Slovakia vs Ukraine Preview
- Tournament: Euro 2024
- Date: Friday, 21st June
- Kick-off Time: 05:00 pm GMT
- Venue: Merkur Spiel-Arena
Slovakia will look to build on their surprising win over Belgium when they face Ukraine in Friday’s Euro 2024 Group E clash at the Dusseldorf Arena. The Falcons – the lowest-ranked side in Group E pulled off a narrow 1-0 victory over Belgium ending Belgium’s 15-game unbeaten run. Ivan Schranz scored the decisive goal and Slovakia held on despite Romelu Lukaku’s disallowed goals.
This victory marks Slovakia’s second consecutive win in their Euro opener but they know the job isn’t done. In Euro 2020 they won their first game but lost the next two crashing out in the group stage. Coach Francesco Calzona will aim for another solid defensive performance with Slovakia keeping clean sheets in their last three matches.
Ukraine on the other hand are searching for their first points after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Romania. Despite controlling over 70% possession Ukraine struggled to convert this dominance into goals managing just two shots on target. Coach Serhiy Rebrov in his first major tournament game, will hope for a better showing against Slovakia.
Ukraine’s history against Slovakia is mixed with only one loss in their last eight meetings. Their best moment in Euro 2020 came on the second matchday, and they will hope to replicate that success. A win against Slovakia is crucial for their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds.
The Group E clash promises to be an intriguing battle as Slovakia aims to continue their surprising form while Ukraine looks to bounce back and keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive.
Slovakia vs Ukraine Team News
Slovakia National Football Team News
As Slovakia prepares to face Ukraine in their second Euro 2024 group match coach Francesco Calzona is expected to stick with the team that secured a 1-0 win over Belgium. Barring any injury concerns Calzona will likely make no changes to his starting lineup.
Milan Škriniar of Paris Saint-Germain will continue as captain and will be key in defense. He will be joined by Dávid Hancko, Denis Vavro, and Peter Pekarík, who is Slovakia’s second-highest appearance holder.
In attack, Robert Boženík, who made his major tournament debut on Monday, will lead the line. The Boavista striker, with seven international goals, will aim to add to his tally.
Ukraine National Football Team News
For Ukraine, there is concern over Vitaliy Mykolenko’s fitness. The Everton defender missed the opening game due to a foot injury and will undergo an assessment before the match.
Coach Serhiy Rebrov may make changes in midfield, with Ruslan Malinovskyi in line to start. Up front, Artem Dovbyk will remain a key player despite a tough game against Romania. Dovbyk, who was Liga Liga’s top scorer with 24 goals in the 2023-24 season will be eager to find the net.
Both teams are ready for this crucial clash, with Slovakia aiming to build on their momentum and Ukraine looking to bounce back from their opening defeat.
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Slovakia vs Ukraine Predicted Line-ups
Slovakia Predicted Playing XI: Martin Dúbravka (GK); Peter Pekarík, Denis Vavro, Milan Škriniar (C), Dávid Hancko; Juraj Kucka, Stanislav Lobotka, Ondrej Duda; Ivan Schranz, Lukáš Haraslin, Róbert Boženík
Ukraine Predicted Playing XI: Andriy Lunin (GK); Yukhym Konoplya, Illia Zabarnyi, Valentina Matvienko, Oleksandr Zincheko; Georgiy Sudakov, Taras Stepanenko (C), Ruslan Malinovskyi; Viktor Tsygankov, Mykhailo Mudryk, Artem Dovbyk
Key Players to Watch in Slovakia vs Ukraine
Milan Škriniar (Slovakia)
Milan Škriniar, the captain of Slovakia and a central defender for Paris Saint-Germain is a key player to watch. Known for his strong defensive skills and leadership Škriniar will be crucial in organizing the backline and keeping Ukraine’s attackers at bay. His experience and composure under pressure make him an essential figure in Slovakia’s quest to secure another victory.
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine)
Artem Dovbyk is Ukraine’s main attacking threat. Despite a challenging game against Romania Dovbyk remains a significant player due to his impressive scoring record. He finished the 2023-24 season as the top scorer in Liga Liga with 24 goals in 36 matches. His ability to find the net will be vital for Ukraine as they seek to rebound from their opening defeat and secure crucial points in the tournament.
Slovakia vs. Ukraine Head-to-Head Record
Head-to-head (H2H) History and Results
Slovakia won 4-1 in their last meeting, in the 2018 Nations League.
- Slovakia (Wins): 2
- Ukraine (Wins): 3
- Draws: 3
Last 5 H2H Results
- 16 November 2018, Slovakia 4-1Ukraine
- 9 September 2018, Ukraine 1-0 Slovakia
- 10 November 2017, Ukraine 2-1 Slovakia
- 8 September 2015, Slovakia 0-0 Ukraine
- 8 September 2014, Ukraine 0-1Slovakia
Slovakia vs Ukraine Prediction
A disastrous start threatened to derail Ukraine’s campaign but Slovakia were a little fortunate to beat Belgium. If that luck doesn’t hold, they lack the firepower to be considered favorites.
Predicted Score: Slovakia 0-1 Ukraine
Where to Watch Slovakia vs Ukraine Live?
Q. Where to watch Slovakia vs Ukraine live in India?
Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV will telecast the Slovakia vs Ukraine match live in India.
Q. Where to watch Slovakia vs Ukraine live in the USA?
FOX Sports will broadcast the live telecast of Slovakia vs Ukraine in the USA.
Q. Where to watch Slovakia vs Ukraine live in the UK?
ITV will telecast the Slovakia vs Ukraine game in the UK.
Q. Where to watch Slovakia vs Ukraine live in Slovakia?
The match will be telecasted on MARKIZA TV in Slovakia.
Q. Where to watch Slovakia vs Ukraine live in Ukraine?
Megogo will provide a live telecast of this game in Ukraine.
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