Euro 2024 team guide and best bets: Ukraine

Ukraine's footballers will once again look to be a beacon of hope and pride for their war-torn nation at Euro 2024.

Get the lowdown on Serhiy Rebrov's squad in Odds Now's comprehensive team guide, which features tactical analysis, predicted line-ups, players to watch, betting tips and more.

How Ukraine qualified for Euro 2024

Ukraine secured a place in Germany with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Iceland to progress through the play-offs

Serhiy Rebrov’s side showed their character to seize a final chance at qualification, bagging late winners over both Bosnia & Herzegovina in the semi-final and then Iceland to seal a place in their fourth consecutive European Championships. 

Ukraine initially finished third in a competitive Group C, six points behind winners England and level with second-placed Italy — only edged out of a runner-up berth via head-to-head.

They could so easily have sealed their spot automatically too, seeing a late penalty appeal controversially turned down against the Azzurri in a game where one goal would've seen them leapfrog the reigning champions into second. 

Prolific Girona marksman Artem Dovbyk was actually overtaken by his club teammate Viktor Tsyhankov in the top scorer race, with the latter bagging three times.

Ukraine’s squad for Euro 2024

Ukraine named a 26-man squad ahead of the tournament:

Goalkeepers: Georgiy Bushchan (Dynamo Kyiv), Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid), Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica)

Defenders: Valeriy Bondar (Shakhtar Donetsk), Yukhym Konoplia (Shakhtar Donetsk), Mykola Matviyenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Bogdan Mykhaylichenko (Polissya Zhytomyr), Vitaliy Mykolenko (Everton), Oleksandr Svatok (Dnipro-1), Maksym Talovierov (LASK), Oleksandr Tymchyk (Dynamo Kyiv), Illia Zabarnyi (Bournemouth), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Volodymyr Brazhko (Dynamo Kyiv), Ruslan Malinovskyi (Genoa), Mykola Shaparenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Taras Stepanenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Georgiy Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Serhiy Sydorchuk (Westerlo), Viktor Tsyhankov (Girona), Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Oleksandr Zubkov (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Forwards: Artem Dovbyk (Girona), Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea), Vladyslav Vanat (Dynamo Kyiv), Roman Yaremchuk (Valencia)

Ukraine’s predicted starting XI for Euro 2024

Ukraine’s star player - Artem Dovbyk

Having shone in Girona colours this term, Dovbyk comes into the tournament looking to leave his first major mark in international football. 

With 25 goals and 10 assists to his name at club level, the 26-year-old reigned as the highest-scoring player in La Liga for a side who managed their best ever finish in the Spanish top-flight by finishing third.

Champions League football awaits in 2024-25 as a result, though the powerful forward is also hoping to shine on the international stage before challenging himself among Europe’s elite at club level. 

Dovbyk has already featured once at a European Championship, having scored the winner in a 2-1 round-of-sixteen win over Sweden three years ago, but was very much a fringe player during the previous iteration of the tournament. 

This time around, he heads to Germany as one of his nation's key pillars. His 88th-minute strike against Bosnia & Herzegovina sealed a place in the play-off final and was his eighth in Ukrainian colours to date. 

Standing at 6ft 2in, Dovbyk can call on a impressive mix of pace and power to leave defenders in his wake. Yet he is equally astute with the ball at his feet, with nimble footwork and strong link-up play making him a rounded line-leader.

His relationship with Girona teammate and fellow countryman Viktor Tsyhankov will be key, with the pair having combined for a grand total of 50 goal contributions in La Liga this season. 

With many tipping Ukraine to secure a place in the knockout stages, the marksman could emerge as a dark horse on the tournament top goalscorer betting line. 

Ukraine’s one to watch - Volodymyr Brazhko

After impressing in first professional season during 2022-23, defensive midfielder Volodymyr Brazkho has now added goals and assists to his game having helped Dynamo Kyiv to a second-place finish in the Ukrainian Premier League.

Ending the campaign with six goals and five assists in total, the form earned the 22-year-old a first call-up to the Ukraine squad in March.  Thrown in at the deep end, Brazkho played 81 minutes against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the play-off semi final before playing the entirety of the final victory over Iceland.

Standing at 6ft tall, Brazhko’s ability to break-up play has made him a real thorn in the side for opposition sides and looks set to be a valuable asset in allowing Ukraine's flair players like Mykhailo Mudryk and Viktor Tsyhankov to work their magic up top.

Providing security to a sturdy defensive line, Brazhko has rapidly developing his own attacking prowess and remains a danger when shooting from range. 

His development surely means a step-up to one of Europe’s major leagues is an inevitability, but an impressive showing in Germany may rapidly accelerate interest.

Ukraine's manager - Serhiy Rebrov

After a playing career which saw Rebrov feature in West Ham and Tottenham colours, the Ukrainian began life as a manager in his home country. 

Working his way through the Dynamo Kyiv youth system, Rebrov also enjoyed a brief spell as his country's assistant manager between 2010-11. 

Having won back-to-back Ukrainian Premier Leagues with Dynamo between 2014-2016, the now 50-year-old Rebrov vacated to Abu Dhabi — firstly with Al-Ahli, and then Al Ain, where he enjoyed more league title success following a brief stint in Hungary. 

His toughest task to date began in June last year, though, when he was officially announced as manager of the Ukrainian national team at a difficult time in the war-torn nation's history.

Still, his side got off to a near-perfect start by going unbeaten in their first four matches under Rebrov, including a 1-1 draw with group favourites England. 

Ukraine have tasted defeat on just one occasion since Rebrov took over — a 2-1 away loss at Euro 2020 winners Italy — and have now secured a place in a fourth consecutive European Championships. 

Ukraine's Euro 2024 betting odds

Ukraine to win Euro 2024 - 100/1

Ukraine to reach the Euro 2024 final - 50/1

Ukraine to win Group B - 11/2

Ukraine top team goalscorer - Artem Dovbyk 6/4, Viktor Tsyhankov 9/1, Roman Yaremchuk 12/1, 14/1 BAR

*All best UK prices as of 30/05/24

Analysis and best bets for Ukraine at Euro 2024

Expert analysis from Odds Now’s Bradley Walker:

“Many of the groups appear relatively open when it comes to predicting which teams will progress to the knockout stages. I don’t think that rule applies to Group E, though.

"Belgium rightly enter firm favourites to top the group and Ukraine aren’t far behind on the qualification line. Indeed, there does appear to be a gulf in class between those two sides and both Slovakia and Romania, who will likely battle it out for third.

"I’d back Ukraine to finish in second, sealing a place in the knockouts for a second consecutive Championship, but that would leave them set to face the second-placed team in Group D which features France, Netherlands, Austria and Poland.

"Sealing a spot in the quarter-finals could therefore be a tough ask for Rebrov’s men, though their personnel in attacking ranks makes them a sturdy test for anybody.

"I certainly think Artem Dovbyk as Ukraine’s top-scorer at 2/1 is worth a punt too, given his fabulous form for Girona this season.”

Brad’s Best Bets:

Ukraine to qualify from Group E - 8/15 (general)

Artem Dovbyk Ukraine top goalscorer - 15/8 (Sky Bet)

Above: Check out our full betting preview for Group E on the OddsNow YouTube channel.