Ukraine v Northern Ireland preview: O’Neill’s young side chase top spot ten years on from Lyon
Ukraine and Northern Ireland meet in Trnava level on four points at the top of Nations League B Group B.
Northern Ireland head to Trnava tonight level on points with Ukraine at the top of Nations League B Group B, and Michael O’Neill insists his young side are not living in the shadow of Lyon.
Main image: DSN graphic. Photo: Tadeáš Bednarz / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Top-of-the-table meeting in Slovakia
Ukraine host Northern Ireland at the City Arena in Trnava, Slovakia, with kick-off at 19:45 BST on Friday 2 October. Ukraine continue to play their home fixtures away from home because of the war with Russia.
Both sides have four points from two games and neither has conceded. It is a big night across the Nations League, with France hosting Italy with top spot on the line. Ukraine won 1-0 away to Hungary thanks to Danylo Sikan’s strike three minutes before half-time, then drew 0-0 with Georgia. Northern Ireland have the same record: a dramatic 1-0 win in Tbilisi and a goalless home draw with Hungary.
Belgian referee Jasper Vergoote takes charge.
O’Neill: this team can write its own history
It is ten years since Gareth McAuley and Niall McGinn scored in a 2-0 win over Ukraine at Euro 2016, one of the great nights in Northern Ireland’s history. O’Neill was in the dugout that day, but he told BBC Sport NI he does not want the current squad measuring themselves against it.
Only Josh Magennis and Paddy McNair remain from that tournament squad, while former captain Steven Davis now works on O’Neill’s coaching staff. The starting XI in Georgia had an average age of 23, falling to about 22.5 against Hungary.
The longer-term target is clear: a first major tournament since 2016, with Euro 2028 the goal.
Charles the match-winner, Ukraine the favourites
Shea Charles has been one of the standout performers so far, scoring the 99th-minute winner that sank Georgia. Read DSN’s report of that late win in Tbilisi. Northern Ireland also kept Khvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet that night, then held Dominik Szoboszlai’s Hungary despite tired legs after the long trip home.
O’Neill has called Ukraine the favourites. He pointed out that coach Andrea Maldera made ten changes between the first two games and said Ukraine’s strength lies in the collective rather than one star name.
Key numbers
| Ukraine | Northern Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Group position | 1st | 2nd |
| Played | 2 | 2 |
| Won / drawn / lost | 1 / 1 / 0 | 1 / 1 / 0 |
| Goals for / against | 1 / 0 | 1 / 0 |
| Points | 4 | 4 |
| Nations League form | W D | W D |
| Last meeting | Ukraine 1-0 NI (friendly, June 2021) |
Head-to-head
Northern Ireland’s 2-0 win at Euro 2016 remains their standout result in the fixture, while Ukraine won the most recent meeting, a 1-0 friendly in 2021. No injury absences were listed for either side in the official match data ahead of the game.
Hungary and Georgia, both on one point, meet elsewhere in the group tonight, so the winner in Trnava would open a healthy gap at the top. Elsewhere tonight, Belgium host Türkiye in League A, while our sister site DGBN has covered the Nations League team news around the home nations.
