Two nations neck-and-neck in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C renew hostilities at Stadion Letna in the Czech Republic on Saturday, as Ukraine pit their wits against North Macedonia.
Sergiy Rebrov's men fell just short in a 2-1 loss to reigning champions Italy last time out, while their visitors strolled past whipping boys Malta 2-0.
owever, Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi used his San Siro familiarity to his advantage to score twice inside the opening half an hour, and even though Andriy Yarmolenko reduced the arrears on the stroke of half time, Ukraine's efforts in the second 45 were futile.
While there were plenty of positives for Rebrov and co to take from their pair of showdowns with the Euro 2020 finalists, taking just one point from six on offer has seen the Blue and Yellow demoted to third place in the section, which would condemn them to a first Euros year without major tournament football since 2008.
One of three sides sat on seven points in the intriguing section, Ukraine are both above North Macedonia and below Italy on account of their head-to-head records, but the Azzurri have played a game fewer than the rest of their Group C foes, leaving the Blue and Yellow's fate out of their own hands.
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