Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Ukraine: Betting Odds & Prediction
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Bosnia & Herzegovina welcome Ukraine to Zenica for a crucial European Championship Play-Off semi-final match.
The winners will take on either Israel or Iceland in the Path B Final next week. Kick-off is set for 7:45pm UK time on Thursday.
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Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bosnia are seeking to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for their first ever UEFA European Championship Finals. They lost at the play off stage in 2012, 2016 and 2020, so will be hoping to break the curse this time around. Bosnia are one of just two nations to have played at a FIFA World Cup, but never a Euro’s, having played at Brazil 2014.
Bosnia endured a tough qualifying campaign, finishing second from bottom in their group, having won just three of their ten matches (W3, L7). They have a second chance of qualification through the play-offs after winning their Nations League group. Their only wins in qualification came twice against Liechtenstein, and a home success over Iceland.
Preparation for the play offs hasn’t been ideal, coming off the back of three straight defeats to conclude qualifying, including a desperate 4-1 loss in Luxembourg. Clean sheets have been a rarity for Bosnia, who have conceded 20 goals in qualifying, shipping an average of two goals per game. They were particularly shy in front of goal during qualifying, having managed just nine goals in their ten group matches, of which four came against Liechtenstein.
Despite their Nations League promotion, Savo Milosevic’s men only managed eight goals in their six matches, placing extra emphasis on their defence. The Bosnia boss will likely be looking to captain and record-scorer Edin Dzeko to fire his side to Euro 2024.
Bosnia last met Ukraine when they were drawn in the same 2022 World Cup Qualifying group. The sides drew 1-1 in Lviv, whilst Ukraine were victorious 2-0 in Zenica.
🗓️ Play-off semi-finals: Thursday 21 March
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) March 18, 2024
🗓️ Play-off finals: Tuesday 26 March
Who will claim the 3 remaining spots at #EURO2024?! pic.twitter.com/2I4aeq7YJW
Ukraine
Ukraine are aiming to qualify for their fourth successive UEFA European Championships. The Ukrainians qualified as joint hosts in 2012, via the playoffs in 2016, and as qualifying group winners in 2020. Their performance in the Nations League has given them the opportunity to qualify via the play-offs.
They come into this crucial play off match in reasonable form, having gone unbeaten in their last three qualification matches with victories over North Macedonia and Malta, followed by a goalless draw in Italy. Ukraine finished third in Group C of EURO qualifying, only denied an automatic qualification spot by Italy on goal difference. They amassed 14 points in the group, (W4, D2, L2).
Ukraine conceded eight goals in their eight group matches, while their expected goals against (xGA) stood at 1.45.
Ukraine managed 11 goals in their eight matches at an average of 1.38 goals per match, a performance that slightly exceeded their expected goals (xG) figure of 1.20. Their goal scorers were fairly spread, with Viktor Tsyhankov the only player to score twice in the campaign.
Prediction
Ukraine rightly enter as favourites given their track record of qualifying for European Championships. Value can be found on the moneyline for the away side.
Both sides' EURO qualifying matches averaged 2.7 goals per game, with more goal-mouth action anticipated on Thursday.