As co-hosts of Euro 2012, both Poland and Ukraine were sent packing after managing just one win between them in the group stages. While Ukraine have already suffered the ignominy of being the first side eliminated from this tournament, their opponents are in pole position to make the last 16.
Having already garnered four points, it would take an unusual run of results for Adam Nawalka's side not to make it to the knockout stages, but a point against their neighbours Ukraine would guarantee a top-two finish.
Top scorers in qualifying with 33 goals, they have managed just one so far, and are without a shot on target in their last 98 minutes of action. It's fair to say star striker Robert Lewandowski has yet to make his mark on this tournament,
But what better opposition to play himself into form against than Ukraine, who have looked a rag-tag bunch so far. Infighting between two of their best players dominated the build-up to the tournament and they have looked far from a happy camp. "The players were not united today," coach Mykhaylo Fomenko bemoaned after they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Northern Ireland. "I think we weren't prepared enough in psychological matters."
TEAM NEWS
Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov could be replaced by Denys Boyko after two unconvincing displays against Germany and Northern Ireland.
As Ukraine are already out, coach Mykhalo Fomenko may be tempted to make wholesale changes to his team.
Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny again misses out with a thigh injury.
Kamil Grosicki, Bartosz Kapustka, Krzysztof Maczynski, Lukasz Piszczek and Slawomir Peszko are all one booking away from a suspension.
GROUP C PERMUTATIONS
Poland will guarantee progression to the knock-out stage if they avoid defeat. Even if they lose and Northern Ireland win, four points is likely to be enough to qualify to the last 16 as one of the four best third place teams.
Ukraine are assured of finishing bottom and are already out.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Ukraine and Poland have met seven times previously, with Ukraine winning three games to Poland's two and two draws.
- Ukraine are unbeaten in the last five meetings between the two sides (W3, D2).
- Poland's last victory was in September 2000 when they won 3-1 in Kiev in a World Cup qualifier.
- Ukraine did the double over Poland during 2014 World Cup qualifying. Andriy Yarmolenko scored in both contests - a 3-1 win in Warsaw and a 1-0 success in Kharkiv.
Ukraine
- Ukraine are guaranteed to not make it to the knockout stage for the second time in two appearances in European Championship finals. They are certain of finishing bottom of Group C.
- Since winning their first-ever game at a European Championship finals (2-1 v Sweden in 2012) they have lost four successive matches in the tournament without scoring a single goal.
- Andriy Shevchenko, currently part of the coaching staff, is the only player to have scored for Ukraine at a Euros (two goals in 2012).
- If Ukraine fail to score they will become the first country to go five matches without a goal at European Championship finals.
Poland
- Poland are aiming to reach the knockout stages of the Euros for the first time in their history, after failing in 2008 and 2012.
- Their win over Northern Ireland is their only victory in eight previous matches at European Championship finals. They have drawn four and lost three.
- Poland have never scored more than one goal in a European Championship finals game.
- Jakub Blaszczykowski has been directly involved in Poland's last three goals at European Championships final (one goal, two assists).
- Robert Lewandowski scored in the 17th minute of his first game at a European Championship finals against Greece in 2012. However, since then, he's failed to find the net or deliver an assist in the competition in 433 minutes.
- Poland have played in Marseille once before, defeating the United Arab Emirates 4-0 in a friendly in May 1990.
Possible line-ups
Ukraine: Boyko; Butko, Khacheridi, Kucher, Shevchuk; Rybalka, Rotan, Garmash; Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka; Zozulya.
Poland: Fabiański; Cionek, Glik, Pazdan, Jędrzejczyk; Błaszczykowski, Krychowiak, Zieliński, Kapustka; Milik, Lewandowski.
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