Ukraine vs Italy Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds

Ukraine and Italy will square off in a crucial Euro 2024 qualification match on Monday, with both teams vying for second place in Group C and a place in next summer's European Championship.

Italy is currently second in the group and will qualify if they avoid defeat against Ukraine, but a win over the Blues would guarantee their place in the finals.

Ukraine had only one point from their two Euro 2024 qualification matches in September against England and Italy, but they responded impressively in October, beating both North Macedonia and Malta to move onto 13 points in Group C.

Serhiy Rebrov's team is third in the group but tied on points with Italy, so a win on Monday evening would put them second behind England and guarantee them a place at Euro 2024.

Ukraine's hopes of competing in the tournament would not be dashed if they were unable to defeat Italy, as they are well-positioned for a playoff in UEFA Nations League B, though this is not guaranteed.

The Blue and Yellows did not compete in the 2022 World Cup finals, but they did qualify for Euro 2020, reaching the quarter-finals before losing 4-0 to England in the final eight.

Ukraine has never beaten Italy in an international match, having lost seven of their previous nine meetings, including a 2-1 defeat in Group C in September.

Italy, as previously stated, will qualify for Euro 2024 if they win or draw against Ukraine, but if they do not finish in the top two, the Blues will be guaranteed a UEFA Nations League A playoff spot.

Luciano Spalletti's side lost 3-1 to England last month, but they were back on track on Friday evening, winning 5-2 over North Macedonia to take control of second place.

The Blues were three goals up against North Macedonia in Rome when the visitors equalized in the 74th minute, but the hosts went on to score twice more in the second half to secure all three points.

Italy is the reigning European champion, having defeated England on penalties to win Euro 2020, their second victory in the tournament after 1968.

Gli Azzurri have amazingly failed to qualify for the last two World Cup finals, with their campaigns in both 2010 and 2014 ending in the group stage, so it has been a difficult period for the national side at the global level since capturing the trophy in Germany in 2006.

Artem Dovbyk, who plays for La Liga leaders Girona, is expected to lead Ukraine's attack. The 26-year-old has seven international goals.

Chelsea's Mykhaylo Mudryk is also expected to play in a forward position, while Yukhym Konoplya could be used further forward to provide some protection on the right.

Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal is the captain, and he will play in central midfield, while fellow Premier League players Vitalii Mykolenko of Everton and Illya Zabarnyi of Bournemouth should also be included.

As for Italy, head coach Luciano Spalletti could name the same starting lineup that faced North Macedonia on Friday night, assuming there are no fitness issues in the lead-up to this game.

Federico Chiesa scored twice and should continue on the left, while Domenico Berardi and Giacomo Raspadori are also expected to play in the final third.

Last time out, Nicolo Barella, Jorginho, and Giacomo Bonaventura were the midfield three, and they should return, though Nicolo Zaniolo and Davide Frattesi are options if Spalletti wants to shake things up.
 

 

Ukraine possible starting lineup: Trubin; Karavaev, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko; Sydorchuk, Zinchenko; Konoplya, Sudakov, Mudryk; Dovbyk Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Darmian, Gatti, Acerbi, Dimarco; Barella, Jorginho, Bonaventura; Berardi, Raspadori, Chiesa

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