Poland – UKRAINE. Match Prediction and Announcement – Friendly Matches

On November 11, the Ukraine team will play a test match with the Poland team. The game will take place in Chorzów at the Šlenski Stadium. Unfortunately, the fight will be held without spectators due to the coronavirus epidemic.

For both teams, the “freight train” will be the last rehearsal on the eve of the decisive Nations League matches. After the “appointment” with the Poles, the Ukrainians will play with the national teams of Germany and Switzerland. In principle, the Ukrainians, after four rounds, have not lost their chances even for first place (we, like the Germans, have six points, one point less than the Spanish). But if you really look at things, then our main task is to maintain an elite residency in this tournament and beyond. But the Poles are at the top of their League of Nations group. After the match with Ukraine, they will have two important fights: against the teams of Italy and the Netherlands. In general, even four points obtained can guarantee the first final place “rojiblanco”.

Opponents approach a face-to-face meeting in the context of notable personnel problems. In that sense, COVID-19 sounds again an alarming refrain, but not only that: there are quite a few injured on both sides of the “barricades”. However, according to the mentor of the Poles, Brzecek, despite all sorts of difficulties, in the game with the Ukrainians, he will give a break to the leaders of the “representation”. In addition, the coach will not be able to count on Eibar midfielder Kandzor: Damian is now in trouble at the club, and the player asked not to call him for the next national team matches. The Fiorentina goalkeeper Drongovski and the Legia Karbovnik defender will not be able to play due to the coronavirus.

Brzecek’s problems are much more serious. It is not the same, of course, as before the game against the French team, but the color of Andriy Shevchenko’s mood is probably far from optimistic. The main losses are Dynamo, who is sick with coronavirus. In addition, there are many injured. As a result, at least the defense line of our national team in the game with the Poles will be experimental.

Shevchenko is unlikely to lay down the usual Matvienko-Kryvtsov pair of center-backs, as Sergei hasn’t had play practice lately. Most likely, his partner Bondar is paired with Matvienko. A tough question is also about the right wing of the defense. Only hemp is available in this position. There are not many options on the opposite flank: Sobol or Mikhailichenko.

But among midfielders there is no problem of choice. There is more likely a real headache: who to choose, because there are actually two candidates for each position. On the one hand, among the midfield players there are, let’s say, more familiar and traditional candidates claiming the main squad, and there are “substitutes”. However, it is not a fact that Andrei Nikolaevich will put all the leaders in Chorzów at once: he will most likely protect some players for the Nations League matches.

The party promises to be competitive and combative. The rivals are at the same level. And they are similar in the way they play. The experimental aspect of our defense is offset by the absence of their main star, Robert Lewandowski, from the hosts’ starting lineup. Therefore, most likely, the fight will not be full of dangerous moments, but will have a “closed” character, and the fate of the confrontation can be decided with an effective blow.

The Chorzów match will be the ninth match between the Ukrainian and Polish teams. So far, there is complete parity in the relationship: the teams won three victories each, two more matches ended in a draw.

Jerzy BZHECEK, coach of the Polish national team:

– Players who participated in the Champions League and Europa League matches, as well as playing a lot for their clubs in the national championships, will rest in the match with Ukraine. And this applies not only to Robert Lewandowski. As in October, we will rotate the squad and hardly anyone will play all three games on the field. In general, this will depend on the health of the players. Despite this, in all three fights we will strive to win.

Andrey Shevchenko, Head coach of the national team of Ukraine:

– I am glad that we will play against the Polish team. The team has contributed a lot in the last ten years. Great team and we are happy to play with this opponent. Perhaps the moment is not the best, which is associated with the coronavirus. I think that, like my colleague, we think to give the opportunity to play to those who have played little, to give the opportunity to prove their worth. The game is sure to be intense.

Approximate compositions:

Poland selection: Schensny, Kendera, Glick, Bednarek, Retza, Grositsky, Klich, Linetti, Guralsky, Yuzhvyak, Milik.

Ukraine national team: Lunin, Konoplya, Matvienko, Bondar, Sobol, Stepanenko, Zinchenko, Zubkov, Tsygankov, Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk.

November 11, Wednesday