Vitaliy Mykolenko is on the bench for Ukraine in their Euro 2024 opener against Romania.
Serhiy Rebrov’s side are in good spirits ahead of Germany’s tournament after reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, while Romania must make up for their slow level of organisation coming out of 2016 and have not appeared in any first tournament since.
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Despite the apparent lack of talent, Romania enjoyed a more successful qualifying campaign by completing the top pick from an organisation consisting of Switzerland and Israel, and remained undefeated.
The Ukrainian side have genuine ability and qualify for Group E. Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has spent much of the season replacing the injured Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid, while Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudyrk are enjoying normal playing time at Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively.
Mudryk starts on the wing with Artem Dovbyk, the centre-forward after a season at Girona.
Coach Rebrov had allayed fears about Everton left-back Mykolenko’s injury, but he is compatible enough to be named as a substitute.
The Romanian side have fewer stars, apart from Tottenham centre-back Radu Dragusin and veteran striker Nicolae Stanciu, but they are well organised through coach Edward Iordanescu and can create a marvel in Germany.
Denis Dragus started in the position of absent veteran striker Denis Alibec, and Florin Nita provided the green pass in goal, beloved by Atletico Madrid’s Horatiu Moldova.
Romania XI: Nita, Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu, Razvan Marin, Marius Marin, Man, Stanciu, Coman, Dragus
Substitutes: Rus, Nedelcearu, Alibec, Cicaldau, Puscas, Hagi, Moldovan, Mihaila, Olaru, Tarnovanu, Mogos, Sorescu, Racovitan, Birligea, Sut
Ukraine XI: Lunin, Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Zinchenko, Stepanenko, Shaparenko, Tsygankov, Sudakov, Mudryk, Dovbyk
Substitutes: Bushchan, Svatok, Taloverov, Sydorchuk, Yarmolenko, Malinovsky, Yaremchuk, Trubin, Mykolenko, Brazhko, Zubkov, Bondar, Tymchyk, Vanat, Mykhaylichenko
Time and date: 14:00 BST on Monday 17 June 2024
Venue: Allianz-Arena
TV channel: BBC One
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