Slovakia has the opportunity to secure a spot in the Euro 2024 knockouts with a game to spare, but Ukraine will be looking to spoil their chances. Slovakia’s victory over Belgium in their opening Group E fixture was a historic moment, thanks to Ivan Schranz’s sensational strike. If results go their way, Slovakia could find themselves in the knockout stage even faster than they did in 2016.
On the other hand, Ukraine had a disastrous start to the tournament, suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat to underdogs Romania. Goals from Nicolae Stanciu, Denis Dragus, and Razvan Marin put Ukraine at the bottom of the group. However, in football, one positive result can turn everything around, so this match is perfectly poised to be a thrilling encounter.
The Slovakia vs Ukraine match is scheduled to take place today, Friday, June 21 at 2pm BST (3pm local time). The Dusseldorf Arena will be the venue for this contest, with a capacity of approximately 54,600 fans. The last time these two teams met in a 2018 Nations League tie, Slovakia emerged victorious with a convincing 4-1 win.
For those in the UK, the match will be broadcast live on BBC One. Coverage is expected to start at 1:30pm BST, half an hour before kick-off. Fans can also stream the game on BBC iPlayer using a compatible tablet or mobile phone. Alternatively, Sunsport will provide minute-by-minute updates of the entire match.
In terms of team news, Slovakian head coach Francesco Calzona is not expected to make any changes from the opening win against Belgium. Ondrej Duda, who suffered cramp late on in that game, is not a concern for this upcoming fixture. However, Ukraine’s Vitliy Mykolenko, who missed their defeat to Romania due to a foot injury, is likely to be ruled out of the match against Slovakia as well.
For those in the UK, the match can be watched for free with a valid TV license. The odds for the match are as follows: Slovakia – 27/10, Draw – 12/5, Ukraine – 21/20 (odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at the time of publication).
Overall, this match between Slovakia and Ukraine promises to be an exciting clash, with both teams looking to make their mark in the tournament. Slovakia will be aiming to secure their spot in the knockout stage, while Ukraine will be desperate to bounce back from their disappointing start. Football fans are in for a treat as these two teams battle it out on the field.