This be the last quarter-final of the competition and RTE 2 will be showing the match at 20:00, today, Saturday 3^rd July, and on RTE Player.

Both nations will have to travel the same distance to the game in the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy.

Ukraine has been a relatively decent side in the competition with a narrow loss to the Netherlands and wins over Austria and Sweden. Their Round of 16 victory will give them confidence but they needed a red card and 121st-minute winner to do it.

Andrey Shevchenko’s team has some very talented players but there is no doubt that this will be their biggest challenge to date.

England has now cemented itself as one of the biggest favourites of the competition with France, Portugal and the Netherlands all knocked out. They also managed to professionally defeat Germany by two goals.

They are now on the ‘easier’ side of the knockout rounds, but this valiant Ukraine team will throw everything at them

These countries very rarely face each other with their last game being a 0-0 draw in World Cup qualifying in 2013. They also faced off in Euro 2012 with England won 1-0.

Both squads are very different from the ones nearly ten years ago, expect fluid passing and attacking chances for both sides, but more for the English.

Scored Ukraine's first ever goal at the Euros
Ukraine's all-time top goalscorer
Only Ukrainian to ever win the Ballon d'Or
Took Ukraine to 2006 World Cup quarterfinals
Leads Ukraine to EURO 2020 quarterfinals for the very first time

Andriy Shevchenko IS Mr Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/EKO7mdOKGz

— Startimes Ghana (@startimesghana) July 2, 2021

Predicted Line-ups

Ukraine

Formation

3-5-2

Predicted Starting 11

Buschan (GK), Zabarnyi, Krivtsov, Matviyenko, Karavaev, Sydorchuk, Stepanenko, Malinovsky, Zinchenko, Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk

Injuries/Suspensions

Biesiedin, Popov, Zubkov

Fled his country & Left club in fear of war at 17

Rejected by 2 clubs & played for free for 6 months

Signed by City at age 19
Became City 1st choice LB
Became captain of Ukraine
Leading his country to #EURO2020 Quarter finals

What a journey it's been for Zinchenko pic.twitter.com/AZSYtF7n0f

— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) July 1, 2021

England

Formation

3-4-3

Predicted Starting 11

Pickford (GK), Maguire, Stones, Walker, Shaw, Henderson, Rice, Trippier, Sterling, Kane, Grealish

Injuries/Suspensions

None

Betting

With the English believing that the trophy is ‘Coming Home’ they are also this games favourites with odds of 2/5 to win in normal time.

A stalemate after 90 mins, needing extra time has odds of 10/3.

Ukraine would give a great payout with odds of 8/1 to win in 90 mins making them major underdogs.

Score Prediction

Zinchenko and Ukraine have been entertaining to watch at some instances of this Euros, but this will be a bridge too far for them. They have been lucky in the tournament to get all this way, but England’s quality will beat them.

This will be another good confidence booster for Gareth Southgate’s men with a chance for Raheem Sterling to add a few more goals to his tally. Expect a 3-0 victory for the three lions.

Just 1 day to go until we take on Ukraine in the European Championships quarter finals! Come on England! #Eng #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/wGuhaRORog

— England Fans (@EnglandFansTwi) July 2, 2021

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Andriy Shevchenko’s side came into the game as the underdogs in the eyes of the bookies but sustained early pressure led to an opener courtesy of City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko.

A sumptuous ball from forward Andriy Yarmolenko put it on a plate for the 24-year-old, who volleyed it beyond Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Seb Larsson almost caught out Ukraine’s keeper Heorhiy Bushchan with a quick free-kick but the Ukrainian saved his blushes.

A few minutes before half-time, Alexander Isak laid the ball off for Sweden’s top scorer at Euro 2020, Emil Forsberg, who fired home from 25 yards out.

The Swede’s goal brought his tally for the tournament up to four, one behind current top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and the Swedish single major tournament record holder Kennet Andersson.

3 – Emil Forsberg is the first Swedish player to score in three consecutive major tournament appearances since Kennet Andersson at the 1994 World Cup, who is also the only Swedish player to net more at a single major tournament than Forsberg's 4 at #EURO2020 (5 in 1994). Streak. pic.twitter.com/g9qA4l0n0b

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 29, 2021

Sweden showed their quality in the second half, dominating the game and coming close to finding a winner several times.

Forsberg hit the woodwork twice while Juventus prospect Dejan Kulusevski forced a save from Bushchan and could not convert a late chance.

The final last 16 tie of Euro 2020 became the fourth to go to extra time – the most-ever in a single knockout round in the competition.

Extra-time saw things change for the worse for the Scandinavians when their centre-back Marcus Danielson saw red for a reckless studs-up tackle.

It was the Swede’s first red card of his international career – a yellow was given at first before a VAR review changed referee Daniele Orsato’s mind.

Ukraine’s man-advantage helped them to gain momentum and retain possession throughout extra time.

Atalanta’s Ruslan Malinovskyi came close to scoring but scuffed his shot wide.

As the clock ticked and the full-time whistle for the end of extra-time drew near, penalties appeared to be the most likely option.

However, a stunning cross from Zinchenko found the head of Artem Dovbyk who headed in the winner in the dying moments of the game to make history for Ukraine.

121 – Timed at 120:37, Artem Dovbyk has scored the second-latest goal in European Championship history, behind Semih Sentürk v Croatia in 2008 (121:01), and the latest match-winning strike in the competition, overtaking Michel Platini v Portugal in 1984 (118:53). Gasp. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/LAXcVAAvxw

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 29, 2021

Andriy Shevchenko’s side will be the first Ukraine side in the last eight of the European Championships, having become the first to reach the last 16 after their successful group stage.

