Ukraine take on the visitors Belgium in the EUFA Nations League promotion playoff final (League A/B). The match will be played on Thursday, March 20th at Estadio Enrique Roca (Murcia).
Ukraine can finally play without the weight of expectations. The Yellow-Blues have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in recent years. They once again secured a spot at the Euros, showing remarkable resilience by defeating Bosnia and Iceland in dramatic fashion a year ago. However, the tournament itself began with a shocking thrashing by Romania, a defeat that proved costly. Despite a win over Slovakia and a goalless draw with Belgium, Ukraine still finished last in their group. The tension continued in the Nations League, where they started with back-to-back losses and were at serious risk of relegation. Ultimately, a decisive victory over Albania in the final round lifted them to second place. Now, Serhiy Rebrov has assembled most of the nation’s top talents while continuing to integrate fresh faces into the squad. Their recent narrow win over Iceland in a friendly suggests they are still a work in progress.
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Belgium failed to impress at the European Championship, finishing the group stage with the same four points as Ukraine. Their pragmatic 0-0 draw against the Ukrainians in the final match secured progression for three teams, but Belgium’s campaign ended soon after. A heartbreaking own goal by Jan Vertonghen in the 83rd minute sealed their elimination against France in the Round of 16. While Domenico Tedesco wasn’t immediately dismissed, his fate was sealed by a disastrous Nations League campaign. His squad managed just four points, thanks to a win over Israel and a draw with Italy. However, they lost all three return-leg fixtures, culminating in a 0-1 defeat to Israel that, while avoiding a last-place finish, led to his dismissal. With the appointment of García in January, Belgium enters a new era—and the return of Thibaut Courtois, arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, adds immediate strength to the team.
The two nations met for the first time at last year's European Championship. The Yellow-Blues have a history of surprising top teams, as seen in their qualifiers against England and Germany. However, their overall form remains shaky, while Belgium will be looking to impress under their new manager. Expect the Red Devils to claim victory in this matchup.
Prediction for the match: Belgium to win.
