Match previews

CROATIA looked a shadow of the team which reached the World Cup final in 2018 when they lost to England in their opening Euro 2020 group D fixture.England were by far the better team and Zlatko Dalić will need to get his Croatia side back firing in a must win game.
Raheem Sterling’s goal downed CroatiaCredit: Getty
Czech hero Schick celebrates his first goal vs ScotlandCredit: The Sun
Czech Republic will have a slight advantage in having already played at Hampden Park, in their 2-0 thumping of Scotland and you can catch all the action live from Glasgow at 5pm on BBC ONE.
What’s the form?
It will be all or nothing for Croatia and they will be expecting to overturn their disappointing start to life in group D after a 1-0 defeat to the hands of England.
The Croats are not the force they were back in 2018 and their recent form is not good – having lost eight of their last 12.
Jaroslav Silhavy’s Czech Republic side have blown hot and cold over the past year and have won seven from 12 since the beginning of 2020.
The Czechs however can can come into this one full of confidence after impressing against Scotland and Patrik Schick’s 50-yard wonderstrike..
“It’s always hard to play against us as we have a lot of hardworking players,” Schick said
“Scotland were a tough opponent. But I saw the goalkeeper off his line – I checked in the first half where he was standing.”

Who’s in and who’s out?
Croatia’s Dejan Lovren is expected to miss out and still hasn’t fully recovered from injury – although there are some bright signs for the 31-year-old as he is back in light training.
Both Marcelo Brozović and Mateo Kovačić were taken off late against England, but it is believed that was just a caution and that the pair will be starting come Friday.
The Czech Republic do not have any injury or suspension concerns so you can expect their squad to pick itself – with one Patrik Schick leading the line.

Of course we’ll study our opponents, but our main focus is on the performance we want to give ourselves. I’m sure they are certain they will win the game.Jiří Chytrý, Czech Republic assistant coach
Who to watch out for
Patrick Schick.
If you hadn’t heard of him before then you most certainly will have done after his second goal against Scotland.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward first broke the deadlock in their 2-0 win with a fine header, before scoring what will go down as one of the most iconic goals in the history of the European championships.
And if you haven’t seen it… Well here’s the goal. What a beauty.

If the game’s rubbish…
Then check out Mateo Kovačić’s businesswoman girlfriend Izabel Kovacic – dubbed Croatia’s ‘Shakira’.
Izabel is the founder and owner of a successful range of organic and eco-friendly baby products ‘Lunilou’, which she launched in 2015.

The 28-year-old sells the likes of baby moccasins, pillows and other accessories – alongside her older sister, Ivana Lucic.
And she also holds an economics degree after studying at the University of Zagreb.
The pair got married in June 2017 and spent a reported £250,000 on their wedding where an estimated 600 guests were invited.
Fancy a punt
Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
Match odds

Croatia to win 11/10
The draw 23/10
Czech Republic to win 5/2

Goal-scorer markets

Patrik Schick to score first 7/1
Luka Modrić to score anytime 13/5

To win Euro 2020 outright

Croatia 45/1
Czech Republic 75/1

Maya Jama says ‘Scotland v Croatia’ instead of Czech Republic during Euros show gaffe More

UKRAINE and North Macedonia go head to head in their second Euro 2020 games with both sides desperate to get some points on the board. Ukraine were involved in the most thrilling match of the tournament so far, losing narrowly in a 3-2 defeat to Holland.
Ukraine were involved in a thriller against Holland but were on the losing sideCredit: AFP
North Macedonia lost their Euros opener to Austria 3-1Credit: Getty – Pool
And after a superb effort in the Nations League, Igor Angelovski will believe his North Macedonia side will have what it takes to reach the last-16 despite losing to Austria . You can catch all the action at 2pm on ITV1.
What’s the form?
North Macedonia are the lowest-ranked team at Euro 2020 and despite losing 3-1 in their opening fixture, Angelovski’s side impressed.
They also got the better of 2014 World Cup champions Germany in March (2-1) and have quite the habit of not losing, with just three defeats in their last 15 fixtures.
Ukraine on the other hand would have left the field very dejected after their opening defeat, although after giving Holland a scare in Amsterdam, Andriy Shevchenko’s side can go into this one feeling optimistic.
Before this Ukraine came in with absolutely nothing to lose and on a six-game unbeaten streak, winning two and drawing four including a 1-1 affair with France.

