Ukraine looks to overturn a disappointing opening match loss to the Netherlands when they take on North Macedonia. The match schedules for Thursday in Bucharest at the National Arena with kickoff at 4 pm.
Both sides are the only sides in Group C without a point after opening defeats. North Macedonia fell for a 3-1 loss to Austria.
Ukraine was held to an entertaining clash against the Netherlands at the Amsterdam Arena. It seemed the match would end in a share of spoils after a 2-2 draw. However, a towering header from Dumfries denied them a good start to their Euro campaign.
Despite taking a defeat, there are a lot of positives to take home from the match. The fighting spirit from the side was very pleasing for Shevchenko to carry forward. However, getting past the group stages relies on edging Euros’ lowest ranking side- North Macedonia.
On the other hand, North Macedonia’s first-ever match in a major European championship ended in a defeat at the hands of Austria. However, it was a historical moment when Goran Pandev – tapped into an empty net. As a result, he becomes the second-oldest goalscorer in the championship.
Moreover, the goal gives the side a lot of motivation heading into the Thursday clash. Given several opportunities in their last outing, Igor Angelovski will be building on their momentum.
Ukraine vs. North Macedonia Head to Head
Both sides have two matches against each other, with Ukraine taking all wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Netherlands 3-2 Ukraine
- Ukraine 4-0 Cyprus
- Ukraine 1-0 Northern Ireland
- France 1-1 Ukraine
- Switzerland 3-0 Ukraine
Away
- Austria 3-1 North Macedonia
- North Macedonia 1-1 Slovenia
- Germany 1-2 North Macedonia
- North Macedonia 5-0 Liechtenstein
- Romania 3-2 North Macedonia
Ukraine Team News
Winger Oleksandr Zubkov sets to miss out on this encounter after picking a foot injury in the early minutes of their previous encounter. However, there is plenty of options on the bench, with Marlos and Viktor Tsygankov proving options on the flanks. The attacking partnership of Yarmalenko and Yaremchuk sets to remain.
North Macedonia Team News
Igor is highly likely to maintain the same starting lineup that finished the job. Therefore, we expect a three-person defense partnership with Darko Velkovski, Visar Musliu, and Stefan Ristovski. Pandev will retain the captain’s armband as he spearheads the attack.
Prediction and Odds
We expect a goal galore this Thursday, with it being a crucial game in the bid for the knockout stages for both sides.
- Ukraine Win
- Goals Over 2.5
- Most Goals: 2H
