SCOTLAND – UKRAINE | Wednesday, 20:45
The two-week Nations League tie opens with a rematch that has the flavour of a rematch. The match between Scotland and Ukraine, valid for the second day of Group 1 of League B, should have been played last June, while the two national teams – as chance would have it – were intent on challenging each other for a much more important objective: the play-off to qualify for the next World Cup, which will kick off in two months’ time in Qatar. The tie-breaker had been postponed due to the well-known events of the war in the Ukrainian country, invaded by the Russian army in February.
In Glasgow, three and a half months ago, the selection led by coach Oleksandr Petrakov prevailed, winning 3-1 despite the fact that until then they had only played friendly matches, among others around Europe. Ukraine’s dream, however, was interrupted in the next round, when they were narrowly defeated by Gareth Bale’s Wales, one of the last national teams to snatch a World Cup pass. Scotland will have a chance to make up for it in the Nations League round, as the continental competition draw has once again pitted them against each other.
And in all likelihood it will be their turn to contend for the top spot that is worth promotion to League A. Although they have one match less to play, the Scots and Ukrainians have claimed six and seven points respectively, already carving an important gap on Ireland and Armenia. Steve Clarke’s men have so far beaten the Armenians twice (2-0 and 1-4) but were surprised by their Irish ‘cousins’, suffering a 3-0 defeat. Ukraine, on the other hand, are still undefeated: a win and a draw with Ireland and a comfortable 3-0 win against the Armenians. Formations chapter: Clarke will not have Robertson, while on the other side Petrakov must give up a staple like Zinchenko. The Ukrainians, however, will be relying on Shakhtar Donetsk’s new recruits – Mudryk above all – who have recently shown themselves in the Champions League with the orange team.
The Prediction
We should see a lively match with at least three goals in total along the lines of the play-off in June. It won’t be easy for Ukraine to conquer a ‘temple’ like Hampden Park for the second time in a row, but Petrakov’s players are better coached than they were three months ago – the Ukrainian league has resumed after the long break – and there is a good chance they will avoid defeat again.
The likely line-ups for Scotland v Ukraine
- SCOTLAND (3-4-3): Gordon; Hendry, Hanley, McKenna; Patterson, McGinn, McGregor, Tierney; Fraser, Adams, Christie.
- UKRAINE (4-3-3): Lunin; Karavayev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Kovalenko, Sydorchuk, Malinovskyi; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Mudryk.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
