Match report
Here’s a report from a lively game in Budapest. Thanks for joining me. Bye!
Andrey Yarmolenko was voted man of the match., deservedly so after scoring one and setting up another. Ruslan Malinovsky was terrific, but did miss a penalty, so no award for him. In other news, the fizzy pop banter continues:
'Nae Coke?'#Sco's John McGinn pokes fun at Ronaldo soft-drink incident #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/rhMGRBAghX
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) June 17, 2021
By the way, if you’ve enjoyed our Euro 2020 coverage so far, you can make a difference by supporting our journalism from as little as £1. Read more from Jonathan Liew:
And here’s a lovely read: Des Lynam in conversation with Michael Butler on El Tel, his trademark moustache and the legacy of Euro 96.
Next up, it’s Denmark v Belgium. Join Barry Glendenning for what is sure to be an emotional occasion in Copenhagen.
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Elsewhere, the Spurs managerial saga takes another turn ...
Is Euro 2020 going to be a tournament where experience wins out? Andriy Yarmolenko (31) and Goran Pandev (37) both impressed today, with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo predictably pivotal for Wales and Portugal. As for Sweden, 36-year-old Seb Larsson stood out against Spain:
That is Ukraine’s first Euros win since 2012, when Shevchenko himself scored the winning goals. It means they join the Netherlands and Austria on three points, albeit with an inferior goal difference. As for North Macedonia, they will be elimated unless Austria win later today.
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“A week ago I would probably not have been able to pick more than two North Macedonian players out of a police lineup,” writes Kári Tulinius. Now I find myself rooted to the screen, cheering when the goalkeeper saves a penalty. Nothing like a major tournament to get emotionally involved to an unhealthy degree.”
FT: Ukraine 2-1 North Macedonia
A punt upfield lands at Pandev’s feet but from 30 yards out, his shot dribbles wide. Time’s up! Ukraine were on the ropes, but they have held on.
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93 mins: Oooooof, Ukraine look so nervous, losing the ball in midfield and allowing North Macedonia to break. Trajkovski approaches the corner of the area, but his cross-shot flies wide of the far post. The cross may have been a better option ...
92 mins: Two of the allotted four minutes are up. Avramovski’s header from almost the edge of the area drifts wide ...
90 mins: The ball is swung in dangerously, but Avramovski is penalised for a foul. Malinovskyi, who was terrific until the penalty miss, goes off with teenage defender Eduard Sobol on.
89 mins: Pandev and Elmas combine before finding Ristovski, who wins a corner in front of their red and gold wall of fans ...
87 mins: Ukraine have rather allowed North Macedonia the chance to get a draw here. Can they do it? The clock’s ticking ...
85 mins: The offender in the wall was Avramovski, who had only just come on. When I say it was harsh, he was protecting himself, not trying to gain an advantage. But rules are rules.
Another change for North Macedonia, with Trickovski coming on for Ademi.
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A fine save from Stole Dimitrievski, who dives to his right to deny Malinovskyi! That means of the five penalties awarded so far at Euro 2020, only one has been scored (not counting Alioski’s rebound). Obviously, it was Ronaldo.
Ukraine penalty saved!
A Macedonian hand – I’m not sure whose – blocked the ball as the wall jumped. It’s one of those that feels harsh, but his hands were high. Malinovskyi will take the spot kick ... SAVED!
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81 mins: There could be a Ukraine penalty here, with the referee checking the monitor for a potential handball ... and it’s given!
80 mins: Tsygankov does the necessary, chugging upfield and winning a free kick. It’s a rare poor delivery from Malinovskyi, clipping the top of the wall. Ah, hang on ...
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78 mins: Another Ukraine change, with Serhiy Sydorchuk replacing Mykola Shaparenko. That looks defensive, but Sydorchuk has scored against North Macedonia before, in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
75 mins: Left-back Mykolenko has to get across and stop Ristovski from whipping in another cross. Enis Bardhi is going off, replaced by Daniel Avramovski, who plays his football in Turkey with Kayserispor.
