Ukraine will be looking to improve on their disastrous home Euro campaign from 2012 when they crashed out at the group stage.
Seeking to advance into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history as an independent nation, the team will feature in Group C alongside Germany, Northern Ireland and Poland.
Mykhaylo Fomenko’s side opens their campaign against Germany, a game which could set the tone for the rest of their tournament.
Qualifying form
The Ukrainians qualified as a result of a third place play-off with a 3-1 aggregate win against Slovenia, setting up the victory with a 2-0 victory at home in the first leg. Throughout the qualification, the Synyo-Zhovti did what they had to by brushing aside minnow nations.
Spain proved to be their biggest test during the qualifying phase, failing to pick up a single point against the reigning champions. Ukraine could have gained automatic qualification for the tournament with a win in the final qualifying game at home against the Spainish, yet he home side would go down 1-0 thanks to a goal from fullback Mario Gaspar. A 4-2 against minnows Luxembourg for Slovakia meant they beat Ukraine to the final qualifying spot by three points.
Euros History
This is the first time the country has made the cut as an independent nation following their first appearance at a Euro competition back in 2012, when they automatically qualified as co-host alongside Poland.
The dream start at the tournament with a 2-1 come from behind win against Sweden. Things quickly turned south for the Synyo-Zhovti though, as they lost back-to-back games to France and England in 2-0 and 1-0 defeats.
The country was a useful resource for a Soviet Union team that won the European Championship back in 1960, as well as three runners-up finishes.
Strengths
The nation’s hopes very much rely on the form with their two wingers in Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko, who went a long way to helping the team securing qualification for the tournament.
The continued ability of the wide men to find the back of the net and create for the rest of the team could go a long way to the team securing a place in the next round.
Possessing an experienced squad with many of those having Champions League experience may be the key for the squad.
Weaknesses
If either of Yarmolenko or Konoplyanka go down with injury, the squad does not seem to be able to cover the depth of the side’s main two stars.
The team has been emerged in controversy in the lead up to the tournament with Yarmolenko sent-off for kicking Taras Stepanenko in a match between Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk.
The ageing squad could cause a problem, with many older players the side lacking pace and in turn could find themselves at risk on the counter-attack against with quick opposition, considering some of their defenders are in their mid-30’s.
Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov has also often found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons, often making mistakes which could have easily been avoided.
Predicted Finish – Group stage exit
While hopes are not the highest for the summer tournament, the Ukrainians are certainly not a push over for any team.
They will fight with the Polish for the second qualifying spot, behind a German team who should be able to top the group.
But unfortunately for the Ukrainians, they do not have a player with Robert Lewandowski’s quality leading their line.
The result in the opening group game against Germany may go a long way to determining the direction the tournament goes in for the Synyo-Zhovti, as a loss may see them chasing results in the final two games.
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