DESPITE having faced Ukraine only a handful of times, England will be able to draw on relevant experience when they line up against Andriy Shevchenko's side on Saturday. Indeed, nine years ago, the Three Lions faced a similar do-or-die scenario against the same nation to make a further step into the knockout rounds of Euro 2012.

England won that match 1-0, but a lot has changed since then. For starters, the man now in the dugout for Ukraine, Shevchenko, was on the pitch nine years ago. Back then, Ukraine were the ones benefiting from a home crowd at a major tournament they partially hosted. Now, in 2020, it’s England who have that benefit, even if Saturday’s quarter-final will take place in Rome.

Both teams can claim to have improved since the last time they met each other at a major tournament. Once only before have Ukraine made the quarter finals at a World Cup or Euros. England aren’t the only ones chasing history. Here’s what Gareth Southgate and his players can expect against Shevchenko’s side.

What sort of team are they?

Ukraine’s Euro 2020 campaign hasn’t really followed any sort of pattern to date. While they started off playing with attacking verve, scoring four times in two games against the Netherlands and North Macedonia, that creative edge was nowhere to be seen in their final Group C fixture against Austria.

Sweden were doing a good job of containing Ukraine, and their interchangeable, fluid attack, until a red card to Marcus Danielson changed the dynamic of the contest. Ukraine, however, did well to make their man advantage count by scoring a late winner in extra time. 

Shevchenko’s game plan relies on the individual quality of his players to work. Against Sweden, for instance, it was exceptional deliveries into the box by Andriy Yarmolenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko that broke open the opposition defence. Against the Netherlands, Yarmolenko and Ruslan Malinovskiy made the difference.

Fled his country & Left club in fear of war at 17

Rejected by 2 clubs & played for free for 6 months

✅Signed by City at age 19
✅Became City 1st choice LB
✅Became captain of Ukraine
✅Leading his country to #EURO2020 Quarter finals

What a journey it's been for Zinchenko pic.twitter.com/AZSYtF7n0f

— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) July 1, 2021

Who are their key players?

He might have underwhelmed during his time at West Ham United, but Yarmolenko is a different player for his national team. Indeed, the 31-year-old is afforded the freedom by Shevchenko to drift wherever he sees space, linking up with central striker Roman Yaremchuk as something of a secondary striker at times. 

Yarmolenko is an injury concern for the match against England having hobbled off in the win over Sweden while Malinovskiy can’t be certain of his place in the lineup either. The Atalanta midfielder was surprisingly benched for Ukraine’s round of 16 match and might have to settle once more for a role as an impact substitute.

Then there’s Zinchenko. Much like Yarmolenko, he is a different player for his country than his club. The 24-year-old more of a midfield creator for Ukraine, although he still has some responsibilities on the left side. Nonetheless, much of Ukraine’s build-up play flows through Zinchenko. One wonders what Pep Guardiola have made of his performances at Euro 2020 and whether we could see Zinchenko used in a more expansive way by Manchester City next season.

Why should England be worried?

There is nothing in Shevchenko’s structure and system to concern England, but Ukraine possess a number of individuals who could trouble the Three Lions. So much of Shevchenko’s approach is about getting the likes of Malinovskiy, Yarmolenko and Zinchenko into dangerous positions, where their natural instincts can take over.

Harry Maguire and John Stones will have to remain disciplined at the back. Ukraine are dangerous from crosses into the box, as they have demonstrated a number of times at this tournament, and so England will need to be positionally aware in defence and aware of any potential overloads, particularly when Yarmolenko and Zinchenko switch play from left to right, or vice versa.

Score prediction: Ukraine 0-2 England (24/5)