European Championship Qualification: Ukraine vs Iceland

March 26, 2024

Iceland take on Ukraine in a one-off play-off final at the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland on Tuesday evening, March 26.

All in all, the Nordic side are no stranger to successes over Ukraine, clinching a 2-0 victory in September 2017, during a World Cup qualifier, while two of the other three meetings between the current play-off opponents have ended all square.

Ukraine, on the other hand, had beat Iceland 1-0 in a European Championship qualifier back in September 1999.

Iceland Betting Preview (+525 at Everygame)

Age Hareide's side will face Ukraine after a remarkable 4-1 victory over Israel in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday evening. As their last opponents, Ukraine are not able to really host their matches due to the ongoing war in the country, so Iceland will hope to claim another massive victory.

Iceland's greatest football accomplishment is reaching the quarterfinals of the UEFA European Championship in 2016. This was a historic achievement for Iceland, marking their first-ever appearance in a major international tournament.

During their legendary French summer, Iceland famously defeated England in the Round of 16 before eventually being eliminated by France in the quarterfinals. Iceland's performance in Euro 2016 captured the imagination of soccer fans worldwide and showcased the country's remarkable progress in the game despite its small population.

Blackburn Rovers winger Arnór Sigurdsson picked up an injury in the victory against Israel last time out and won't be available for the crucial play-off against Ukraine on Tuesday night.

Ukraine Betting Preview (-182 at Everygame)

Given the ongoing conflict in the Eastern European country, it would be a remarkable achievement if Ukraine were to qualify for Euro 2024. Ukraine have not been able to play a home match in over two years, but potentially stand just 90 minutes away from their fourth consecutive European Championship.

Serhiy Rebrov’s side mounted a late comeback win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on Thursday night. The Blue and Yellow were inspired by substitute Roman Yaremchuk, who equalized for Ukraine in the 85^th minute before turning provider for fellow La Liga forward Artem Dovbyk to head home the winner only a few minutes later (88^th minute), thereby keeping Ukraine's qualification hopes alive in unbelievable circumstances.

Ukraine has a notable presence in international football and has achieved several significant accomplishments over the years. The Ukrainian national football team has qualified for multiple FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships. Additionally, Ukraine's domestic football league, the Ukrainian Premier League, features several competitive teams that have participated in European club competitions.

Moreover, Ukraine has produced many talented footballers who have had successful careers both domestically and internationally. While they may not always be considered among the world's absolute elite in football, Ukraine consistently fields a competitive national team and contributes to the global football landscape.

Ukraine's greatest ever football accomplishment is reaching the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup in 2006. This marked the first and only time Ukraine has reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

In the 2006 tournament held in Germany, Ukraine finished at the top of their group, defeating Saudi Arabia and Tunisia and drawing with Spain. In the Round of 16, they defeated Switzerland in a penalty shootout before being eliminated by Italy in the quarterfinals. This achievement remains a significant milestone in Ukrainian football history.

When it comes to the Euros, their greatest ever football accomplishment in the UEFA European Championship is reaching the quarterfinals in Euro 2020.

In that tournament, held in 2021 due to postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ukraine advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Sweden in the Round of 16. Although they were eventually eliminated by England in the quarterfinals, their journey to the last eight marked a historic achievement for Ukrainian football in the European Championship.

Volodymyr Brazhko made his international debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina so the 22-year-old Dynamo Kyiv midfielder could hope for another start against Iceland.

Possible Starting Lineups of Ukraine and Iceland

Ukraine: Andriy Lunin - Yukhym Konoplya, Illya Zabarnyi, Mykola Matviyenko, Vitaliy Mykolenko - Oleksandr Zinchenko, Volodymyr Brazhko - Mykhailo Mudryk, Georgiy Sudakov, Oleksandr Zubkov - Artem Dovbyk. (4-2-3-1)

Iceland: Hakon Valdimarsson - Gudmundur Thórarinsson, Daníel Leo Gretarsson, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Victor Pálsson - Willum Thór Willumsson, Arnor Ingvi Traustason, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, Mikael Anderson - Orri Oskarsson, Albert Gudmundsson. (4-4-2)

Spooky Express Free Play: Over 2.5 Goals +105 at Everygame for 5/10 Units

Return to Soccer Previews List