Euro 2024 qualifier: England vs Ukraine verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets
England manager Gareth Southgate
After kicking off their European qualifying campaign with a big win in Italy, England will be intent on continuing their momentum against Ukraine this Sunday at Wembley.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Euro 2024 qualifiers, Sunday, March 26, Kick-off 5.00pm, live on Channel 4
Predicted score
England 3-1 Ukraine
Suggested bets
England to win with a two-goal winning margin
Both teams to score
Key stats
Five of England's last eight games at Wembley saw the 'both teams to score' bet land
Ukraine have won just one of their last four competitive games
England have lost just one of their last seven matches
Ukraine's last visit to Great Britain ended in a 3-0 defeat to Scotland in September
Ukraine have failed to score in just two of their last seven outings
Previous meetings
2020 Euros: Ukraine 0-4 England - July, 2021
2014 WC Quals: Ukraine 0-0 England - September, 2013
2014 WC Quals: England 1-1 Ukraine - September, 2012
2012 Euros: England 1-0 Ukraine - June, 2012
2010 WC Quals: Ukraine 1-0 England - October, 2009
Team news
England are without the injured quartet of Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount, Nick Pope and Raheem Sterling during this international break.
Luckily for Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions came away unscathed against Italy on Thursday when it comes to injuries.
However, Luke Shaw's sending off could give Ben Chilwell an opportunity to feature on the left.
Chelsea man Mykhailo Mudryk could start for Ukraine as he looks to net his first senior international goal.
Recent form
In their first outing since the heart-breaking World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, England were able to return to winning ways with a 2-1 success against Italy.
The victory in Naples marked England's first away win in Italy since 1961. Harry Kane made sure to mark the occasion with his own landmark goal as he became England's all-time leading goalscorer.
Scoring twice against the reigning European champions in their own back yard is no easy feat. In fact, the Three Lions became the first team to achieve the rare accolade since Spain back in October 2021.
Ukraine didn't qualify for the 2022 World Cup, meaning their last competitive outing was a goalless draw with Scotland in September 2022.
The eastern European side have won just one of their last four competitive matches - that being a 5-0 demolition over Armenia in the UEFA Nations League.
What has been said?
England boss Gareth Southgate admitted the Three Lions need to perform better than they did in the second half with Italy.
He said: "If you start any half of football the way we started the second, you're going to be in trouble and we concede a really poor goal. Several errors in the lead up to it, decisions. And then of course, the emotion of the whole evening changes.
"You are giving the crowd a lift, you are giving the opposition a lift. You have got to deal with momentum.
"We then have to deal with going down to 10 but actually I think we found a way we could be as compact as we could with extra energy to deal with that."
Looking ahead to Sunday's encounter, interim Ukraine head coach Ruslan Rotan said: "This is a match not only of players and coaches, but a match of the whole country.
"I want to thank the people of Great Britain for supporting us in the war our country is waging against the enemy. Everyone's support is very important to us. We are very grateful to you for her.
"I believe this is also a match for our warriors. What is happening in Ukraine now is very scary. We must be motivated to please them both with the game and the result, to give emotions that our people lack now."
Verdict
While England possess a potent attacking threat, there are serious questions over their current defensive structure.
Harry Maguire, who remained in Southgate's starting line-up in spite of his worrying form for Manchester United, committed a string of errors during a nervy second half in Italy.
England have only kept three clean sheets from their last nine outings - with all three coming at the World Cup against USA, Wales and Senegal.
Ukraine will be aware of those facts as they look to kick off their qualifying campaign with an impressive performance at Wembley.
However, Rotan's men will also bear in mind their most recent encounter against the English at the home of football, which ended in a 4-0 thumping during the 2020 European Championships.
Five of England's last 8 games at Wembley have seen 'both teams to score' land, and considering the defensive vulnerabilities of Southgate's side, that is the way to go on Sunday.
England to win and over 2.5 goals is another enticing option as the Three Lions look to keep the heat on their qualifying rivals.
