Ukraine and Luxembourg have started well in Euro 2020 Group B qualifying. Both sides will want to keep playing well as this round of matches comes to an end on Monday in Lviv.
When Ukraine kicked off the current round of Euro 2020 qualifying matches, they topped Group B. Manager Andriy Shevchenko’s side started out with a draw and a win in qualifying.
Ukraine drew their opening match of qualification against Portugal nil-nil in Lisbon. They followed up their positive result with a 2-1 win over Luxembourg. Ukraine will hope they can do a qualification double over their Group B rival.
Luxembourg started this round of qualification in second place in Group B. Manager Luc Holtz led his side to a victory over Lithuania on matchday 1. Leandro Barreiro and Gerson Rodrigues scored as Luxembourg posted a 2-1 win.
Holtz side was unable to continue the momentum on matchday 2 due to Ukraine’s come from behind victory, but there were positives to take from the match.
Luxembourg jumped out to a 34th minute lead thanks to David Turpel. Ukraine battled back and levelled the match six minutes later through Viktor Tsyhankov. Rodrigues own goal in second-half stoppage-time denied Luxembourg a point.
Holtz and his players should believe they can get a result against Ukraine. Luxembourg have been good despite not having the highest quality players. Holtz does have a squad made up of players plying their trades in leagues around the world.
Ukraine have qualified for the last two European Championship tournaments. The Ukrainians won’t have an easy time getting to the finals next year. Not only are Luxembourg an improved footballing nation, but Serbia and Portugal are also in Group B.
A majority of Shevchenko’s squad play in the Ukrainian Premier League but it is dotted with the odd player competing outside of the country.
Shevchenko may have been a great striker at club and international level but the same cannot be said about the strikers at his disposal for the national team.
Artem Kravets is the top striker Shevchenko can call upon but the Kayserispor man has only tallied eight international goals. Goal scoring could be in short supply on Monday in Lviv.
The two nations have met just four times previously. Ukraine have never lost to Luxembourg outscoring them 11-1. Luxembourg’s only goal against Ukraine came in their match in Euro 2020 qualifying back in March.
Although Luxembourg have improved, they still have a long way to go to beat Ukraine in qualifying. Forebet predicts more than 2.5 goals in the match and win for Ukraine.