Ukraine’s accuracy in the final third left a lot to be desired in their 3-0 loss to Romania when they hit the desired target with just two of their 13 shots, however, Mykhailo Mudryk was one of two Ukrainian players to get an effort on target.

The 23-year-old racked up three shots in total, two of which were struck from inside the penalty area, with the third strike was leathered from about 35 yards out.

The range of his shots in terms of distance highlighted Mudryk’s ability to threaten from a variety of positions and the Chelsea winger could be good for at least one shot on target again against Slovakia.

Mudryk has registered at least one shot on target in each of his last six competitive appearances for Ukraine and as a talismanic presence for his country, the wide attacker will be under pressure to produce a match-changing moment on Friday.

Slovakia committed just ten fouls in total during their backs-to-the-wall performance against Belgium on matchday one, though midfielder Ondrej Duda was responsible for three of those and his combative streak could push his fouls tally up for the second game running against Ukraine.

The Falcons had less than 40% possession in their smash-and-grab success against the Belgians and Duda, along with his compatriots in midfield, spent much of the game trying to knock their opponents out of their rhythm.

Fellow midfielders Juraj Kucka and Stanislav Lobotka made more tackles than Duda on that occasion, though the 29-year-old committed more fouls against Belgium than the other two combined.

Indeed, Duda has a habit of using more nefarious means to break up play and he committed at least two fouls in seven of Slovakia’s eight Euro 2024 qualification fixtures. Expect more of the same from the bristly character on Friday.

Mykhailo Mudryk seemed to have a target on his back in Ukraine’s convincing loss to Romania on Monday and the wide attacker was fouled a game-high three times throughout the contest in Munich.

The 23-year-old’s speed and trickery also made him a target for rough treatment at the back end of the recent Premier League season in England, where he was fouled at least once in ten of his final 12 top-flight run-outs.

The story has been similar on the international scene and Mudryk has been fouled at least twice in four of his last six competitive appearances for Ukraine and the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk starlet could have his ankles clipped more than once again on Friday.

Mudryk will back himself to make life awkward for Slovakia’s veteran right back Peter Pekarík, who, at 37, lacks the acceleration to match his marker. Pekarík committed two fouls against Belgium and that was the third time in four competitive starts for Slovakia that the defender fouled twice.

Ivan Schranz wrote his name into Slovakian footballing folklore on Monday when he scored the decisive goal in The Falcons’ historic 1-0 win over Belgium.

The 30-year-old’s seventh-minute opener was only his fourth international goal in 23 appearances for his country, though the attacker should have enough confidence after his heroics to be a menace against Ukraine.

Schranz managed to get a shot on target in three of his five Europa League appearances in 2023/24 for Slavia Prague, again highlighting his nose for the big occasion.

Ukraine were vulnerable down their left flank against Romania with Oleksandr Zinchenko unconvincing while carrying out his defensive duties at left back and Schranz could have space to exploit in that area.

Like many of his team-mates, Yukhym Konoplia had an afternoon to forget on Monday in Ukraine’s dismal defeat to Romania.

Konoplia posted the second-lowest pass completion rate in Ukraine’s ranks (76%) and was booked for a foul committed in the 67th minute of the contest.

The 24-year-old will be desperate to avoid another error-strewn performance against Slovakia, though the right back could face another severe test of his mettle while marking Lukás Haraslín.

Haraslín is something of a foul-drawing expert and he was fouled seven times in one sitting against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, and at least twice in four of his eight appearances for Slovakia in that group overall.

The Slovakian flanksman proved a real handful again on matchday one against Belgium and drew four fouls from his frustrated markers.

Belgian right back Timothy Castagne committed two of those fouls and Ukraine’s Konoplia could match that haul in his attempts to shackle the same slippery player.

Vaunted as a possible Euro 2024 breakout star, Ukraine’s Heorhiy Sudakov tried in vain to make a telling impact against Romania on Monday, rifling a game-high four shots in Munich.

With rumours circulating about a prospective summer move for the midfielder to a top European club, Sudakov looked like he was keen to impress, though his desperation to shine led to some selfish shooting.

All four of Sudakov’s four strikes at goal were hit from outside the penalty area and only one of his punts from that range hit the target. Despite his inefficiency on matchday one, the 21-year-old is unlikely to rein things in against Slovakia.

Sudakov had at least three shots in four of his last six competitive outings for his country and at least two shots in all but one of the same games. Look for the attacking midfield to let loose at least twice again against Slovakia.