England vs Ukraine

Wembley Stadium forms the backdrop for an exciting Euro 2024 qualifying Group C encounter between England and Ukraine.

England’s effort to reach the fourth consecutive European Championship finals was off to a flyer. Gareth Southgate’s side avenged a Euro 2020 heartbreak with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Italy on matchday one, boosting the confidence following a gut-wrenching 2022 World Cup quarter-final exit. Worryingly, though, the ‘Three Lions’ are winless in their last three home internationals (D2, L1) and could make it four in a row without a win on home soil for the first time since 2011. What’s even more shocking is that they conceded at least three goals in two of those three matches. But their bid to get back to winning ways should be safe and sound, considering the Euro 2022 runners-up have never lost a game against Ukraine at home (W3, D1).

On the other hand, Ukraine warmed up for this fixture with a 2-0 triumph over Brentford’s second team last time out, with this marking their first competitive encounter since Scotland pipped them to UEFA Nations League promotion in September. Caretaker manager Ruslan Rotan will be desperate to put that disappointment behind them and inspire Ukraine to a much-needed strong start as they also bid to secure their fourth straight Euro qualification. Rotan can draw confidence from his side’s impressive form on the road during the previous Euro qualifying campaign that saw them go unbeaten on all four travels (W2, D2). Home and away, the Ukrainians have suffered only two defeats in their last 19 Euro qualifiers (W13, D4), with both failures coming to Spain during the Euro 2016 qualifying cycle.