North Macedonia vs Ukraine prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-06-15 18:45.
The battle for a top-two spot and EURO 2024 qualification (ECQ) in Group C looks tough from the outset for both North Macedonia and Ukraine, with this game potentially proving pivotal as both nations look to upset the odds. The North Macedonians got off to a perfect start with a 2-1 win over Malta, but this promises to be a much tougher assignment against a nation that helped condemn them to a group stage elimination at the previous tournament.
That was North Macedonia’s first-ever major tournament appearance as an independent nation and with games against England and Italy waiting in the wings, this feels like a must-win if they’re to make it two. The hosts posted a respectable record in the last ECQ cycle (W4, D2, L4) and whilst three of those wins came at home, they only managed to defeat the bottom-three sides in the group.
Ukraine perhaps have something of an advantage here after playing their first game of this international schedule in a 3-3 friendly draw against Euro 2024 hosts Germany in midweek. Although the embattled nation dropped a 3-1 lead with less than ten minutes of regulation time remaining, it must be seen as a positive start to the Serhiy Rebrov regime after his appointment as manager last week.
After a disappointing, yet ultimately expected defeat away to England in the opening round, Ukraine look to bounce back in their quest to qualify for a fourth-straight European Championship. They would have to win all of their remaining games if they were to better their previous qualification campaign, a seemingly unlikely proposition given that they’ve failed to win five of their last seven internationals (W2, D3, L2).
Players to watch: North Macedonia’s prized asset, Napoli’s Eljif Elmas, justified his Scudetto-winning worth by scoring first in North Macedonia’s 2-1 opening-round ECQ victory. Trying to outdo him could be Ukraine’s Viktor Tsygankov, who scored either side of half time against Germany during the week to take his senior international tally to nine goals.
Hot stat: Ukraine haven’t failed to win three straight ECQ away games since 2007, they enter this on the back of a two-game winless away run in this sphere.