Sabasports Match Preview
Euro 2024: Ukraine vs Belgium
Kickoff Time: 2024-06-27 00:00 (HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
In the last round of the group stage, Ukraine managed to score two goals despite conceding one before, ultimately defeated Slovakia 2-1 and secured three valuable points. However, the match was quite thrilling for Ukraine. Despite having talented attackers such as Artem Dovbyk (this season’s La Liga golden boot), his club teammate Viktor Tsygankov, and Chelsea’s high-priced winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, Ukraine struggled to convert their dominance into goals, and their offensive threat was limited. Furthermore, their defense was quite vulnerable. It was thanks to the heroic performance of goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin that Ukraine were able to secure the victory. The future prospects of Ukraine in this European Championship depend heavily on the scoring efficiency of their forwards and minimizing defensive mistakes.
After an unexpected loss in the first round, Belgium bounced back and secured their first victory in the group stage by defeating Romania 2-0. Belgium primarily utilize the 4231 formation and boast a talented squad including players like Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku, Lois Openda, and Johan Bakayoko, who excel as wingers. Their speed and individual abilities allow them to launch attacks from the flanks, creating scoring opportunities and assists. Of particular importance is Doku, as his performance will directly impact the scoring opportunities of Romelu Lukaku. If Doku can provide more reverse triangle opportunities, it will greatly influence Lukaku’s goals. Additionally, Belgium benefit from having Kevin de Bruyne, one of the world’s top midfielders, who not only creates chances for his teammates in tight spaces but also possesses long-range scoring ability. However, Belgium must address their defensive issues, as some veterans have displayed signs of fatigue in previous games.
Currently, all four teams in Group E have collected three points after two rounds of the group stage, resulting in fierce competition. Nevertheless, in terms of overall strength, Belgium stand out as the strongest team in Group E. With their world-class midfield and formidable attack, Belgium possess a highly offensive style of play. Considering Ukraine’s vulnerable defense, it may prove challenging for them to withstand the attacking prowess of Belgium. Consequently, Belgium, with their outstanding strength, are expected to advance.
Ukraine’s Last 5 Games: WLWLD
24-06-21 Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine
24-06-17 Romania 3-0 Ukraine
24-06-12 Moldova 0-4 Ukraine
24-06-08 Poland 3-1 Ukraine
24-06-04 Germany 0-0 Ukarine
Belgium’s Last 5 Games: WLWWD
24-06-23 Belgium 2-0 Romania
24-06-18 Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
24-06-09 Belgium 3-0 Luxembourg
24-06-06 Belgium 2-0 Montenegro
24-03-27 England 2-2 Belgium
Head To Head Record:
None
Prediction: Belgium to win