Romania vs Ukraine prediction: EUROPE: Euro betting tips on match 2024-06-16 13:00.
[p]Recent results underline that Romania are not in peak form ahead of Euro 2024, so head coach Edward Iordănescu will be hoping that his side are saving their best performances for when it really matters. Back-to-back 0-0 draws in warm-up games against Bulgaria and Liechtenstein have made it four winless outings (D3, L1) for a country playing at their first major tournament in eight years.[/p]
[p]Perhaps a move away from friendlies will spark the Tricolours into life, given that they are unbeaten in competitive internationals since losing 3-0 to Montenegro in June 2022 (W7, D5)! History suggests that they are unlikely to register an eighth victory in this clash though, as Romania have never won their opening game at a European Championships (D3, L2). [/p]
[p]That could be good news for opponents Ukraine, who are looking to rack up a fourth successive H2H triumph. The Blue and Yellows, who beat Bosnia and Iceland in play-off encounters to reach the Euros, will hope that trend continues as they attempt to reach the knockout phase of this competition for just the second time, having made it to the quarter-finals three years ago.[/p]
[p]They certainly seem to have found a bit of form, registering their biggest success since September 2022 by beating Moldova 4-0 in their final warm-up match before flying out to Germany. After that game, manager Serhiy Rebrov called on his players to provide supporters back home with something to cheer, citing the conflict with Russia as a reason to give “everything for the country”.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Forward George Pușcaș has helped Romania to victory in eight of the nine internationals in which he has scored (D1). Extending that record will not be easy against goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who has lost only one of his 12 matches for Ukraine (W7, D4), keeping six clean sheets in the process.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Romania have scored first in just four of their previous 16 games at the European Championships.[/p]