European Under-21 Championships: Ukraine v England

Under 21 European Championships / Tobias Gourlay / 14 June 2011 /

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Ukraine's defence must respect Kyle Walker's desire to get forward down the right flank

"Despite a free-flowing first half with the Czechs, Ukraine’s most touted attackers, Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko, were disappointing"

Without their skipper at the helm, Ukraine are a sinking ship, believes Tobias Gourlay

Ukraine

Taras Stepanenko, Ukraine's captain, has been ruled out of the tournament by the groin injury he aggravated in his country's defeat to the Czech Republic on Sunday. The right-back Yaroslav Rakitskiy could take Stepanenko's armband and his place as a deep-lying midfielder.

Despite a free-flowing first half with the Czechs, Ukraine's most touted attackers, Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko, were disappointing. Maxym Biliy came off the bench, looked creative and scored. He should start this time.

England

England's defensive unit kept its shape well against Spain and the individuals within it should now keep their places against Ukraine. The rest of the team cannot be so confident of getting another chance.

Stuart Pearce withdrew his captain, Michael Mancienne, from the Spain match with almost half an hour still left. Mancienne's replacement as a holding midfielder, Jack Rodwell, looked much sharper than the converted defender and might be asked to play from the start against Ukraine. One of the Manchester United centre-halves, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, would probably then be given the captain's armband.

Match Odds

Ukraine beat England 2-1 in the final of the Under-19 European Championships a couple of years. Three Ukrainians and five Englishmen who started that match are now in Denmark. This time, Ukraine do not have home advantage and England are [1.83] favourites.

Without the quick-passing Stepanenko to give the forwards head starts on the counter-attack, Ukraine could struggle to break through an English defence that looks as physically mature and well organised as its Czech counterpart.

At the other end, England's dashing right-back, Kyle Walker, and perhaps a dashing midfielder - if Pearce dares pick Marc Albrighton - will threaten a Ukrainian back four that looked like it might be error-prone.

England are the pick.

Over/Under Goals

Both teams scored in each of these teams' opening games. That doesn't often happen so early in tournaments. England will have more of the ball than they did against Spain and if Pearce were to play a 4-3-3 with all of Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck and Scott Sinclair, his attack would be potent and his midfield outnumbered. In this case, Over 2.5 Goals would be too long at [2.12].

Best Bet: Back England U21 @ [1.83]

Follow Tobias on Twitter: @tobiasgourlay

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