Ukraine welcome Slovenia to Lviv on Saturday for the first leg of their European Championships playoff encounter, with both sides looking to give themselves an advantage ahead of the decisive return fixture in Maribor on Tuesday. It's then that we'll finally find out which of these sides will qualify for next summer's tournament in France. Ukraine and Slovenia have both only ever qualified for one European Championship before, and all seems set for a very tight couple of legs.
Ukraine vs. Slovenia live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Euro 2016 qualifying online
Ukraine host Slovenia in the first leg of their Euro 2016 playoff on Saturday.
Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images
Though Ukraine will be the favorites heading into the first leg, they should be wary of the attacking threat posed by their opponents. Slovenia may well be rather reliant on good performances from goalkeeper Samir Handanović to keep things tight at the back, but in Bayer Leverkusen’s dynamic playmaker Kevin Kampl, and Fiorentina’s slick passer Josip Iličić, they’re not without talent up top. At the other end of the field, Ukraine have been lacking in star forwards since the retirement of Andriy Shevchenko, though winger Yevhen Konoplyanka will quite possibly be the most talented attacker on the field.
Key matchup: Yevhen Konoplyanka vs. Andraž Struna
Konoplyanka had long been tipped for a big move, though it only finally came when Sevilla swooped to sign the 26-year-old winger from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the summer. Though he’s not yet established himself as a starter in Unai Emery’s outfit, it only seems a matter off time. Often cutting inside off the left flank to curl a shot inside the opponent’s far post, he’s capable of pulling off match-winning moments of brilliance. It’ll be up to Slovenia right-back Andraž Struna to try and stop him.
Recent history
A recent history between these sides doesn’t actually exist; they’ve not met since the 1990s. However, during that decade they met four times in European Championship qualifiers, and it doesn’t make for especially pretty reading for Ukraine. They were held to draws in both of their home matches, and were beaten on both of their trips to Slovenia. Ukraine didn’t go on to make their major tournament debut until the 2006 World Cup, though Slovenia reaped rewards for their success in making it to Euro 2000.
Match date/time: Sat., Nov. 14, 12 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. local
Venue: Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
TV: ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish); Sportsnet regional networks (Canada); Sky Sports 1/HD (U.K.)
Online: ESPN3 (US); Sportsnet World Online (Canada); Sky Go (U.K.)
See More:
