England take on Ukraine once again in European Competition, after dispatching them 4-0 in the Euro 2020 Quarter-Finals on route to the Final at Wembley. Back at Wembley tonight, England will be confident they can push on from their 2-1 win against the holders Italy in midweek to build a gap at the top of Group C.
If you’re planning on placing a bet builder on the game, you’ll want to take a read through this stats pack first. I’ve compiled the stats for shots, goals, corners, fouls and cards to assist you in picking from most betting markets. If that one assist isn’t enough, I’ve also put my Stats Pack Guide on a plate for you. Your job is to finish it off with a winner.
starting Lineups
After beating Italy, I fully expect Gareth Southgate to keep faith in much of his starting team. Luke Shaw is the obvious change after receiving two quick-fire bookings in Naples, with Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell likely to make his first England appearance since November 2021 against San Marino.
Jude Bellingham will retains his spot in a slightly more advanced position than we saw at the World Cup, with James Maddison, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane, pushing on in front of him.
The Ukrainians are yet to play their first qualifier, and so predicting their lineup is a bit tougher. They last played in the Nations League in September in a 0-0 draw against Scotland.
Their strengths are very much feature on the left flank, with Premier League stars Mykhaylo Mudryk, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Vitaliy Mykolenko all expected to start. Former West Ham man Andriy Yarmolenko is returning from a hamstring injury and is probable to be used as a substitute.
Team Stats
England’s stats from the 2022 calendar year are not favourable. They registered a healthy xG of 1.79 but converted that into just 1.18 goals per game. Credit to the chance creation, but not so much to the finishing.
They do tend to dominate the ball, and that explains their high corner count and low card count. They did tally up 4 cards and just 3 corners against the Italians though.
Ukraine had a much better 2022 international, although did play in a lower Nations League group. They dominate every department and will hope to continue that at Wembley.
They’re great for cards too, receiving an average of 2.40 in their direction from the referee.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both managed a shot on target a piece against Italy, and quite a few stats pack users picked them out given they average 2.18 and 1.36 shots on target p/90 for England in 2022.
Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice also managed an attempt on target each.
Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk’s shot numbers are massively skewed by his lack of starts, averaging just 12 minute appearances. If he starts, he’s priced at 2.0 for a single shot on target.
Midfielder Rusian Malinovskyi is a really interesting one to look out for, his accuracy is woeful but attempts 3.89 shots p/90. He’s also 2.0 to attempt 2 or more shots. Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko also plays a much more attacking position for his country and is worth a look in for a shot or two.
Player Goals and Assists
Harry Kane took the opportunity to make amends for his penalty miss at the World Cup to convert from the spot against Italy, and in doing so became the outright leading goal scorer for England. He managed 20 goal contributions in 2022.
Both England’s goals against Italy came directly and indirectly from a Saka corner, and that’s why I have an intriguing eye on Saka to assist at 2.50 or Maguire to score or be carded at 3.0.
£100m Chelsea man Mykhaylo Mudryk is yet to register a goal or assist for Ukraine in 8 outings, and would love to break that duck in his new home town.
Dependent on who starts, the main goal scoring threats are either Roman Yaremchuk or Artem Dovbyk up front, although Andriy Yarmolenko is just 3 goals from the all-time Ukrainian record of 48 held by Andriy Shevchenko.
England Cards
Harry Maguire, Kyle Walker, and Luke Shaw all received bookings and red cards respectively against Italy. With the latter suspended, the defensive line seem like the best candidates for cards against Ukraine, likely preventing quick counter attacks.
Midfielders Malinovskyi and Zinchenko will be the main contenders to start those breaks, and that’s why their fouls drawn stats are so tasty. I’d also fancy most Ukrainian attacks to come down the left, so whoever starts at right-back is the one who’ll need to get their hands dirty.
Match-ups to watch:
Harry Maguire vs Vikto Tsygankov/Andriy Yarmolenko
Declan Rice vs Oleksandr Zinchenko
Kyle Walker vs Mykhaylo Mudryk
Ukraine Cards
Once again the left side of the Ukrainian outfit is where to watch, even for cards. Mykolenko, Zinchenko, and Mudryk, all make strong appearances in this graphic.
Rusian Malinovskyi is the other player to look out for in terms of fouls and cards, although that’s why the bookies have priced him at 1.20 for 1 or more fouls.
Jack Grealish is a foul drawing merchant. I’ve never seen numbers quite like this even if it is slightly skewed by his lack of minutes. He averages 3.55 fouls drawn p/90 for Man City this season.
Partnering him in attack, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka are not far behind, fouled around twice a game. It’ll be great to see the battle of Mykolenko vs Saka once again, with the Everton man making 4 fouls in his 2 appearances vs Arsenal this season.
Vitaliy Mykolenko vs Bukayo Saka
Yukhym Konoplya vs Jack Grealish
Mykhailo Mudryk vs Kyle Walker
My Bet Builder Picks of the Pack
Taking a look at the stats, there’s a few selections that stood out to me. I’ve still got my £5 free bet builder from the Italy game where I was just a single Kane shot from a 12/1 winner.
England vs Ukraine
26th March
kick off 17:00 Bukayo Saka to score or assist
Bukayo Saka has 6 goals and 1 assist for England in 2022.
He has 12 goals and 10 assists for Arsenal this season.
He also scored 3 goals at the World Cup.
His two corners for England against Italy were directly and indirectly accountable for the two goals, with the Di Lorenzo handball being for the penalty being credited as an assist on some bookmakers.
Last time Saka came up against his opposite number Mykolenko, he scored and assisted vs Everton.
Ukraine over 1.5 cardsUkraine average 2.40 cards per game.
England opposition average 1.90 cards per game.
Italy received 3 bookings vs England.
The referee Serdar Gozubuyuk averages 3.88 cards per game.
Mykhaylo Mudryk to commit 1 or more foulsMudryk averages 2.50 fouls p/90 for his country in 2022.
He has received 2 cards in just 8 appearances for Ukraine.
He also averages 1.03 fouls p/90 for Chelsea.
Vitaliy Mykolenko to commit 2 or more foulsMykolenko has the unduly task of dealing with Bukayo Saka. The England winger is fouled 1.97 times p/90 for his country, and 1.69 times for his club.
The Ukrainian left-back commits 1.00 fouls p/90 for his country, and 1.05 for his club.
However, up against Saka he had a nightmare, and has committed 4 fouls in 2 appearances against Arsenal.
