Denmark will host Ukraine at the Odense Isstadion on Sunday evening in what will be their final international friendly match this summer. This matchup follows Denmark’s 0-0 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ukraine’s 2-0 victory over Poland in Wroclaw.
Match Preview: Denmark vs Ukraine
Denmark, currently ranked 20th in the FIFA World Rankings, missed out on a World Cup spot after finishing second in their qualification Group C. The team ended their qualifying campaign with a disappointing 4-2 loss to Scotland. Despite a strong semi-final performance against North Macedonia, which they won 4-0, they ultimately fell short in the playoffs against the Czech Republic, losing in penalties after a 2-2 draw in regular time.
Ukraine also faced struggles in their World Cup qualifying journey. Finishing second in Group D behind France, they were eliminated in the playoff semi-finals with a 3-1 defeat to Sweden, which marked their fifth consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. Their only appearance in the finals was in 2006. However, Ukraine has rebounded since their playoff exit, securing back-to-back wins against Albania and Poland.
Historical Context
Historically, Denmark has had a strong record against Ukraine on home soil. The last encounter during the 2006 World Cup qualifying saw Ukraine edge Denmark 1-0 in Kyiv, thanks to a goal from Andriy Voronin.
Team News
Denmark’s squad will be without key players who have retired, including Christian Norgaard, Kasper Schmeichel, and Jannik Vestergard. Additionally, Mikkel Damsgaard and Gustav Isaken are not included in this month’s lineup. Coach Brian Riemer may make several changes following the last match, with potential starters including William Osula and Mads Hermansen.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s coach Andrea Maldera, enjoying a successful start, is unlikely to alter his squad significantly. Roman Yaremchuk is expected to continue as the primary striker after his performance against Poland, and Mykola Matviienko will likely step in for Illia Zabarnyi in defense.
Projected Lineups
| Denmark | Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Hermansen | Trubin |
| Kristensen | Bondar |
| Christensen | Sarapiy |
| Andersen | Matviienko |
| Maehle | Mykolenko |
| Eriksen | Ocheretko |
| Hojberg | Nazaryna |
| Jensen | Yarmolenko |
| Daghim | Tsygankov |
| Osula | Sudakov |
| Dorgu | Yaremchuk |
Match Prediction
As Denmark looks to improve their recent performance, the match against Ukraine promises to be a competitive clash. Both teams are eager to build on their recent form, but the prediction leans towards a tightly contested match ending in a 1-1 draw. This result would be beneficial for Denmark as they prepare for the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign.
