Ukraine-Malta is a match on the fourth day of Group C of Euro 2024 qualifying and is played on Monday at 18:00: predictions.
Overtaking in sight. Italy, as of Monday evening, could find themselves out of the top two places in the Euro 2024 qualifying Group C standings. Yes, because Serhiy Rebrov’s Ukraine will only need a victory against the modest selection of Malta to put the arrow and overtake the Azzurri, engaged in the Final Four of the Nations League and stopped at 3 points.
While England have already swept the Maltese off their feet and secured top spot in the group, the fight for second place remains wide open. Also at stake is North Macedonia, who have the same number of points as Italy and Ukraine – three selections that have played the same number of matches, unlike England and Malta who are already on three – despite the defeat (2-3) suffered last Friday against Mudryk and his companions. It was an unbelievable game in Skopje, with the North Africans who, after going ahead by two goals in the first half, were overturned in the second half. Zabarnyi, Konoplia and Tsygankov scored the goals that gave Ukraine their first three points of the qualifying campaign. Rebrov’s men did nothing more than confirm their excellent momentum on the offensive side of the pitch, having scored the same number of goals against Germany a few days earlier in the friendly in Bremen (3-3). With the only difference being that in that match it was they who had conceded the comeback.
The only previous one was won by Malta
But if it is true that on the one hand the attack is running great, on the other hand Rebrov would do well to fix a defence that has conceded a staggering seven goals in the last three matches.
Maltese Jones v Maguire
The Ukrainian defence should have a quieter evening against the Maltese attack, which has only scored one goal in three matches, against North Macedonia. The selection coached by Michele Marcolini, who conceded four goals against the English on Friday, three of which were scored in the first half, was unable to limit the damage as it did against Italy. There is only one previous meeting between the two national teams and, coincidentally, it coincided with one of Malta’s historic victories, as they won 1-0 over Ukraine in 2017 thanks to a Muscat goal.
The Prediction
Ukraine have looked inspired in ball possession and should be able to score between two and four goals against Malta. Victory for Rebrov’s team is not in question this time, although it cannot be ruled out that the islanders will also score at least one goal.
The likely line-up for Ukraine-Malta
- UCRAINE (4-3-3): Trubin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko; Tsygankov, Stepanenko, Sudakov, Mudryk; Yarmolenko, Dovbyk.
- MALTA (3-4-2-1): Bonello; Apap, Borg, Muscat; Mbong, Guillaumier, Teuma, Kristensen, Attard; Jones, Nwoko.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1