League B - Group 1-4 Fixtures - 9-11th June, 2022

[Stan]

all kick-offs 19.45 (BST) unless stated

GROUP 1
Saturday 11th June, 2022
Ukraine vs Armenia, 14.00
Republic of Ireland vs Scotland, 17.00

GROUP 2
Friday 10th June, 2022
Albania vs Israel
Russia C-C Iceland

GROUP 3
Saturday 11th June, 2022
Montenegro vs Bosnia, 14.00
Romania vs Finland

GROUP 4
Thursday 9th June, 2022
Norway vs Slovenia
Sweden vs Serbia

[Azeem]

Internet flooding with Israel not playing with Russia memes over human rights. 

[Michael]

Norway put the ball in the back of the net late in the 1st half, but King was deemed to be offside before he scored, so the goal wasn't allowed. It's 0-0 at half-time, but Norway will want to make home advantage count against a Slovenian team they have the beating of.

[Michael]

Shaparenko has a run and shot, but his effort goes just wide of the Armenia goal. Ukraine are dominating the Armenians, but it's still 0-0 with half-time approaching.

[Michael]

The Ukrainian wingers Mudryk and Tsyhankov have been excellent with their play on the flanks, but the Armenians are parking the bus. It's literally been wave after wave of Ukrainian attacks, but the ball has somehow not found the back of the net. I expect the goals to come in the 2nd half.

[Michael]

Ukrainian manager Petrakov decided to play Zinchenko at left-back for this match, probably to rest Mykolenko who played all 3 matches against Scotland, Wales and Ireland in the space of 8 days. Keepers Buschan and Lunin have both been rested as well, with the experienced Pyatov playing instead. While Shaparenko has taken Zinchenko's usual midfield position alongside Malinovskyi. 

Ukraine's best chance in the first half came when Mudryk used his blistering pace to beat the Armenian defence to a through ball, Mudryk then squared the ball to Yaremchuk, whose shot at goal from close range, was excellently blocked by the Armenian keeper. Malinovskyi also had a rocket of a dipping long range shot, narrowly fly over the bar.

This match is being played in Lodz, in Poland, but as it is considered to be a home match for Ukraine, it's vital that they get the win and the 3 points today.

[Michael]

Malinovskyi has another powerful long range shot fly over the cross bar at the start of this 2nd half.

[Michael]

Malinovskyi has a piledriver of an effort from outside the area, superbly blocked by the Armenian keeper, but Yaremchuk wasn't able to tuck home the rebound, as he was under pressure from the Aremnian defender.

[Michael]

Malinovskyi has another powerful long range shot at goal, again the Armenian keeper does well to save it.

[Stan]

10 minutes ago, Michael said:

Malinovskyi has another powerful long range shot fly over the cross bar at the start of this 2nd half.

 

1 minute ago, Michael said:

Malinovskyi has another powerful long range shot at goal, again the Armenian keeper does well to save it.

Another?! 

[Michael]

Malinovskyi scores for Ukraine!! This time after great build up play from Ukraine down the right flank, the cross finds Malinovskyi in some space and he made no mistake this time hammering the ball home to give Ukraine the lead!

[Michael]

1 minute ago, Stan said:

 

Another?! 

Yes, he's had like 4 dangerous efforts and he has just finally scored! It was coming.

[Michael]

Karavayev scores Ukraine's 2nd goal!

After a great run down the right flank, Karavayev got on to the end of a through ball from the sub Pikhalyonok. Karavayev then crossed the ball into the area, but the Armenian defender cleared the ball, only for Karavayev to get control of the ball again and slot the ball home at the far post. Ukraine are dominating here and another goal before the end of the match is very likely.

Ukraine 2-0 Armenia 

[Michael]

The sub Mykolenko tucks the ball home to make it 3-0!! Ukraine are in cruise control now!

Ukraine 3-0 Armenia

[Michael]

Malinovskyi shoots from a free-kick, but his effort is saved by the Armenian goalie Yurchenko.

[Michael]

So it finishes 3-0 to Ukraine and they earn their 2nd consecutive win in the Nations League. So it's 6 points in 2 games for Ukraine in this competition and they now top the group.

[ScoRoss]

Good to see McKenna and Hendry getting to start again, enabling McTominay to move further forward into midfield. And gives Christie and McGinn more freedom to support Adams up front. Hoping to see Scotland press Ireland high up the pitch and enforce themselves on Ireland's newly expansive, but inefficient, game they seem to try and play now.

Another win for Ukraine today, so pressure is on to win these games and make sure the double header against Ukraine, later in the year, means something.

[Michael]

47 minutes ago, ScoRoss said:

Good to see McKenna and Hendry getting to start again, enabling McTominay to move further forward into midfield. And gives Christie and McGinn more freedom to support Adams up front. Hoping to see Scotland press Ireland high up the pitch and enforce themselves on Ireland's newly expansive, but inefficient, game they seem to try and play now.

Another win for Ukraine today, so pressure is on to win these games and make sure the double header against Ukraine, later in the year, means something.

Not started well for Scotland though mate, Ireland are up 2-0 in less than half an hour. Browne and Parrott the scorers. Still plenty of time to claw this one back though, so keep the faith.

[Michael]

Knight goes on a run and has a shot, but his effort goes narrowly wide. From the resulting cross from the corner, Duffy has a powerful header excellently saved by Gordon. Ireland have been much the better side so far in this match here in Dublin.

[ScoRoss]

10 minutes ago, Michael said:

Not started well for Scotland though mate, Ireland are up 2-0 in less than half an hour. Browne and Parrott the scorers. Still plenty of time to claw this one back though, so keep the faith.

An awful half by Scotland, worse than the Ukraine game. At least with that game, you could see the quality they had. This is more about a lack of energy from Scotland, just looking so flat. The lack of urgency with the second ball for the first goal and the lack of pressure on the ball for the ball overghe top for the second. 

Changes need to be made at half time, just to jolt something into them.

[Guest]

@ScoRoss just saw the half time score.  Ireland really arent that good so a poor result for scotland so far. Consistency is a problem for Scotland it seems. They played very well against Denmark and us in the euros then have a very bad performance.

[ScoRoss]

5 minutes ago, Gunnersauraus said:

@ScoRoss just saw the half time score.  Ireland really arent that good so a poor result for scotland so far. Consistency is a problem for Scotland it seems. They played very well against Denmark and us in the euros then have a very bad performance.

They won six in a row to end qualifying, including beating Austria away and at home to Denmark. The performances upto these international fixtures, they'd been fairly good against similarly ranked nations and below. This will be a horrendous result against a team that they should be comfortably better than.

[Michael]

I expect Scotland to at least pull 1 goal back in the 2nd half and an improved performance. Gilmour is on, so he should energize that midfield.

[Michael]

Just now, ScoRoss said:

They won six in a row to end qualifying, including beating Austria away and at home to Denmark. The performances upto these international fixtures, they'd been fairly good against similarly ranked nations and below. This will be a horrendous result against a team that they should be comfortably better than.

You have to take into account that Scotland are playing away from home in Dublin, so that's to their disadvantage. But I agree, I think Scotland have a better team compared to Ireland player to player.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, ScoRoss said:

They won six in a row to end qualifying, including beating Austria away and at home to Denmark. The performances upto these international fixtures, they'd been fairly good against similarly ranked nations and below. This will be a horrendous result against a team that they should be comfortably better than.

Fair enough.