A footballing tribute to the elegant architecture and elite sophistication that is Bucharest, awaits come Monday evening!
Euro 2020: Group C
Monday 21 June
National Arena, Bucharest
18:00
To Win
Ukraine 49/20
Draw 1/1
Austria 11/4
Ukraine
A place in the next round awaits the Ukraine should they manage a positive result against Austria, but this will certainly not be a straightforward fixture. The firepower available upfront for the Ukraine was – at the beginning of the tournament – viewed with some healthy skepticism, but Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk have been incredible.
Andriy Shevchenko will want to maintain his side’s abrupt and direct apporach, offering plenty chances upfront but remaining defensively sound and difficult to breakdown. There are a couple of injury concerns (Denys Popov) coming into this game for the Ukraine, but they could also see Viktor Tsygankov return to the starting XI.
I’m intrigued to see how the Ukraine set up on Monday evening. Knowing a draw would guarentee their progression, a defensive apporach might make some appeal. However, if Shevchenko opts for that route and they lose, he’ll remain in the ‘bottle’…you know, nothing special about him other than, well, a bottle-job and a potentially more difficult route for his side should they still qualify.
Austria
Austria were outclassed by the Netherlands last time out, and one could assume that while ‘playing for the draw’ continues to be the phrase inherent with this fixture, the Austrains will want to build their confidence and get back into a good place.
Marko Arnautovic will be back for this one, the striker was suspended for verbally berating his opponent during his goal celebration, and will likely want to leave another (hopefully positive) indeliable mark on this encounter.
I don’t want to take anything away from the defensive work the Netherlands displayed in their victory over Austria, but Unsere Burschen just looked awful going forward. There wasn’t really any creativity in front of goal and after a while they just looked to have run out of ideas.
Manager Franco Foda has indicated that he thinks his side can play with no real pressure on them. I’m hoping that brings about an intentional display of attacking beauty as opposed to a possible dry rubber encounter.
Prediction: Both teams to score: No + Under 2.5 (1/1)
Both camps have made a point of promising us an intriguing game of football, I don’t believe them. The oppurtutnity to get to just qualify from the groups doesn’t come around too often for these nations and I reckon we’re in for a seriously cagey evening.
Written by Ryan Liberty