SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 12 hrs
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
UN
Friendlies 1
Jun 3, 2021 at 7pm UK
 
NI

Ukraine
1 - 0
N. Ireland

Zubkov (10')
Besedin (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-0)

McNair (90+3')

Ali McCann: 'Northern Ireland were unlucky against Ukraine'

:Headline: Ali McCann: 'Northern Ireland were unlucky against Ukraine':
Ian Baraclough's side lost 1-0 to an early goal by Oleksandr Zubkov.
Sports Mole

Ali McCann believes Northern Ireland were unlucky to leave Dnipro empty-handed after a 1-0 friendly defeat to Ukraine on Thursday night.

Oleksandr Zubkov's 10th-minute header proved the difference on the night in an open match which saw both sides have plenty of opportunities.

Euro 2020-bound Ukraine dominated the early going and would have hoped to put the game to bed by half-time, but Northern Ireland came back at them after the break to give Andriy Shevchenko something to think about a little over a week ahead of their opening Group C fixture against Holland.

Ian Baraclough's side were left to rue some poor defending for the goal as Zubkov was left unmarked at the back post.

"It was a tough game," McCann said. "I thought it was a poor goal to concede from us and it doesn't start us off too well, but I thought we grew back into it and put in a good performance in the second half.

"We can probably count ourselves unlucky not to come away with something but it was a good team performance, particularly in the second half, and we can take loads of positives into going into the next camp."

McCann, who scored his first international goal in Sunday's 3-0 win over Malta, flashed a header narrowly wide midway through the second half while Paddy McNair sent a stoppage-time free-kick just wide.

The best chance of the night came late in the first half when Ciaron Brown got on the end of a McNair free-kick but saw goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan claw his header to safety.

"I thought it was going in, it was a good save," McCann said. "Chances like that, if we get them put away we put ourselves in a better position."

The St Johnstone player once again impressed in midfield, showing why he has been linked with a move to a bigger club this summer.

"I thought it was similar to the team," he said of his own performance. "In the first half it was a bit bitty, a bit disjointed and then in the second half much better, we moved the ball much quicker and picked them off in higher areas and it was much better to be a part of."

"(The week) has been brilliant – the more caps you get, just being in and around the camps, it's a great experience and I'm loving it."

body check tags ::

amp_article__450163 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-03 22:26:29:
html db last update - 2021-06-03 22:06:08 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Ali McCann

Click here for more stories about Northern Ireland

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Ali McCann Football
Recommended Next on SM
The talking points ahead of Northern Ireland's clash with Ukraine
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

1

MC

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

2

MC

Friday's Primeira Liga predictions including Estrela vs. Sporting Lisbon

3

FP

Mainoo, Rashford, Palmer handed boost in Euro 2024 hopes?

4

MR

Key midfield trio 'absent from Real Madrid training on Thursday'

5

KM

Preview: RB Leipzig vs. Mainz - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PR

Preview: Brentford vs. Man Utd - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

8

A'

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

How Chelsea could line up against Burnley

10

HC


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .