For Ukraine and Northern Ireland, nothing has changed really. Both the teams would not have expected to garner much against Germany and Poland respectively, but spirited showings from both the teams will increase the hopes of supporters, expecting their teams to do more than just make up the numbers.
For large swathes of the game against Germany, Ukraine looked a spirited and lively unit, constantly threatening the German goal with fast counter-attacks down the flanks. Indeed, were it not for Manuel Neuer in goal and some goal-line heroics from Jerome Boateng, Ukraine would not have returned from the match empty handed.
Northern Ireland also put up a good fight against Poland. They managed to keep the main attacking threat of the Poles, Robert Lewandowski, relatively quiet all night. A solitary goal from Arek Milik and some good defending saw Poland bag all three points.
Thursday’s match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland might very well decide who bags the coveted 3rd position in the group. With changes in the format of the tournament, 4 best 3rd place finishers will progress to the next round.
Here we showcase 5 players who might play a decisive role for their respective teams on Thursday.
#1 Andriy Yarmolenko
Yarmolenko is by far the most well-known of all the current Ukrainian players, having been the subject of a lot of transfer speculation over the past one year. On his day, the mercurial winger can dazzle the best of defences with his mazy dribbling.
He is fast, a good crosser of the ball and excellent as an outlet for teams who play on the counter. Yarmolenko has recently been in the spotlight having kicked out at international teammate Taras Stepanenko in a heated match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian league.
Disciplinary issues aside, the winger remains a coveted attacking asset and will pose the biggest challenge to the Northern Ireland defence come Thursday.
#2 Yevhen Konoplyanka
Konoplyanka plies his trade with Sevilla in the Spanish La Liga and played an important role in their Europa league conquest in 2015-16. Having switched to the Spanish outfit in July 2015 on a free transfer from Dnipro, he enjoyed a stellar season.
Although he made a total of 52 appearances and managed 8 goals and 9 assists, his effectivity on a football pitch cannot be realised through statistics alone. Often talked up as the European Messi, he is another player adept at taking on defenders down the wings, and is a good outlet on counters.
Adept at playing with both feet, he will pose a threat to the Irish with his direct running and sublime passing skills in the final third. Konoplayanka and Yarmolenko can really tear apart any defence with their abilities, as they showed against Germany, and the Irish will have to ensure they are marked well.
#3 Andriy Pyatov
The Ukrainian shot stopper might be a surprise inclusion in this list but his performance against Germany merits his inclusion. The 31-year-old shot-stopper pulled off a number of sublime saves to keep his team in the hunt till the end.
The 1.9 meter tall Pyatov was awarded the best player in the Ukrainian league in 09/10 season. In 2015-16, he managed a total of 13 clean sheets in the 32 matches he took part in. His height is his greatest attribute which allows him to deal with high balls into the box with relative ease.
With the Irish relying on a long ball strategy and set pieces, Pyatov’s presence in goal will be essential for the backline.
#4 Steven Davis
Steven Davis, the captain of Northern Ireland makes it into this list simply on the back of his indomitable spirit. He is best described as a combative midfielder, much of Gennaro Gattuso’s ilk. Davis has made 83 appearances for the national side and scored 8 goals.
After winning the 2010-11 Scottish League title with Rangers, he made a switch to the Premier League and joined Southampton. However, injuries have hampered his number of appearances since then and over 4 seasons, he has made a total of 155 appearances in all competitions for the Saints.
Davis made his international debut way back in 2005, and has since then, overseen the transformation of Northern Ireland from minnows to a respectable unit. Davis broke a record of sorts in the first match of Euro 2016 for Northern Ireland, when he along with Alvaro Morata of Spain became the first to kick off the start of the match alone.
Expect Davis to put in a typical all-round show, consisting of providing defensive cover as well as attacking impetus on Thursday. Win or lose, the Northern Ireland captain will leave no blade of grass untouched as he looks to lead his country’s charge.
#5 Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans is possibly the most well-known face in the Northern Ireland ranks, having been a member of the Manchester United squad from 2006 to 2015. Evans, who is a United youth product, graduated to the first team in 2006, the same year he made his international debut.
Having been part of the United squad that won almost every club level competition from 2006-11, he is no stranger to success. Evans has won 49 caps for his country and scored a solitary goal. Injuries have kept him from earning more caps despite spending almost a decade at the heart of the Irish backline. He averages only 5 international appearances a year.
Despite his injury troubles, Evans remains a talented defender who reads the game well. Rather than rely on brute force, Evans uses a good tactical sense to identify danger before it arrives and snuffs it out. His sense of positioning is remarkable and although he never quite became a permanent fixture in the United defence due to injuries, Sir Alex Ferguson’s persistence with him should speak volumes of his ability.
Come Thursday, fans of Northern Ireland shall fervently hope their defensive stalwart can quell the threat posed by the Ukrainian attack, effectively.