73 mins: Those defensive jitters creep back in for North Macedonia, with Malinovskyi’s chip picking out Tsygankov in acres of space. His unnecessarily rushed shot is well wide of the far post – he really should have hit the target.
71 mins: Shevchenko makes a slightly surprising double change, with both scoring forwards – Yarmolenko and Yaremchuk – coming off. They are replaced by a Dynamo Kyiv duo, with winger Viktor Tsygankov and forward Artem Besedin on.
69 mins: North Macedonia come again, and a lovely, intricate passing move almost creates space for Elmas to get a shot away. They’re pushing for that equaliser ...
68 mins: Trajkovski is given far too long to line up his shot, a dipping effort that Bushchan has to palm behind. Alioski’s corner is collected by the Ukraine keeper.
“I take your point on Bushchan, but I thought it was a tremendous reaction from Alioski to react to the rebound and steer it into the net,” says Matt Burtz. “That seemed like an easy situation to catch it wrong and shin it miles over the bar.” Agreed, it was a great finish under pressure.
64 mins: Time for Ukraine to try and reassert their authority. Malinovskyi kickstarts a passing move and then takes matters into his own hands with a fierce shot that stings the keepers’ palms.
“North Macedonia are proving to be a tougher opponent than most predicted,” notes Mary Waltz. “The odds against advancing out the group stage are massive but they are proving to be anything but a creampuff to be steamrolled.”
A steamrolled creampuff? Is that one of Heston’s recipes?
60 mins: It goes without saying, but this second half has been much better from North Macedonia. Stefan Ristovski, now playing at right-back, gets upfield and swings in a cross that is headed away.
58 mins: Perhaps I’m being harsh, but could Bushchan have avoided pushing the ball straight back down the middle? He had done the hard part by going the right way. It was similar to the parry that allowed Gini Wijnaldum to score in their first game.
GOAL! Ukraine 2-1 North Macedonia (Alioski 56')
It’s Ezgjan Alioski who will take it ... but the keeper goes the right way and saves! No matter, Alioski is on hand to turn the rebound back into the net. It’s back on!
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Penalty to North Macedonia!
Well, then. It’s played short and Trajkovski thumps a shot towards the top corner. Bushschan somehow tips it on to the bar, but from the rebound Pandev is brought down!
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54 mins: Elmas shoots from distance, and it’s deflected behind. North Macedonia corner ...
51 mins: Alioski concedes a free kick out on that left flank, and Malinovskyi lines it up. Rather than cross, he whips a shot towards the far corner! Dimitrievski springs to his right to save it acrobatically. From the corner, centre-back Illia Zabarnyi can’t get enough power on his header.
49 mins: North Macedonia have switched to a back four, with Alioski at left-back. He struggled to offer much in attack or defence in the first half.
47 mins: The changes almost pay off straight away as Arijan Ademi bursts into space from Pandev’s pass, but Bushchan gets down well to turn his shot behind.
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46 mins: Igor Angelovski has made two changes after that sobering first-half display. Right wing-back Nikolov and midfielder Spirovski go off, replaced by Darko Churlinov and forward Aleks Trajkovski.
Peep!
Here we go again ...
A bit of news from elsewhere, from Andy Hunter:
Kingsley Coman has left the France squad ahead of Saturday’s Group F match against Hungary to attend the birth of his child. The Bayern Munich winger was given permission to return home on Thursday by manager Didier Deschamps. A statement from the French Football Federation confirmed: “After consultation with UEFA and the UEFA Covid cell, Didier Deschamps and the Federation authorized Kingsley Coman to join his partner and attend the birth of his child. All precautions have been taken, particularly in terms of health.”
Half-time clicking
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HT: Ukraine 2-0 North Macedonia
Ukraine well on their way to victory, with a goal apiece for forwards Yarmolenko and Yaremchuk. North Macedonia have had their moments but look a little outmatched; it will be some effort to come back and get a result from here.
45 mins: One added minute at the end of a very enjoyable first half.
