A crunch encounter for Ukraine on the road
Ukraine travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina in looking to snatch the play-off spot in Group D of European World Cup qualification. Ukraine need to hope that Finland lose at home to France and they can take all three to keep their hopes of qualifying alive. The hosts have fallen away since their golden generation World Cup berth in 2014 with the likes of Edin Dezko and Vedad Ibisevic key players at the top of the pitch. Miralem Pjanic remains, as does Sead Kolasinac with Rade Krunic a dangerous player from wide areas but Ukraine are the stronger side who are often spurred on by the big occasion.
Background
Ukraine’s form has slowed since the coronavirus pandemic. The nation looked in excellent shape for the Euros in the summer of 2020 but have not hit their straps since and though they performed well to reach the quarter finals of the major tournament in 2021, it was an embarrassingly simple task for England to brush them aside and progress with a handsome 4-0 scoreline.
Andriy Yarmolenko is still the proud owner of a wand of a left foot and in combination with the long range threat that Ruslan Malinovsky the Golden Lilies will need to be wary of their skill sets. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Roman Yaremchuk are also key players for Ukraine who will be looking to step up when their country needs them.
It will be interesting to see how Ukraine play this one, they have to win or they do not make the play-offs. But in that, they will not want to throw the kitchen sink at it too early and leave themselves susceptible defensively. It is a cracking encounter to observe from the outside looking in.
Goals?
Unders is my angle in looking to cap off a successful international break. Bosnia and Herzegovina are of a low scoring nature and the significance of this match leans it to following that trend.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have scored in six of ten.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have conceded in four of ten.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen both teams score in four of ten.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen over 2.5 goals in two of ten.
- Ukraine have scored in eight of ten.
- Ukraine have conceded in all of their last 11.
- Ukraine have seen both teams score in eight of ten.
- Ukraine have seen over 2.5 goals in four of ten.
Ukraine should get over the line and are strong favourites to do so but with what it is at stake I am not convinced there is value in an outright play.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
The visitors clinch play-off spot, 2-0 Ukraine.