UEFA Nations League

[monks data]

Nations League | League A

Nov 14, 2020 at 7.45pm UK

Germany
3 - 1
Ukraine

Sane (23'), Werner (33', 64')
Rudiger (29')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Yaremchuk (12')
Malinovskiy (44')

Preview: Germany vs. Ukraine - prediction, team news, lineups

By Brett Curtis, Reporter

Published: November 12 2020 | 10:46

Last updated: June 5 2024 | 13:46

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Nations League clash between Germany and Ukraine, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Germany host Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, with both sides level on points in League A Group 4 as they look to finish above leaders Spain.

Joachim Low's side ran out 2-1 winners in Ukraine last month through goals from Matthias Ginter and Leon Goretzka.

Match preview

Germany boss Joachim Low pictured on November 15, 2019 © Reuters

Low was forced to play a weakened side in the 1-0 friendly win over Czech Republic on Wednesday, with several players unavailable for selection through fears of fatigue.

Benfica striker Luca Waldschmidt scored his second goal for his country after notching in another friendly against Turkey last month, with a back three of Jonathan Tah, Robin Koch and Antonio Rudiger keeping their opponents at arm's length.

The likes of Ginter, Goretzka, Timo Werner, Serge Gnabry and Toni Kroos should be available for selection again in the upcoming Nations League fixtures, bolstering Low's options and confidence of topping the group.

The Germans have never really got going in competitive matches of late, with last month's win over Ukraine their only win in the group, but they do remain unbeaten and two wins will see them finish first.

Ukraine boss Andriy Shevchenko pictured on September 7, 2019 © Reuters

Ukraine have been managed by their record goalscorer and legendary figure Andriy Shevchenko since July 2016, with the former AC Milan and Chelsea striker leading his nation to next summer's European Championships after impressively finishing ahead of Portugal and Serbia in qualifying.

For Ukraine to have a genuine chance of topping a Nations League group which contains recent World Cup winners Spain and Germany with only two games remaining is a tremendous feat, too. Should they manage to record a surprise result in Germany, they will travel to Switzerland on Tuesday with genuine hope of doing so.

Shevchenko's side were far from their best in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Poland on Wednesday, but the 44-year-old will hope his players keep in mind last month's 1-0 victory over Spain more than a game which ultimately did not mean anything.

He will certainly be hoping West Ham United forward Andriy Yarmolenko can rediscover some form having failed to score in his last four internationals.

Germany Nations League form: DDWD
Germany form (all competitions): DDDWDW

Ukraine Nations League form: WLLW
Ukraine form (all competitions): WLLLWL

Team News

Germany's Leroy Sane celebrates scoring their first goal with Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich on June 8, 2019 © Reuters

Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was denied a chance of earning his first senior international cap against Czech Republic having left the Germany squad as a precautionary measure following his club Hoffenheim picking up several coronavirus cases.

Central defender Niklas Sule has joined up with the squad having served his self-isolation period after testing positive for coronavirus, while the contingent of Champions League players who were rested in Wednesday's friendly should return to action against Ukraine.

Midfielder Jonas Hofmann reportedly injured his thigh in Wednesday's friendly and is likely to miss out, with Robin Gosens (calf) and Benjamin Henrichs (patella tendon) both doubts.

Veteran winger Yevhen Konoplyanka was not called up by Shevchenko for Ukraine, meanwhile, with vice-captain Yarmolenko and Oleksandr Zubkov preferred in the attacking wide areas.

Oleksandr Zinchenko generally features in central midfield to great effect for his country despite being deployed as a left-back by Pep Guardiola for his club Manchester City.

Germany possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Ginter, Sule, Rudiger, Schulz; Goretzka, Kroos, Gundogan; Sane, Werner, Gnabry

Ukraine possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Konoplya, Kryvtsov, Matviyenko, Sobol; Makarenko, Zinchenko, Malinovskyi; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Zubkov

SM words green background

We say: Germany 2-0 Ukraine

We expect Ukraine to battle hard as they so frequently do under Shevchenko, but ultimately Germany should have too much firepower for their opponents in order to set up a salivating table-topping clash against Spain on Tuesday.

Top betting tip

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