42 mins: Rapallini, loaned in from South America, makes an impact in Europe with a quality bit of refereeing. Mykola Shaparenko goes down dramatically in the area but the defender, Darko Velkovski, clearly stepped back and avoided contact, and Shaparenko is booked for diving.
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39 mins: Ukraine surge forward again, with Karavaev going down under Alioski’s challenge in the area. Play is waved on, and Karavaev gets up to hit a snap shot, which Velkovski almost deflects past his own keeper.
No goal! Ah, that’s a shame. Pandev runs onto a through ball and finishes beautifully, lifting the ball nonchalantly past Georgiy Bushchan. Sadly, he was a yard offside from the pass.
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36 mins: North Macedonia might need a moment of inspiration to get back into this. Elmas tries his best here, swivelling away from a Pandev pass, but quickly runs out of room.
This was all too easy, with Yarmolenko playing a first-time pass in behind the defence. Yaremchuk can’t quite believe he’s onside, but steps onto the pass and fires clinically inside the near post.
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GOAL! Ukraine 2-0 North Macedonia (Yaremchuk 34')
Oh dear – the Macedonian back line is all at sea, and Roman Yaremchuk profits to double Ukraine’s lead!
“Anyone else surprised Yarmolenko didn’t cut back onto his left foot before tapping it in?” honks Sam Campbell.
29 mins: This was a clever bit of training-ground trickery, Malinovskyi’s low near-post cross flicked on smartly by Karavaev. It rolls all the way across goal to Yarmolenko, who forces it in at the far post – with his right foot!
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GOAL! Ukraine 1-0 North Macedonia (Yarmolenko 29')
... and from it, Andriy Yarmolenko gives them the lead!
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27 mins: Yarmolenko beats the offside trap, but his toe-poke is turned behind by Dimitrievski. Ukraine win another corner ...
“The kit contrast here is very pleasing to the eye,” notes Dennis Mumby. “It has an almost Subbuteo-like quality to it. Luckily the game is a bit quicker than the typical Subbuteo fare.”
Agreed, very much enjoying the red-on-yellow. Big ketchup-mustard/Fun House vibes.
25 mins: Malinovskyi is obstructed by Stefan Spirovski and goes down clutching his throat. It didn’t look malicious from Spirovski, but was definitely a foul. Nothing given by Rapallini, who has presumably seen worse in South America.
23 mins: It’s quickly worked to Yarmolenko on the right, who cuts onto his left foot – but his shot is closed down in the nick of time. Dimitrievski rather flaps at the looping rebound, but North Macedonia survive.
22 mins: North Macedonia look a little tentative going forward, and as an attack breaks down Ukraine spring forward in numbers ...
21 mins: Zinchenko stops Elmas with a crunching tackle. The referee waves play on and Yaremchuk plays in Karavaev. He draws the keeper out but his cut-back can’t find a player in yellow.
19 mins: And with that, a scrappy spell as both sets of fans try to crank up the intensity.
16 mins: Nikolov does better here, his searching low cross flicked into the side netting by the dangerous Elif Elmas. A lively start, and no mistake.
14 mins: Enis Bardhi, something of a set-piece specialist, gets a firm long-distance shot away. It’s blocked, and right wing-back Nikolov fluffs his attempted cross on the rebound.
12 mins: A crafty midfield move from Ukraine breaks down as Yaremchuk is caught offside. It looks like Malinovskyi is drifting in from the left, creating a narrow 4-4-2 on the ball.
10 mins: Oof, a big chance for Yaremchuk, who springs a ragged offisde line but tries to square it instead of taking on the shot. Stefan Ristovski gets back smartly to turn his cross behind.
North Macedonia’s pre-game training routine was quite something:
🇲🇰 North Macedonia training, cone race edition 😀@ffmmkd | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/wuJjTk3EaP
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 17, 2021
7 mins: Ukraine have made an ominous start, with Yarmolenko’s cross hacked behind for a corner. From it, Mainovskyi forces a fine near-post save from Dimitrievski. From the corner, Yarmolenko almost connects at the far post.
