SIMPLY getting a team together is a miracle for this war torn nation.
The people’s champions who play home games in Poland following the Russian invasion of their country.
Qualified via a play-off victory over Iceland – England fans remember the stubborn Vikings only too well from Euro 2016 – Ukraine have Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and four Premier League players in their undoubtedly talented squad.
From Chelsea’s erratic but gifted winger Mykhailo Mudryk, to experienced Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko; they are also managed by ex-Spurs and West Ham striker Sergei Rebrov.
They will be most fans’ second team in Germany this summer.
Manager: Sergiy Rebrov
A ticket site recently named the former Tottenham striker the sexiest manager at Euro 2024.
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Gareth Southgate was fifth so read into that what you will.
Key man: Mykhailo Mudryk
The Chelsea star is capable of great speed and great frustration.
Still trying to justify the £62m price tag – but he scored the play-off winner that sent Ukraine through.
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Likely line-up
How they attack
Ukraine are expected to struggle despite being drawn into a group that is relatively straightforward with Belgium, Slovakia and Romania.
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They will line up in a standard 4-3-3 shape with a lot of structure to the way that they build their attack.
Ukraine will generally be less possession-based in the way they attack and and instead will be more direct.
We often see the ball played into the midfield before then going longer into the wide areas where the winger and full-back will work to overload the opposition.
Ukraine will routinely use longer passes to release runners into space.
Their wide attackers like Mudryk and Arsenal target Tsygankov look to attack space from deep.
Often their striker will drag defenders out of shape before before the wide men attack the space he has created.
How they defend
We expect to see Ukraine play in a flexible manner defensively.
Initially, as the opposition look to build their attack they will not press aggressively and will instead look to drop into a deeper block.
This will change quickly if the opposition take a poor touch or make a poor decision as they are building the attack.
If there is a mistake from the opposition then Ukraine will quickly adapt their approach.
They are swift to move high up the pitch and defend aggressively as they look turn over possession.
When the opposition are in the more established attacking phase, Ukraine look to get players into deep defensive positions.
They will be solid and well structured defensively and they will not press or break out from this block.
Prediction
Belgium should top the group – then it is tough to separate the Ukrainians from Romania and Slovakia.
The Ukraine vs Romania match could be crucial to who gets second place.
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It’s hard to see them getting beyond the last-16.
Latest odds
William Hill have them at 100/1 to win the tournament and 11/10 to finish in the top two of Group E.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