Many of the lads were empty vessels after the match with the Netherlands, we will see how many of them will be able to recuperate sufficiently for the game against North Macedonia.Andriy ShevchenkoReuters

Who’s in and who’s out?
Ukraine’s Andriy Yarmolenko, who scored a stunner against Holland, will be assessed after suffering a knock but is expected to be fit.
Oleksandr Zubkov also suffered from a reported calf injury and had to be taken off meaning it is unlikely he will feature.
North Macedonia would have been slightly worried when goalkeeper Stole Dimitievski kneeled and waved to the physios, but after being assessed he was able to play on.
Napoli’s Elif Elmas and Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski are both expected to feature meaning North Macedonia are likely to line up in a similar fashion against Ukraine as they did against Austria.

“Playing our first-ever European Championship game was a massive experience. We face a difficult next match against Ukraine and we have to go all out for a win because we have nothing to lose.”Igor AngeloskiTalkSPORT

Watch out for…
Granted he’s fit, Andriy Yarmolenko.
The West-Ham man bagged a wonder goal which will undoubtedly go down as one of the goals of the tournament.
The 31-year-old cut on to his trusted left peg and unleashed an unstoppable shot past the hapless Maarten Stekelenburg in goal.
Expect him to have North Macedonia’s defence dancing on ice.

If the game’s rubbish
Check out Andriy Yarmolenko’s beautiful wife Inna Yarmolenko.
The pair married in 2011, and have two sons called Ivan and Danylo.
Inna works in social action projects and is a specialist in Ukrainian foreign relations, organising charity events in the US, promoting Eastern European culture overseas.

Match odds
Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
Match odds

Ukraine to win 4/7
To draw 13/5
North Macedonia to win 5/1

Euro 2020 outright odds

Ukraine 75/1
North Macedonia 500/1

*All odds correct at time of publication. More

HOLLAND will be eager to build momentum following their 3-2 win over Ukraine when they lock horns with Austria. Both sides won their opening Euro 2020 group C fixtures, with Austria coming out 3-1 winners against North Macedonia.
The Dutch side celebrate Denzel Dumfries’ late winner against UkraineCredit: Getty
Arnautovic scored against North Macedonia but is banned for this game over his celebrationCredit: EPA
Austria’s last victory against Holland came in 1990, but you see if they can re-set the history books at 8pm on BBC ONE tonight.
What’s the form?
Holland were gung-ho in their approach in front of home fans last time out and it will be interesting to see if they adopt a different tactic on home soil this time.
Ukraine’s near-comeback wasn’t an isolated incident – being the seventh game in ten that Frank de Boer’s side had conceded – so they are vulnerable at the back.
But, in that time, the Dutch have also scored in every game, showcasing their attacking ability in all areas.
For Austria, as late as they left it against North Macedonia, they did show they can create chances – and a win would have done them the world of good.
Their form of late hasn’t been poor, but it’s also not been the best, having won five from their last ten fixtures.
There remains plenty of room for improvement, with Franco Foda’s side keeping just four clean sheets in their last 15 internationals.

“I saw a Dutch team that played very balanced and dominant, we can be proud. We analyse such games almost to the death. We want to do everything we can to ensure that something like this [comeback] doesn’t happen again.”Frank De Boer Uefa.com
Who’s in and who’s out?
Holland have been handed a huge injury boost with the return of Juventus ace Matthijs de Ligt – who will most likely provide much steadiness and security at the back.
Wout Weghorst and Memphis Depay are both expected to lead the line but it will be interesting to see if Frank De Boer keeps a back five.
Austria are also without any injury or suspension concerns and will be looking up to key man David Alaba to make the difference.
Super Sub Marko Arnautović is banned for this game after his celebration against North Macedonia.

Who’s to watch…
Georginio Wijnaldum is a game changer and has proven so many times to be the difference in the biggest games.
He is the centre of all link-up play and his defensive abilities are often overlooked.
Such performances have also earned him a summer transfer to Paris St. Germain.

If the game’s rubbish…
Then you can count on the camera turning to Frenkie De Jong’s stunning girlfriend Mikky Kiemeney.
The pair have been together since day one as Kiemeney, a former hockey player for Dutch side HC Den Bosch, first met Frenkie in high school.

As supportive as anyone can be, she watched him progress through the youth ranks before joining Ajax for just €1 in 2015.
Fast forward five years, and De Jong full-fills his dream, signing for Barcelona in a record £65million deal.
Match odds
Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
Match Odds

Holland to win 8/15
The draw 3/1
Austria to win 5/1

To win outright

Holland 12/1
Austria 75/1

*All odds correct at time of publication.
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