Our prediction for this match:
Following a 3-1 loss to Poland, Ukraine will look to give fans some cheer when they face Moldova in their last warm-up game. The Yellow-Blues have big ambitions for EURO 2024 finals and they surely want to impress in their final preparation game. All Zinchenko, Mudryk, and Tsygankov should be recalled to the starting XI after the trio was rested in the defeat to Poland.
The Moldovans, on the other hand, did remarkably well to beat Israel 3-2 at the weekend, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against Ukraine. In their last meeting on the international stage, back in 2014, Ukraine defeated Moldova 1-0 thanks to Roman Bezus’ goal and we predict that history is going to repeat itself. As for the home side, AEL Larissa midfielder Victor Stina should be recalled to the starting XI after scoring as a substitute in the last warm-up match.
Highlighted Player (Andriy Yarmolenko):
Arguably the most exciting Ukrainian player at the moment, Andriy Yarmolenko is the 26-year-old forward, who can play wide as a winger and fill in numerous positions in attack. Over the past few years there has been a gathering feeling that the player has outgrown the Ukrainian League and that with the player surpassing the 200-game mark for Dynamo Kyiv Yarmolenko should be heading west to Europe’s brighter stage.
Wanted and scouted by Spanish giants Barcelona, Yarmolenko attracted interest from many other clubs, predominantly from the Premier League, and was even close to joining Everton in summer 2016, but the Goodison outfit’s offer came too late to the Ukrainian club.
Talented forward is a free-scoring machine who has already scored more than 115 goals for the club he spent his entire career with. The two-footed winger is equally adept through the middle and is a versatile force that would be a good addition to any self-respecting European side.
Yarmolenko made hi Ukraine debut in 2009 and has so far been capped 63 times, during which he scored 26 goals for the national set-up.
Highlighted Team (Moldova):
Seeing that they were a part of Soviet Union until 1991, Moldova played their first game as an independent country on July 2, 1991. The Moldovans were beaten by Georgina in front of home fans in Chisinau, but the following year the team recorded their biggest win on the international stage as they rolled over Pakistan 5-0 in Amman, Jordan.
The former Soviet republic have yet to qualify for the finals of the World Cup or the European Championship, but they recorded a couple of thrilling wins in the past. Moldova crushed Montenegro 5-2 in Podgorica in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, but they eventually failed to book their place at the showpiece tournament in Brazil.
The Moldovans were producing fine showings under Igor Dobrovolskiy in the 2008 European Championship qualifiers as well and it has to be noted that they hammered Hungary 3-0 at Stadionul Zimbru on November 17, 2007. Russian Premier League star Alexandru Gatcan is considered one of the most famous Moldavian footballers.