There is a place in the last-16 of Euro 2020 up for grabs on Monday, when Ukraine face Austria in their final Group C match in Bucharest.
It’s Ukraine that hold the advantage over their opponents going into the clash, knowing that a draw will be good enough to see them qualify for the knockout stages due to goals scored.
Both teams are on three points after their opening two matches, but Andrei Shevchenko’s men have scored four goals to Austria’s three.
Attacking threat the key for the Blue and Yellow
Ukraine go into the clash in the Romanian capital with just one defeat in their last eight internationals, with that loss coming against the Netherlands in their opening match, and are available at 13/5 to claim the victory.
Even in defeat, Shevchenko’s squad showed their ability going forward, coming back from 2-0 down to level matters before Denzel Dumfries’ late winner for the Dutch.
Good luck to @Yarmolenko_7, who faces #AUT with #UKR later today!
#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/xqRbSEPyk9
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 21, 2021
Both Andrei Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk have scored two goals each in the opening two matches, with West Ham’s Yarmolenko looking the real threat to Austria on Monday.
The 31-year-old – who is 14/5 to score at anytime – is just six goals behind his manager’s national scoring record, with 42 in 96 appearances for his country making impressive reading.
Yarmolenko’s well-timed runs are likely to be too hot to handle for an Austrian defence that has kept just one clean sheet in its last nine matches.
Austria hopes could rest on Arnautovic
Although Austria kept the ball well against the Netherlands, they had no real cutting edge going forward and they will hope that changes with the return of Marko Arnautovic.
The former West Ham man is still only 32 and showed in the win over North Macedonia that he has plenty to offer his country, coming off the bench to score in the 3-1 win.
He then missed the defeat to the Dutch after being handed a one-game ban by UEFA having being found guilty of insulting another player in the North Macedonia match.
Coach Franco Foda now has the tough decision as to whether Arnautovic starts Monday’s game and it looks likely he will, which makes the 5/1 on him scoring the opener an interesting prospect.
Foda has to also decide whether star man David Alaba starts in midfield or as part of the backline. Many felt the new Real Madrid signing was wasted in the defence against the Dutch and Alaba is expected to push further forward against Ukraine.
The two nations have only met twice before, with both of those in friendly matches and there have been wins for both sides.
Austria claimed a 3-2 success in Innsbruck in 2012, with Arnautovic bagging twice, while Ukraine collected a 2-1 win in L’viv in 2011. Both teams in score in their first competitive clash can be backed at 23/20.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
