This is both sides first ever competitive meeting despite playing each other twice before.
A win for either of these sides will guarantee a second place, but all eyes will also be on the Netherlands tie with North Macedonia because if the Dutch lose, then depending on goal difference either one of these two can potentially finish first.
Although a point apiece could be enough for both, as they each sit on three points, one would finish in second and the other could also sit in third, with a chance to progress as one of the best third placed teams.
In only two of their last previous meetings, both of these sides share the spoils with a win each, where Ukraine scored four and conceded four goals over the two games.
Ukraine are 3/50 to win the game and Austria are 3/75 to win the game.
- Previous defensive record:
Ukraine beat North Macedonia 2-1 in their last match where Austria lost 2-0 to the Netherlands.
Andriy Yarmolenko (Ukraine) has scored four of his sides last eight goals – he needs six more to equal his manager’s national record (48). As Austria’s top scorer in qualifying with six goals, Marko Arnautović netted his nation’s third strike in their opener and returns to action after a one-game ban.
Valentino Lazaro (Austria) is out with a muscle injury.
Misses next match if booked: Shaparenko, Sydorchuk (Ukraine)
Misses next match if booked: Alaba, Bachmann, Lainer (Austria)
Ukraine possible line-up: Bushchan; Karavaev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Malinovskyi, Stepanenko, Zinchenko; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Tsygankov
Austria possible line-up: Bachmann; Dragović, Alaba, Hinteregger; Lainer, Sabitzer, X Schlager, Grillitsch, Ulmer; Baumgartner, Arnautović
Managers view:
Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine: “Austria are a solid team with quality players. They are a compact and athletic side, with a distinctive style. We have huge respect for them and are expecting a good match. Both teams will play to win, even though we know a point will be enough for us. But you won’t go far at this tournament with such a mentality; we will be playing only for a victory.”
Franco Foda, Austria: “We don’t know if four points would be enough. It’s important that we go into the game from the first minute with the absolute intention of winning: that’s our job. [Reaching the round of 16] would mean a lot to us all. First and foremost, we are playing for our country. We will do everything we can to achieve this goal. That’s a big challenge for us and something that should spur them on.”
Last six form guide:
Ukraine: WLWWDD
Austria: LWDLLW
After beating North Macedonia, Ukraine are on the brink of progressing from the European Championship group stage for the first time in their history, ending a run of six consecutive losses at this tournament. So, if they avoid defeat Andriy Shevchenko’s side will finish second ensuring progression to the next stage.
Austria jointly holds the record for most appearances at the Euros without reaching the knockouts, but they will take confidence from the fact that their opponents, in their longest streak are yet to keep a clean sheet across their seven all-time Euro fixtures and will aim to get back on the scoresheet themselves after failing to do so against the Dutch.
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