Ukraine Vs Germany
Ukraine Vs Germany Saturday 10 October 2020 – 19:45 (GMT)
UEFA Nations League
Pick: Germany -1.5 Asian Handicap
Odds: 9/10
Bookmaker: 888Sport
(All beting odds correct at time of writing: 7 October 2020)
Preview: Numbers are thin on the ground for the hosts, whose task on Saturday is no small feat either, as Ukraine prepare to welcome Germany to the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev for this UEFA Nations League Group A4 fixture.
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Table of Contents
Ukraine Preview – Spate of withdrawals denting appeal?
The effects of the virus has had a big impact on the personnel available to Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko, whose squad has been ravaged and reduced to largely fringe players or promising up-and-coming youngsters. So desperate is the situation that the former AC Milan legend felt compelled to call up a retired goalkeeper, 45-year-old Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, to cover for the previously uncapped Heorhiy Bucschan.
The latter would make his debut for the senior side in Wednesday’s friendly with France in Paris. Unfortunately for the 26-year-old, who has made less than 40 appearances over a nine-year stint for Dynamo Kiev, spent the majority of it picking the ball out of his net. Ukraine shipping seven in a crushing 7-1 defeat. A result, and performance, which only served to expose the limitations of a depleted squad.
Consequently, adding to the three points already earned in this group could prove troublesome for The Yellow and Blue. Opening their accounts in Group A4 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Switzerland – their ninth win in ten (D1) on home soil – they would then be put to the sword over in Spain, who ran rampant in a comprehensive 4-0 win in Madrid.
Germany Preview – Scoring first could be precarious move?
An inability to capitalise on leads has become a recurring theme for Germany in recent games, something which was prevalent in their opening two contests in this competition and has hampered their efforts in staking a foothold in Group A4. As despite netting the usually all-important first goal against both Spain and Switzerland, the Germans were forced to settle for a point in each following successive 1-1 draws.
It leaves Die Mannschaft on two points out of six. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s six-goal spectacle in Cologne meant a third consecutive drawn encounter for Joachim Low and his team, who paid a heavy price for an error-strewn display in a 3-3 scoreline in which they held the lead on three separate occasions but lacked the necessary composure or resolve to stick it out and hold out for the win.
The positives to be taken from midweek were maiden strikes from Florian Neuhaus and Luca Waldschmidt, while the absence of Leroy Sane didn’t appear to hamper the German offensive effort. Furthermore, the squad is in a much healthier state when compared to their opposite numbers – with Ukraine, a country they’ve never beaten away from home, currently decimated, demoralised and seemingly there for the taking.
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Ukraine Vs Germany Betting Advice
A first competitive meeting between the two countries since a 2-0 victory for Germany during the group stage for the 2016 European Championship finals. Overall they have met on six occasions, with Germany unbeaten so far with three wins and as many draws, although they are yet to win in Ukraine who are without defeat at home for ten matches (W9 D1).
Ukraine Vs Germany – Key Facts:
- Nine wins and one draw across the last ten home internationals for Ukraine, whose last home defeat came nearly three years to the day ago (0-2 vs Croatia, 9 Oct 2017).
- By drawing 1-1 in Switzerland last time out in this group, Germany would fail to win a competitive away fixture for the first time in five such games (W4 D1).
- Across six prior head-to-head meetings (including friendlies) Germany (W3 D3) have never lost to Ukraine, with the latter at least unbeaten in home meetings (D3).
The Germans are on the short side but should encounter scant resistance in Kiev, which would naturally be a first considering their record there. Quite simply Ukraine aren’t at full strength, which was clearly in evidence in Wednesday’s crushing defeat in Paris to France. Germany aren’t exactly in tip-top shape themselves, and did draw for the third match running in midweek, but are nevertheless expected to run up a comfortable success versus their depleted hosts.
Best Betting Odds – Ukraine Vs Germany
Ukraine – 10/1 (BetVictor)
Draw – 9/2 (Bet365)
Germany – 4/11 (Unibet)
