Republic of Ireland
Greece
Gibraltar
Netherlands 2
France 2
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Republic of Ireland 0 - 1 Ukraine
Report | Republic of Ireland 0-1 Ukraine
Ireland came close several times but was unable to convert the opportunities. Stephen Kenny made two changes, bringing in Cyrus Christie and Jason Knight into the side from the Armenia defeat.
Festy Ebosele and James Talbot were on the bench for this UEFA Nations League match. Jason Knight and Callum Robinson each had two early chances for Ireland, but neither could test Lunin in the Ukrainian goal.
Knight was set to score again, but a diving save by Lunin, who knocked the ball around the post, denied him. Matviyenko tried his luck from long range for the hosts, but his shot curled wide of Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Mudryk broke inside the area, but his shot was off target. Shane Duffy made a wonderful block to keep Sydorchuk, while Kelleher saved a long-range effort from Zubkov with a well-taken stop. Ireland was denied a penalty after Callum Robinson was brought down in the area by a challenge, but the referee did not award it.
Kacharaba put the ball in the back of the net for Ukraine, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call in the build-up. Viktor Tsygankov, a second-half substitution, gave Ukraine the lead after a free-kick was delivered into the Irish goal area and met by Tsygankov, who glanced his header past Kelleher to put the visitors ahead.
Shane Duffy came close for Ireland, almost giving the home side an immediate response, but Lunin stopped his header. Shane Duffy once again had a brace of chances to draw Ireland level, the first coming from a James McClean free-kick that was cleared by the Ukrainian defence before the ball was given to him in the second phase of play, with Duffy failing to get the ball out from under his feet.
Ireland had two quick chances to level, with Hamilton and Obafemi both going close, Hamilton's effort hit the crossbar and Obafemi's strike went narrowly wide at the back post. With a long-range shot that barely missed the target, John Cullen came close to scoring his first international goal.
In additional time, Jason Knight blazed his shot over the bar, but Shane Duffy's overhead effort was knocked down that found its way to the awaiting Irish midfielder. Tsygankov came close to adding a second goal for Ukraine, but his shot was deflected for a corner thanks to a crucial Nathan Collins block.
Ireland will be back at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday as Stephen Kenny’s side face Scotland.
Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Christie (Browne 69), Stevens (McClean 69), Duffy ©, Egan (O’Shea 59), Cullen, Robinson (Obafemi 69), Collins, Hendrick, Knight, Ogbene (Hamilton 78).
Subs not used: Talbot (GK) Travers (GK), Hourihane, Keane, Parrott, Molumby, Ebosele.
Ukraine: Lunin (GK), Syrota, Popov, Sydorchuk ©, Shaparenko, Dovbyk (Sikan 80), Mudryk (Pikhalonok 72), Mykolenko, Bondar, Kacharaba (Karavaev 72), Zubkov (Tsygankov 46).
Subs not used: Pyatov (GK), Riznyk (GK), Sobol, Ihnatenko, Malinovskyi, Sikan, Zabarnyi, Tsygankov, Zinchenko, Matviyenko
Carlsberg Man of the Match: Jason Knight
Referee: Filip Glova (SVK)
Preview | Republic of Ireland v Ukraine
Stephen Kenny's Ireland suffered a 1-0 defeat in Yerevan in their opening League B - Group One fixture and will be looking for their first win of the campaign as they welcome Ukraine to the Aviva Stadium.
It will be the first competitive home match of the year as the FAI are set to welcome over 3,500 Ukrainian refugees to the Aviva Stadium who have been given free tickets by the association for the match.
Tickets are available for the match from Ticketmaster here.
Match Details
Fixture: Republic of Ireland v Ukraine
Competition: UEFA Nations League
Date: Wednesday, June 8
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Stadium: Aviva Stadium
TV: RTE & Premier Sports
Match Officials
Referee: Filip Glova (SVK)
Assistant 1: Daniel Polacek (SVK)
Assistant 2: Adam Jekkel (SVK)
Fourth Official: Michal Ocenáš (SVK)
Video Assistant Referee: Kevin Blom (NED)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Edwin Van De Graaf (NED)
Team News
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has been ruled out of the remaining UEFA Nations League fixtures in June and has been replaced in the squad by Bohemians goalkeeper James Talbot.
