Euro 2016 Preview - Group C: Ukraine

Next in Group C are Ukraine:

Nickname: "The Yellow-Blues"

Absurd FIFA ranking: 22nd

Coach: Mykhaylo Fomenko

Match Schedule: 

June 12 - Ukraine v. Germany (Lille, 3pm EST, ESPN)
June 16 - Ukraine v. Northern Ireland (Lyon, 12pm ESPN)
June 21 - Ukraine v. Poland (Marseille, 12pm, ESPN)

Prospects: Manager Mykhaylo Fomenko is credited with turning around Ukraine's fortune's in world football after narrowly missing out on Brasil 2014. Fomenko's conservative tactics are unlikely to win over any neutrals in France; however, they have been effective in getting his side there. In a group dominated by the world champions, who are likely to win all three of their games, Ukraine have to be fancied for a second place. With only four players current working outside of Ukraine, the current squad is full of players who will be unknown to most.

Key Player: Skipper Anatoliy Timoschyuk runs this show.

Youngster to Watch: Fomenko is fond of youth - the youngest in the squad is 24 years old. This is a seasoned squad.

Who Will Get the Goals: Kiev playmaker Andriy Yarmolenko takes all of the set pieces and penalties for the Yellow and Blues and naturally is the high scorer in the squad.

Who Will Get the Cards: Shakhtar Donetsk's veteran hardman Vyacheslav Shevchuk has left his studs embedded in shins across Europe over the years.

Prediction: A distant second to the Germans in the group stage. This will bring up a Round of 16 match up with the Swiss. Get through that and you'll get current European champions Spain. Over and out in the Quarters. That would seem to be success for Fomenko.