Sweden vs Ukraine Match Preview

Sweden managed to finish first in a group (E) where they also faced Spain, whereas Ukraine came through as one of the best third placed winners on goal difference after finishing in third place on three points in Group C.

Neither team will have home advantage here though as they both have to travel to Scotland to play in Hampden Park in Glasgow and both sides will be looking to progress where their next opponents will be either England or Germany.

In their last five previous meetings Ukraine has W2, L1, D2, although in both draws, they came out as 2-1 winners after extra time. 

Sweden are 2/30 to win the game and Ukraine are 3/25to win the game.

  • Previous defensive record:

Sweden came through as 3-2 winners in their final group game against Poland which was the first time they conceded in the tournament so far. Ukraine lost two out of their three group stage matches although a 2-1 win against North Macedonia in game two was enough to see them through. But they have conceded five goals in three games and Sweden will be aware of that.

Scorer of the second fastest goal in Euro’s history last time out, Sweden’s Emil Forsberg now has four strikes across his last four international appearances. Andriy Yarmolenko (Ukraine) has also been in fantastic form at Euro 2020, scoring twice and assisting once.

Oleksandr Zubkov (Ukraine) is a doubt with a calf injury whereas Denys Popov (Ukraine) is out with a calf injury.

Misses next match if booked: Danielson, Lustig, Olsson (Sweden)

Misses next match if booked: Shaparenko, Sydorchuk (Ukraine)

Sweden possible line-up: Olsen; Lustig, Lindelöf, Danielson, Augustinsson; S. Larsson, Ekdal, Olsson, Forsberg; Isak, Quaison

Ukraine possible line-up: Bushchan; Karavaev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Malinovskyi, Sydorchuk, Zinchenko; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Tsygankov

Manager’s view:

Janne Andersson, Sweden: “I gathered the players and told them I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world than in that room, at that moment, with those people. Ukraine are a good team; they know how to switch from defence to attack. They looked worn out against Austria, but like us they’ve had some rest – even more actually.”

Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine: “Sweden are a very organised team, and I am full of respect for them. They have a certain style of play, and they don’t deviate from it. The things they do they do very well, especially their passes up field. They have two great strikers and are very strong physically so rarely lose one-on-one battles.”

Last six form guide:

Sweden: WWDWWW

Ukraine: LWLWWD

These two sides meet each other for the fifth time. Last time out current Ukraine manager Andriy Shevchenko scored a brace in the most recent head-to-head when Swedish hopes were dashed at Euro 2012.

Sweden left it to the 94th minute to ensure they would finish the group in first place after Viktor Claesson found the back of the net to down Poland 3-2 and will take confidence from the fact that they held a strong Spain side to a draw.

Whereas Ukraine squeezed through as the fourth third best placed team on goal difference and nearly held the Netherlands to a draw but for an 85th minute winner by Dutch star Denzel Dumfries.

Shevchenko and his men will believe they can continue in this tournament though as they are looking for victory in their first ever Euro knockout round appearance as an independent nation.