The 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers continue on Sunday the 28th of March and we have a meeting between Ukraine and Finland In Group D.
The match will be played at the NSK Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv and both teams come into the game having earned a point from their opening fixture in the group.
Todellinen jännitysnäytelmä päättyy lopulta pistejakoon. Suomen MM-karsintaurakka jatkuu sunnuntaina Ukrainan vieraana! 🇫🇮 #Huuhkajat #FINBIH pic.twitter.com/iQaWJE0Zy9— Huuhkajat (@Huuhkajat) March 24, 2021
Todellinen jännitysnäytelmä päättyy lopulta pistejakoon. Suomen MM-karsintaurakka jatkuu sunnuntaina Ukrainan vieraana! 🇫🇮 #Huuhkajat #FINBIH pic.twitter.com/iQaWJE0Zy9
Ukraine started their 2020 World Cup qualifying campaign with a difficult away match against France. Having fallen a goal behind in the 19th minute, it appeared as though Ukraine were going to go on and lose the game.
However, France failed to build on their lead and Ukraine scored the equalising goal 12 minutes into the second half and held out to claim a draw, which was a great result.
It was a good confidence boost for Ukraine having lost their previous 3 matches, with defeats coming against Poland, Germany, and Switzerland away from home.
Ukraine are extremely difficult to beat when playing on home soil and they are undefeated in 11 of their last 12 home matches, including friendly games.
They were strong at home in their previous qualifying campaign for the 2020 European Championship and Ukraine won each of their 4 home games, including a good 2-1 victory over current European champions Portugal.
Finland make the trip to Kyiv having picked up a point in their opening fixture of the group against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Having fallen a goal behind in the second half, Finland struck back with a quick equaliser and then took the lead with 13 minutes remaining on the clock.
However, Bosnia and Herzegovina had other ideas and scored with just 6 minutes remaining to come away from the Helsinki Olympic Stadium with a draw.
Finland will be disappointed they did not hold on to take maximum points but they have lost only one of their last 6 fixtures.
The defeat came away from home in the Nations League against Wales but Finland have picked up some impressive victories in recent away games against France, Republic of Ireland, and Bulgaria.
Finland last met Ukraine in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and lost both matches by a single goal. Finland managed to pick up just one victory away from home during that qualifying campaign and it came against Kosovo.
Team news and Ukraine will be tempted to go with the same starting XI from the fixture against France. Júnior Moraes will be hoping to start in attack but is likely to be used from the bench.
Finland could hand a start to Rasmus Schüller in midfield and they are likely to be with just one man up-front, with Teemu Pukki leading the line.
Ukraine come into this match as the favourites to win but they will come up against a stubborn Finland team.
However, Ukraine are strong at home and should have the ability to breakdown the Finland defence and claim a narrow one goal win.