Sweden failed to deliver on the promise of their Group E win and will go home without the chance to get revenge on England for their 2018 World Cup quarter-final loss.

Ukraine will play England on Saturday, July 3rd at the Stadio Olimpico at 8:00 pm.

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Both sides will have a point to prove as they look to get a headstart on one another.

The Dutch will be without Virgil Van Dijk for the whole of Euro 2020 as he is still recovering from his cruciate injury.

Instead, Mathijs De Ligt will be partnered by Inter Milan’s Stefan De Vrij.

A three-man defence was used in the warm-up games and that also included Ajax youngster Jurrien Timber.

Furthermore, Owen Wijndal will be a tricky customer on the left-hand side while Gini Wijnaldum will play as a 10.

The latter has scored four times in his last seven games for his national side, per Transfermarkt.

Memphis Depay has the most important summer of his career ahead of him.

Happy to see the fans in the stadium yesterday pic.twitter.com/ZRUZQt9pOJ

— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) June 7, 2021

Therefore, he will want to make the most of it.

Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine has impressed in the build-up to Euro 2020.

The Eastern European nation has impressed against Spain and France, among others.

In comparison, the Netherlands will not be as tough of an ask for the yellow and blue.

36-year-old captain Andriy Pyatov will wear his heart on his sleeve in goal.

A dogged defence will provide support for him and Oleksandr Zinchenko will play higher up the pitch.

The trio of Ruslan Malinovskyi, Roman Yaremchuk and Andriy Yarmolenko will be tough assignments for the Netherlands back three.

Predicted Lineups

Netherlands (3-5-2): Tim Krul; Stefan De Vrij, Jurrien Timbers, Mathijs De Ligt; Denzel Dumfries, Frenkie De Jong, Gini Wijnaldum, Marten De Roon, Owen Wijndal; Memphis Depay, Wout Weghorst.

Ukraine: (4-1-4-1): Andriy Pyatov; Oleksandr Karavaev, Ilya Zabarnyi, Mykola Matvienko, Vitaliy Mykolenko; Taras Stepanenko; Andriy Yarmlenko, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Oleksandr Zubkov; Roman Yaremchuk.

Betting

Netherlands 8/13

Draw 5/2

Ukraine 5/1

Prediction

Netherlands 1-1 Ukraine

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Austria, Netherlands, North Macedonia, and Ukraine make up the third group of Euro 2020 this summer. 

The group may be the least exciting on paper but there are reasons to be excited about it.

AUSTRIA

Austria will be hoping to live up to expectations this time around after a bitterly disappointing Euro 2016 campaign saw them finish bottom of their group.

The Austrian squad for this summer’s championship is full of players at the height of their career.

Austria’s talisman David Alaba will be very important for the side.

He is expected to play a more attacking role than he did for Bayern Munich this past season.

A stacked midfield also includes Bundesliga stars Marcel Sabitzer and Konrad Laimer.

Former West Ham star Marko Arnautovic will lead the line for the Austrians, possibly alongside Sabitzer or Sasa Kalajdzic.

An experienced defence will sit in front of Watford’s Daniel Bachmann, who is heading to the Euros after a successful season with the Hornets.

A ball-dominant display against England gave fans a sneak-peek at their attacking intent.

NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands is in a major tournament for the first time since their 2014 World Cup run which saw them finish third.

The side had looked to be one of the tournament favourites when Ronald Koeman was in charge, but with the loss of both him and Virgil Van Dijk, that idea has faded.

A 4-2 loss to Turkey in March exposed their weaknesses.

There are still many world-class players involved in the squad – Memphis Depay, Georginio Wijnaldum and Mathijs De Ligt to name a few – but they tend to make it look harder than it needs to be.

Young talents such as Owen Wijndal and Ryan Gravenberch could shine if given the chance, but the tactical shortcomings of their current manager Frank de Boer handicap the side.

Nonetheless, their home advantage in all three group games will help them along the way.

They should progress past the group stage, but an upset is always possible against this Dutch side.

NORTH MACEDONIA

North Macedonia are the lowest-ranked side in the European Championships this summer.

Entering through the Nations League’s bottom-tier playoff, they will be cast aside by many pundits before kicking a ball.

However, their recent victory over the German national side shows what they are capable of.

Manager Igor Angelovski sets up his side in a defensive  5-3-2 formation but they can be lethal in attack. 

Napoli’s Elif Elmas and 37-year-old Goran Pandev are very important to the side.

Although it is a slimmer chance than the other three teams, the North Macedonians could enjoy some knockout international football this summer.

UKRAINE

Ukraine is the final team involved in Group C.

The side has crept back into the spotlight of European football under the management of Andriy Shevchenko.

Wins against Portugal and Spain have given the side a lot of attention.

Furthermore, the side cruised to the top spot in their qualifying group.

Their squad for the Euros is a youthful group with several veterans also present.

The side is one of the dark horses at the tournament and could impress neutrals.

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykola Matvienko will be crucial in defence with Gregory Bushchan in goal behind them.

Ukraine soaks up pressure against the stronger sides in Europe and unleashes their attacking force of Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk and Malinovskyi on others.

Shevchenko’s side can progress, but this group is tighter than it appears.

Group C Fixtures: Austria v North Macedonia Sunday, 13th June 17:00. Netherlands v Ukraine Sunday, 13th June 20:00. Ukraine v North Macedonia Thursday, 17th June 14:00. Netherlands v Austria Thursday, 17th June 20:00. Ukraine v Austria Monday, 21st June 17:00. North Macedonia v Netherlands Monday, 21st June 17:00.

ENDS

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