On the back of an all-action 3-3 draw with Germany, Ukraine aim to pick up their first win in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C when they travel to North Macedonia on Friday. Sergiy Rebrov’s men sit fourth in the section thanks to their opening loss to England, while their hosts saw off Malta by a 2-1 scoreline to start on the right foot.
Fresh from their historic yet short-lived appearance at Euro 2020 and run to the World Cup qualifying playoff final – which ended in heartbreak against Portugal – North Macedonia have now been brought crashing back down to earth and then some.
Blagoja Milevski’s team won just two of their six Nations League fixtures in 2022-23 to remain in Group C, but their attempts to make back-to-back Euros finals began in ideal fashion with a narrow triumph over Malta on March 23, where Eljif Elmas and Darko Churlinov made the net ripple.
The world’s 65th-ranked nation were full value for that triumph – even if it was a gritty one – and they made it successive wins not long after with a 1-0 friendly beating of the Faroe Islands, although they had to wait until the 81st minute for Bojan Miovski’s crucial contribution.
At this embryonic stage, North Macedonia are only behind Italy in the Group C standings on goal difference with a game in hand, but a taxing trip to England awaits Milevski’s men three days after their showdown with Ukraine, who could become the hosts’ fifth straight victim in Euro qualifying.
Indeed, the Lynxes have claimed four wins from their last four Euro qualifying matches against Israel, Kosovo, Georgia and Malta, but they have never won five in a row at this stage before, and Ukraine possessed a striking taste for goals in Bremen.
Match Details
- Match: North Macedonia vs Ukraine
- Date: 17 June 2023
- Time: 12:15 AM
- Venue: Philip II Arena
North Macedonia vs Ukraine Prediction
We say: North Macedonia 1-2 Ukraine
While Germany dominated the possession and shooting statistical columns against Ukraine, Rebrov’s side punished their hosts’ lackadaisical defending and can be relied upon to do the same against a waning North Macedonia outfit.
The manner of the hosts’ wins over the Faroe Islands and Malta in March were far from convincing, and we can only picture Ukraine ending the Lynxes’ winning sequence to kick-start their bid for a top-two finish.
North Macedonia vs Ukraine Live Stream Time
This match will start from 12:15 AM
North Macedonia vs Ukraine Date
This match will take place on 17 June 2023
North Macedonia vs Ukraine Team News
Two of North Macedonia’s goalscorers from March’s round of fixtures will not turn out for the Lynxes here, as Aberdeen attacker Miovski and Burnley winger Churlinov – who was recently hospitalised due to blood poisoning – have been left out of the squad.
Istanbulspor midfielder Valon Ethemi has also withdrawn due to an unspecified injury, but with Napoli’s Elmas and Trabzonspor’s Enis Bardhi boasting 23 international goals between them, Milevski should not have too many selection concerns in the engine room.
Twenty-goal attacker Aleksandar Trajkovski – North Macedonia’s second-highest scorer of all time after Goran Pandev (38) – will expect to start up front alongside Udinese’s Ilija Nestorovski, who has 10 strikes to show from 50 games for the national team.
North Macedonia vs Ukraine Lineups
North Macedonia possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Velkovski, Zajkov, Musliu; Ristovski, Bardhi, Ademi, Alioski; Elmas; Nestorovski, Trajkovski
Ukraine possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Tymchyk, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko; Tsygankov, Stepanenko, Sudakov, Mudryk; Yarmolenko, Dovbyk
North Macedonia vs Ukraine Odds
- NORTH MACEDONIA TO WIN
- 1.02
- 1xbet
- DRAW
- 2.02
- Pinnacle
- UKRAINE TO WIN
- 2.91
- 1xbet
North Macedonia vs Ukraine Where To Watch Live Today Match
- United Kingdom:- BoxNation
- Germany:- DAZN, DAZN2
North Macedonia vs Ukraine Betting Tips
Tip 1:- Result – Ukraine
Tip 2:- Both team to score – yes
Tip 3:- Goal under 2.5