Ireland manager Stephen Kenny also confirmed that captain Seamus Coleman will miss the Ukraine match through injury with Cyrus Christie and Festy Ebosele in contention to replace him in the starting line-up.
What he said - Ireland manager Stephen Kenny
"When you lose to Armenia you have to accept criticism. It was one that we wanted to win. I don’t think it was a game we deserved to lose, we hardly conceded any chances. We know we can play a lot better overall. We had enough chances to win the game itself. We should not have lost.
“It’s one we’ve left behind. We’ve just got to put it behind us and go into the Ukraine game with a strong mentality and try to get a win.
"The Ukrainian players, coaches, and all the staff have been great ambassadors for their country amidst the chaos of their lives and the thousands who have lost their lives. By continuing to play, they are keeping it at the forefront of whatever country they’re playing, within the media. It keeps the discussion very much in the news.”
What he said - Ireland defender Shane Duffy
“It’s really emotional for all of them and they should be really proud of how they handled themselves, especially in the last two games, carrying their country, and I think everyone was willing them to try and get to the World Cup.
“I think they can be really proud of themselves and hold their heads up really high and keep going.
“We know it’s really emotional times for everyone there, so it will be a special game and one we’re all really looking forward to.”
Watch the full press conference with Stephen Kenny and Shane Duffy here...
Republic of Ireland v Ukraine - Statistics
- This is the first ever meeting between the Republic of Ireland and the Ukraine in any competition.
- Republic of Ireland have lost only one of their last 24 matches against teams they were facing for the first time (W17 D6, including a game against a Tuscan Select XI), with that defeat coming against Belarus in May 2016.
- Republic of Ireland have only lost two of their last 17 home matches in all competitions (W6 D9) and are unbeaten in their last six (W2 D4).
- Ukraine lost their previous game, going down 0-1 against Wales in the European play-off final for the 2022 World Cup. They haven’t lost consecutive matches across all competitions since November 2020, when they suffered three in a row (v Poland, Germany and Switzerland).
- Republic of Ireland have won just two of their last 20 competitive matches (D10 L8), with both of those victories coming away from home. Ireland have gone nine competitive matches without winning at home, never going on a longer such run in their history.
- Andrii Yarmolenko has been directly involved in more goals than any other Ukraine player in the UEFA Nations League (3), scoring twice and assisting one. His last game in the competition in October 2020 saw him assist the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Spain.
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), James Talbot (Bohemians).
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Nathan Collins (Burnley), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).
Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jason Knight (Derby County).
Forwards: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Hogan (Birmingham City), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic), Michael Obafemi (Swansea City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United), CJ Hamilton (Blackpool), Festy Ebosele (Derby County).
Fixtures - UEFA Nations League
04/06 - Armenia 1-0 Ireland, Republican Stadium, Yerevan
08/06 - Republic of Ireland v Ukraine, Aviva Stadium - 7.45pm
11/06 - Republic of Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium - 5pm
14/06 - Ukraine v Republic of Ireland, ŁKS Stadium, Łódź - 7.45pm (8.45pm local time)
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 James Talbot (G)
- 23 Mark Travers (G)
- 8 Conor Hourihane
- 9 Will Keane
- 10 Troy Parrott
- 11 James McClean
- 14 Alan Browne
- 15 Jayson Molumby
- 18 Dara O'Shea
- 19 Michael Obafemi
- 21 CJ Hamilton
- 22 Festy Ebosele
Coach
Stephen Kenny
Ukraine
Substitutes
- 12 Andriy Pyatov (G)
- 23 Dmytro Riznyk (G)
- 2 Eduard Sobol
- 6 Danylo Ihnatenko
- 7 Oleksandr Pikhalonok
- 8 Ruslan Malinovskyi
- 9 Danylo Sikan
- 13 Illia Zabarnyi
- 15 Viktor Tsygankov
- 17 Oleksandr Zinchenko
- 21 Oleksandr Karavaiev
- 22 Mykola Matviyenko
Coach
Oleksandr Petrakov
Officials
- Referee Filip Glova
- Assistant Referees Daniel Polacek
- UEFA Delegate Christian Kofoed
- Assistant Referee Two Adam Jekkel
- Fourth Official Michal Ocenáš
- Video Assistant Referee Kevin Blom
- Referee Observer Pascal Pierre Garibian
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee Edwin Van De Graaf
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Ukraine
Minute by Minute Commentary