Ukraine vs Belgium EURO 2024 Match Preview

*Odds are subject to change

Belgium was the strong favourite to win Group E before the tournament started. They can still pull this off, but their destiny is out of their control. A win against Ukraine would give them a good chance of ending at the top of the tree, but it wouldn’t be enough if Slovakia beat Romania.

Although a victory may not be enough to qualify as group winners, it would at least guarantee a top-two finish. A draw would also achieve this outcome, meaning the pressure is not particularly high for the Red Devils here.

Ukraine meanwhile require a win if they are to make sure of a place in the last 16. A draw may also be enough but only if there is a winner in the Slovakia versus Romania tie. It is even possible they could lose and still qualify but this is dependent on Romania winning and the ranking of other third-placed teams.

• Location: Stuttgart
• Stadium: Stuttgart Arena (MHPArena)
• Date: 26 June 2024
• Kick-off Time: 18:00 CEST (17:00 BST)
• Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
• VAR: Stuart Attwell (England)

Ukraine Team News

Serhiy Rebrov took the bold decision to swap goalkeepers for his side’s second Euro 2024 match following a shaky display from Andriy Lunin in the first. His replacement, Anatoliy Trubin, performed well against Slovakia, making several key saves, and will likely retain his place between the posts.

Other changes could see the return of Vitaliy Mykolenko who was an unused substitute during the Slovakia match. The fact he was included in the matchday squad and has resumed training would suggest he is close to full fitness and may be ready in time for this one. This would enable Zinchenko to move to his preferred midfield role, with Volodymyr Brazhko likely making way.

Belgium Team News

Having collected two yellow cards already this tournament, Sevilla’s Dodi Lukebakio will miss this match through suspension. Leonardo Trossard and Johan Bakayoko are the main contenders to take the vacant spot on the right wing.

Elsewhere, there are several doubts within the Belgian squad. Axel Witsel and Thomas Meunier both have yet to feature due to injuries, and it is unclear if either will be fit enough by kick-off. There are also some concerns surrounding Arthur Theate, who asked to be brought off during the win over Romania.

Ukraine vs Belgium H2H Record and Key Numbers

Wednesday’s clash will mark the first-ever meeting between these two countries. Although we cannot compare their record against one another, we can compare their respective form.

The Red Devils have won nine of their last 13 games and have registered just one defeat under Domenico Tedesco, who took charge in February 2023. Perhaps an underrated strength of theirs is the ability to keep clean sheets, something they have managed six times in the last nine matches.

Despite their painful 3-0 loss to Romania, Ukraine have lost only two of their last 10 encounters. The Synio-Zhovti will also take confidence from the fact they have performed well against big teams of late. They secured a draw against Germany earlier this month and managed the same against England and Italy during the latter months of 2023.

Possible Lineups

• Ukraine (5-4-1): Trubin – Tymchyk, Zabarnyi, Svatok, Matviyenko, Mykolenko – Tsygankov, Shaparenko, Zinchenko, Mudryk – Yaremchuk
• Belgium (4-3-3): Casteels – Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Carrasco – Tielemans, Onana, De Bruyne – Doku, Lukaku, Bakayoko

Where to Watch Ukraine vs Belgium Euro 2024 – TV and Online Live Streaming

In Ukraine, the match will be aired on MEGOGO and Suspilny’s local TV channels. In Belgium, fans can catch the game on RTBF or VRT, while in the UK, it is accessible via BBC One or BBC iPlayer.

Prediction

Based on their performances against Slovakia and Romania, Belgium should have enough about them to squeeze out a win from this match. Ukraine will fight for every ball until the final whistle, but they lack the quality to win most individual battles across the pitch. Even with a depleted defence, the Red Devils will prove too tough to break down, and their solid rearguard should set them up for a 1-0 or 2-0 victory.

More Belgium vs Ukraine match predictions are available on our tips page for this game.