Ukraine vs Poland Preview and Prediction Euro 2016
Monday, 20 June 2016
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Poland will look to misfiring striker Robert Lewandowski to send them through to the last 16 of Euro 2016 on Tuesday.
Adam Nawalka's side face Ukraine in Marseille, where Lewandowski will hope to get off the mark after a goalless opening two matches.
Poland beat Northern Ireland in their first fixture before holding world champions
Germany to a 0-0 draw at the Stade de France in their last match.
Lewandowski failed to get on the scoresheet in both and admitted to reporters that goals are high on his agenda.
He said: "It would be nice to score a goal. Sometimes I'm alone up front, but it doesn't matter about statistics, it matters about the team."
He still has the backing of the coaching staff, with Nawalka noting: "He's taking a lot of attention from the defenders and, because of that, other players get chances. He's doing tremendous work."
Poland need a draw against Ukraine to claim second spot in Group C, with Northern Ireland breathing down their necks heading into the final round of fixtures.
Poland will finish top if they win and Germany fail to beat Michael O'Neill's men.
Ukraine have endured a poor Euro 2016 to date, losing both of their matches without scoring a goal.
They have fallen to 2-0 defeats against two Group C opponents. Tuesday's game against Poland is the first time the two sides have met at a major tournament.
Team news
Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny faces a race to be fit after bruising his thigh against Northern Ireland.
Szczesny has shared pictures of his recovery this week and hopes to return ahead of the knockout stages.
Poland have five players - Kamil Grosicki, Bartosz Kapustka, Krzysztof Maczynski, Sławomir Peszko and Lukasz Piszczek - who are one yellow away from suspension.
Ukraine are already out and will be playing for pride on Tuesday evening. Coach Mykhaylo Fomenko could, therefore, roll the dice with his starting XI and give fringe players some game-time before they fly home.
Paul Merson's prediction
Ukraine are already out and Poland haven't been too bad in the two games so far; I was very impressed with how they contained Germany.
Robert Lewandowski has got to come to the party at some stage and that could be bad news for Ukraine. Poland should go through, but may just miss out on top spot.
Ukraine and Poland have met seven times with Ukraine winning three and Poland two.
Ukraine are unbeaten in the last five meetings between the two sides (W3, D2), winning the last two. Poland's last victory was in September 2000 when they won 3-1 in Kiev in a World Cup qualifier.
Just once in the last five games between Ukraine and Poland has either team managed to score more than once (Poland 1-3 Ukraine, March 2013); the remaining four games in that run have seen just six goals scored in total.
Since winning their first game at the Euro 2012 finals (2-1 v Sweden), Ukraine have lost their last four games in the tournament without scoring a single goal (seven goals conceded).
Ukraine failing to score in their last four games at the Euros is a joint-record in the history of the tournament.
Poland have never scored more than one goal at the European Championship (eight games). Their last shot on target at this year's tournament was 98 minutes ago, in their opener against Northern Ireland.
Poland can reach the knockout stages of a European Championship for the first time after two fruitless attempts (2008, 2012).
Lewandowski failed to get on the scoresheet in both and admitted to reporters that goals are high on his agenda.
He said: "It would be nice to score a goal. Sometimes I'm alone up front, but it doesn't matter about statistics, it matters about the team."
He still has the backing of the coaching staff, with Nawalka noting: "He's taking a lot of attention from the defenders and, because of that, other players get chances. He's doing tremendous work."
Poland need a draw against Ukraine to claim second spot in Group C, with Northern Ireland breathing down their necks heading into the final round of fixtures.
Poland will finish top if they win and Germany fail to beat Michael O'Neill's men.
Ukraine have endured a poor Euro 2016 to date, losing both of their matches without scoring a goal.
They have fallen to 2-0 defeats against two Group C opponents. Tuesday's game against Poland is the first time the two sides have met at a major tournament.
Team news
Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny faces a race to be fit after bruising his thigh against Northern Ireland.
Szczesny has shared pictures of his recovery this week and hopes to return ahead of the knockout stages.
Poland have five players - Kamil Grosicki, Bartosz Kapustka, Krzysztof Maczynski, Sławomir Peszko and Lukasz Piszczek - who are one yellow away from suspension.
Ukraine are already out and will be playing for pride on Tuesday evening. Coach Mykhaylo Fomenko could, therefore, roll the dice with his starting XI and give fringe players some game-time before they fly home.
Paul Merson's prediction
Ukraine are already out and Poland haven't been too bad in the two games so far; I was very impressed with how they contained Germany.
Robert Lewandowski has got to come to the party at some stage and that could be bad news for Ukraine. Poland should go through, but may just miss out on top spot.
Ukraine and Poland have met seven times with Ukraine winning three and Poland two.
Ukraine are unbeaten in the last five meetings between the two sides (W3, D2), winning the last two. Poland's last victory was in September 2000 when they won 3-1 in Kiev in a World Cup qualifier.
Just once in the last five games between Ukraine and Poland has either team managed to score more than once (Poland 1-3 Ukraine, March 2013); the remaining four games in that run have seen just six goals scored in total.
Since winning their first game at the Euro 2012 finals (2-1 v Sweden), Ukraine have lost their last four games in the tournament without scoring a single goal (seven goals conceded).
Ukraine failing to score in their last four games at the Euros is a joint-record in the history of the tournament.
Poland have never scored more than one goal at the European Championship (eight games). Their last shot on target at this year's tournament was 98 minutes ago, in their opener against Northern Ireland.
Poland can reach the knockout stages of a European Championship for the first time after two fruitless attempts (2008, 2012).
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Euro 2016
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Title: Ukraine vs Poland Preview and Prediction Euro 2016
Author maknyos
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https://thespektra.blogspot.com/2016/06/ukraine-vs-poland-preview-and.html
Author maknyos
Rating 100
