Ukraine vs Poland: EURO 2016 Group C Preview & Prediction

Poland will look to book their place in the knockout stages of Euro 2016 when they face Ukraine in Marseille on Tuesday evening.

Adam Nawalka’s men have taken four points from a possible six so far following a win against Northern Ireland and a draw against world champions Germany, and know a point in the south of France will guarantee a top-two finish and their passage into the last 16 of the competition.

The team, and star man Robert Lewandowski, have looked far from convincing so far though, and after scoring 33 goals in qualification, they have netted just once in two games – Arkadiusz Milik’s second half strike against Northern Ireland.

Poland have failed to get out of the group stage in the last two European Championship finals, including the previous tournament which they hosted, but look set to make history this time around by progressing to the latter stages.

Meanwhile, Ukraine have tasted defeat in their matches against Germany and Northern Ireland, meaning they will finish bottom of Group C, even if they beat Poland at the Stade Velodrome.

In-fighting between two of their best players has certainly not helped morale in the Ukrainian camp, and they will be looking to secure their first point, and goal, when they come up against Poland – their joint-hosts in 2012 – after losing 2-0 to both Germany and the Northern Ireland.

Four years ago, Ukraine also failed to make the knockout stages of the competition, and have now lost their last four matches at European Championship finals without scoring a goal, since a 2-1 win against Sweden in their first-ever game at a European Championship finals.

Despite their poor form, Mykhalo Fomenko’s men can take confidence from the fact that they are unbeaten in their last five matches against Poland, whose last victory came in 2000 when they won 3-1 in Kiev.

Ukraine suffered a 2-0 defeat to Northern Ireland last time out. Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Team News:

Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov could be replaced by Denys Boyko after two unconvincing displays so far in France, while as they are already out, their manager Fomenko could be tempted to make wholesale changes to his starting XI.

Poland stopper Wojciech Szczesny could also miss out again through injury meaning Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabianski will start between the sticks, while Nawalka must decide whether to risk Kamil Grosicki, Bartosz Kapustka, Krzysztof Maczynski, Lukasz Piszczek and Slawomir Peszko, who are all one booking away from a suspension.

FIFA World Ranking: Ukraine – 19th; Poland – 27th
Best European Championship Finish: Ukraine – Group Stage (2012); Poland – Group Stage (2008 & 2012)
Previous Meeting: Ukraine 1-0 Poland (October 11, 2013 – World Cup 2014 qualifying)
Form: Ukraine – WWWWLL; Poland – WWLDWD
Key Men: Ukraine – Andriy Yarmolenko; Poland – Robert Lewandowski
Shoot Says: Ukraine 0-1 Poland