Play-off analysis: Ukraine v Slovenia
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Article summary
Ukraine will look to record their first major tournament play-off success at the sixth attempt as they meet Slovenia, the side that denied them a place at UEFA EURO 2000.
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Article body
Ukraine will look to win a first play-off for a major final tournament at the sixth attempt – and beat Slovenia for the first time in the process.
Dates
• Ukraine v Slovenia, 18.00CET, Saturday 14 November
• Slovenia v Ukraine, 20.45CET, Tuesday 17 November
Previous meetings
• Ukraine have yet to beat Slovenia in four games – two draws and two defeats – and lost out to Slovenia in the play-offs for a place at UEFA EURO 2000.
Form guide
• Ukraine's only previous UEFA European Championship play-off ended in that 3-2 aggregate loss to Slovenia.
• Ukraine have also missed out in four FIFA World Cup finals play-offs, for the tournaments in 1998 (1-3 agg Croatia), 2002 (2-5 agg Germany), 2010 (0-1 agg Greece) and 2014 (2-3 agg France).
• Ukraine coach Mikhail Fomenko speaking of that last tie, when Ukraine won 2-0 at home but lost 3-0 in France, said: "Of course it would be better to start away, but we cannot change anything with the draw. We have experience of beating France in the first leg at home and we will use that in our preparations as well."
• Slovenia have been involved in two EURO play-offs, winning one and losing one. They overcame Ukraine 3-2 on aggregate to reach their first finals – UEFA EURO 2000 – but succumbed 2-1 to neighbours Croatia to sit out the 2004 event.
• Slovenia also won both their past World Cup play-offs: they edged Russia on away goals (2-2 agg) to get to the 2010 finals and Romania (3-2 agg) to qualify for the 2002 tournament.
Trivia and links
• Ukraine finished third in Group C behind European champions Spain and Slovakia. Slovenia recovered from a 1-0 defeat in Estonia in their opening fixture to come third in Group E.
• Ukraine made their EURO finals debuts as co-hosts of UEFA EURO 2012. Their biggest achievement at international level was progressing to the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.
• Slovenia's sole previous EURO finals, UEFA EURO 2000, ended in a group stage exit.
• Ukraine forward Roman Zozulya turns 26 on 17 November, the day of the second leg.
• Oleh Gusev's next appearance will be his 100th for Ukraine, while team-mate Vyacheslav Shevchuk is one cap shy of his 50th.
