Scotland Vs Ukraine Tips
Scotland v Ukraine Tips
With the World Cup in Scotland's sights, they take on Ukraine in the World Cup Play-off with a final fixture against Wales awaiting either side. Both sides have raging emotions from their fans behind them but on this occasion, one set of fans will be left disappointed, which nation will that be? We're not far off finding out.
Cardiff trip the prize as Scots face Ukraine
With one place still up for grabs for a European nation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Scotland welcome Ukraine to Hampden Park in the playoffs on Wednesday night.
With Wales lying in wait to face the winner in an all-or-nothing showdown in Cardiff on Sunday, both the Scots and Ukrainians will be determined to take another step closer to achieving their World Cup dream.
Scots eager to build on Euros experience
Having finally ended their wait for major tournament football by reaching the European Championships last year, Scotland will be determined to land their first place at a World Cup since 1998.
Unbeaten in their last eight games, manager Steve Clarke has overseen a positive run of form for the Scots that has taken them to this position in the playoffs.
Clarke has been able to call upon the majority of his squad for the encounter in Glasgow, although Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack was ruled out through injury.
Looking back at Euro 2021, a goalless draw with eventual finalists England was all Scotland had to show for their efforts at the major tournament.
Ukraine managed to reach the quarter-finals of that European Championship and Clarke’s side will be fully aware of the size of the challenge on Wednesday.
Ukraine looking to bring a glimmer of joy
Amid the ongoing hardship back in Ukraine, the national side will be hoping to give those back home something to cheer about when they take the field in Glasgow.
Much of the squad has been together since the start of the month at a training camp in Brdo, near the Slovenian capital Ljubljana.
Playing friendlies against club sides from Germany, Italy and Croatia has been key to Ukraine’s preparations for their game against the Scots.
Head coach Oleksandr Petrakov was the man tasked with trying to get Ukraine back to their first World Cup finals since they reached the quarter-finals of the tournament in Germany back in 2006.
It certainly won’t be easy to get past the Scots on their own patch, with Scotland only losing one of their 13 games on home turf.
But with the time the squad have had in preparation and most of the world’s football public behind them, Ukraine will be looking to take that step closer to reaching this winter’s World Cup.
Little to read from history books
Looking back at the previous meetings between these two nations, there have been only two encounters, with each country winning a game each.
The last meeting came back in 2007, as goals from Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch and James McFadden got their names on the scoresheet in a 3-1 Scotland victory.
Ukrainian legend Andrei Shevchenko was the man to get on the scoresheet for the visitors that day at Hampden Park.
Wednesday provides Scotland and Ukraine the chance to update the history books and for the winner, it will be full steam ahead to Cardiff on Sunday.