goal was followed by a game in which neither team tried to score, in a match dubbed the “Disgrace of Gijon”.
“I don’t think that it comes down to that,” said the Austrian Football Association president, Leo Windtner. “In every respect it would be the wrong tactic to go out and play for a point.
“The best thing would be to not even discuss it. That is history. It does not call out for repetition.”
Action from the “Disgrace of Gijon” FODA FOCUSED
While a draw might be enough for Austria to go through, their coach Franco Foda insists only a win will do.
He said: “We don’t know if four points would be enough.
“It’s important that we go into the game from the first minute with the absolute intention of winning: that’s our job.
“[Reaching the round of 16] would mean a lot to us all.
“First and foremost, we are playing for our country.
“We will do everything we can to achieve this goal. That’s a big challenge for us and something that should spur them on.”
.Credit: Getty SHEVCHENKO PREDICTS TIGHT ENCOUNTER
Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko is expecting a tough test for his men.
He said: “Austria are a solid team with quality players.
“They are a compact and athletic side, with a distinctive style.
“We have huge respect for them and are expecting a good match.
“Both teams will play to win, even though we know a point will be enough for us.
“But you won’t go far at this tournament with such a mentality; we will be playing only for a victory.”
.Credit: Getty SWITCHING IT UP
Austria make two changes as Andreas Ulmer and Michael Gregoritsch make way for Florian Grillitsch and the shy and retiring Marko Arnautovic in what looks like a 4-3-2-1 formation.
There’s just one change for Ukraine and it comes in midfield where Serhiy Sydorchuk replaces Taras Stepanenko. Ukraine are expected to line-up in a 4-3-3 formation.
UKRAINE SUBS:
Pyatov, Trubin, Sobol, Sudakov, Kryvtsov, Stepanenko, Marlos, Makarenjo, Tsygankov, Besedin, Tymchyk, Dovbyk
AUSTRIA SUBS:
Schlager, Pervan, Ulmer, Posch, Ilsanker, Gregoritsch, Lienhart, Trimmel, Schaub, Schopf, Onisiwo, Kalajdzic
UKRAINE XI:
Bushchan; Mykolenko, Matviyenko, Zabarnyi, Karavayev; Zinchenko, Sydorchuk, Shaparenko; Malinovskiy, Yaremchuk, Yarmolenko
AUSTRIA XI:
Bachmann; Lainer, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Alaba (c); Schlager, Laimer, Grillitsch; Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Arnautovic
THE TEAMSHEETS ARE IN!
THE STORY SO FAR
Ukraine followed a heart-breaking defeat against the Netherlands in a five-goal opener by holding on to beat North Macedonia despite an Ezgjan Alioski penalty and late spot-kick miss from Ruslan Malinovskiy.
A draw today would suffice for the Ukrainians to finish runners-up behind the Dutch – but Austria, who followed up their success over North Macedonia with defeat by the Oranje, will pip them if they win.
Austria beat North Macedonia 3-1 in their opener.
TEAM NEWS
Ukraine are missing Oleksandr Zubkov after he went off injured against the Netherlands.
They could also be without injured defender Denys Popov, who has a calf problem.
The Dynamo Kiev player was on the bench for his side’s loss to the Netherlands and missed the second match against North Macedonia.
Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko said: “There’s a high chance he [Popov] won’t be playing.”
Austria welcome back Marko Arnautovic from a one-game ban after his controversial celebration against North Macedonia.
Austria coach Franco Foda has already confirmed that the forward will start against Ukraine.
“We decided that Marko will play from the start,” he said.
“That means our opponents know that now and can prepare for it, but we are happy that he can play again.
“But we are not dependent only on Marko. He has his ability and quality, but many players have to take on responsibility.”
GOOD AFTERNOON FROM BUCHAREST
Austria and Ukraine meet in a crucial clash to determine who finishes second in Group C. A guaranteed spot in the last 16 of Euro 2020 awaits the winner of today’s game.
Both nations have three points, but Ukraine are better placed courtesy of having scored more goals so far, meaning they will finish second if they avoid defeat.
Austria must win to finish second, or they’ll have to rely on being one of the best four third-place finishers.
The Netherlands have already sealed top spot in the group, while North Macedonia are certain to finish bottom.
Both sides have one win and one defeat from their opening two games after beating North Macedonia and losing to the Netherlands.
We’ll have team news and much more in the build-up to the 5pm kick-off.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