4 mins: The first foray upfield comes from Ukraine, with Malinovskiy whipping a cross towards Yaremchuk. North Macedonia keeper Stole Dimitrievski races off his line to punch clear, and Karavaev’s long-range effort from the rebound flies wide.
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2 mins: Fun fact! Today’s referee, Fernando Rapallini, is from Argentina and taking charge here as part of an exchange with Conmebol for the Copa América. Sadly, Mike Dean has not been sent the other way to cool down any 20-man brawls.
Peep!
We’re off. There is vocal support for both teams inside the ground, despite a reduced capacity at the National Arena.
The teams are out on the pitch for the national anthems. Bucharest sits between the two countries, about 600 miles from Skopje, and 1000 miles from Kyiv. It’s an ideal neutral venue for this game, which is not something we’ll say too often in this tournament.
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Denmark return to action later today against Belgium, with a tribute planned in the 10th minute for Christian Eriksen, who continues to recover in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during the game against Finland. Today, a German doctor who happened to be in the stands described how he went on to the field to help:
Kit clash
Both of these teams suffered sartorial headaches in the buildup to the tournament. Ukraine’s kit featured a map outline and collar slogan (“Glory to the heroes!”) that drew opprobrium from Russia. The slogan has been removed but the map, which includes Crimea, has stayed.
As for North Macedonia, their move away from the national colours of red and yellow to a burgundy shirt attracted fierce opposition back home, so they have returned to their previous sun-soaked shirts. At least Pope Francis now has an ultra-rare gem to add to his shirt collection.
Pre-game reading
Andriy Shevchenko makes two changes from the team that lost to the Netherlands. Midfielders Taras Stepanenko and Mykola Sharapenko come in, replacing Serhiy Sydorchuk and winger Oleksandr Zubkov, who went off injured in Amsterdam. It looks like Sheva will stick with a 4-3-3 with Ruslan Malinovskyi playing on the wing, a position he has filled occasionally with Atalanta.
North Macedonia coach Igor Angelovski went with a 5-3-2 formation against Austria and while his only change is replacing forward Aleks Trajkovski with midfielder Stefan Spirovski, it looks like he may be a little more aggressive today with a 3-4-2-1 setup. Enis Bardhi and Elif Elmas are the playmakers, tucked in behind Goran Pandev.
Team news
Ukraine: Bushchan; Karavayev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Stepanenko, Shaparenko, Zinchenko; Malinovskyi, Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk.
Subs: Sobol, Sudakov, Kryvtsov, Sydorchuk, Marlos, Pyatov, Makarenko, Tsygankov, Besedin, Trubin, Tymchyk, Dovbyk.
North Macedonia: Dimitrievski; S Ristovski, Velkovski, Musliu; Nikolov, Ademi, Spirovski, Alioski; Bardhi, Elmas; Pandev.
Subs: Bejtulai, Ristevski, Trickovski, Trajkovski, Hasani, Jankov, Kostadinov, Siskovski, Radeski, Avramovski, Churlinov, M Ristovski.
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Preamble
Group games at major tournaments can be many things to many people. For the players, coaches, travelling fans and citizens of Ukraine and North Macedonia, the existence of this fixture will be a source of personal and national pride. The game will also deliver a defining moment for one of the teams involved: either North Macedonia’s first points on the biggest stage, or Ukraine’s first Euro finals win away from home soil.
On the other hand, for most armchair neutrals this match probably sits among the skippable fixtures on the wallchart. Until about 15 minutes from kick-off, that is, when that remote-control finger starts itching and the thirst for a Euros fix intensifies. It’s two o’clock on a rainy Thursday; practically the weekend. Ukraine v North Macedonia. Why not?
Why not indeed? Both sides lost their opening games, so this contest has a high-stakes feel already. Creative talents like Ruslan Malinovskyi, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Enis Bardhi and Elif Elmas are all capable of turning a game, while forwards Andriy Yarmolenko and Goran Pandev have provided contrasting highlight-reel moments.
Plus, there’s only – brace yourselves – two more 2pm BST kick-offs left in the tournament after this one. You’ll miss them when they’re gone, so settle in.
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