Still in the running for a place at Qatar 2022 if results go their way later this week, Ukraine welcome Bulgaria to Odessa on Thursday for a friendly international.

While the Bulgarians will not be heading for the Middle East in 12 months time, their recent improvement should mean they provide substantial opposition for the hosts, who travel to Bosnia next Tuesday for a decisive Group D finale.

Match preview

The void left by national hero Andriy Shevchenko's abdication after Euro 2020 may have been filled admirably by the new Genoa coach's successor Oleksandr Petrakov of late, but Ukraine prepare for a crucial week with uncertainty still surrounding their qualification for Qatar.

Only appointed on an interim basis until the end of the qualifiers, Petrakov - vastly experienced in youth development for his nation, but with little senior expertise - has taken the Zbirna to the brink of a World Cup playoff place. However, a tightly-packed Group D table means that they may yet need to win in Bosnia and hope for Finland to fail.

Nonetheless, registering four draws and a win since the start of September represents a creditable run for the Euro 2020 quarter-finalists' current coach - particularly as their one success during that spell came in Helsinki last month.

Ukraine followed that result with a 1-1 draw at home to Bosnia in their most recent outing, as Anel Ahmedhodzic's second-half strike for the visitors equalised Andriy Yarmolenko's early goal.

World-ranked 26th in the latest index, the Eastern European nation will certainly be favourites to prevail against their Balkan counterparts on Thursday night, and have won both of their previous meetings this century.

The tricky transition from an unsuccessful older unit to a more youthful squad has continued this year for 70th-ranked Bulgaria, as Yasen Petrov's side have suffered some setbacks but also seen signs of long-awaited improvement.

Humbled by lowly Lithuania in the first match of October's qualifying double-header, the Lions went on to beat Northern Ireland a few days later, as a Todor Nedelev brace proved the difference against their Group C rivals in Sofia.

That win elevated Bulgaria to third in the standings, well adrift of Switzerland and European champions Italy - who will battle it out for automatic qualification this week - but above both Ian Baraclough's men and the Lithuanians.

They may only be playing for pride in their final fixture against the Swiss next week, but Petrov will no doubt be determined that his squad builds upon a run of just one loss from five games - including doggedly holding the Euro 2020 winners to a 1-1 draw in Florence.

Bulgaria have failed to qualify for the World Cup finals since 1998 - soon after famously finishing fourth at USA '94 - but though another four years will pass before they have another chance to return, the first foundations of a challenge next time may be laid in the coming months.

Team News

Injured Dynamo Kiev full-back Vitaliy Mykolenko aside, Ukraine have a full-strength squad for their international double-header, giving stand-in coach Oleksandr Petrakov the opportunity to continue with the tradition of playing two wingers and a central striker.

For that reason, Serie A star Ruslan Malinovskyi may not feature, as his particular talents - playing in an advanced central midfield role - seem at odds with the team's usual setup.

While Oleksandr Zinchenko could be asked to deputise for Mykolenko as a left-sided wing-back, Shakhtar Donetsk youngster Viktor Korniyenko and Club Brugge's Eduard Sobol are other possible options on that flank.

Bulgaria, meanwhile, have continued integrating some of the next generation during their transitional phase, with teenage goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov and Chicago Fire striker Stanislav Ivanov both being hopeful of a first senior cap.

Todor Nedelev should start in support of the lone striker following his double strike against Northern Ireland, and 24-year-old Kiril Despodov is also set to feature up front, having assumed the captaincy from Georgi Kostadinov.

Ukraine possible starting lineup:
Bushchan; Matvienko, Kryvtsov, Zabaryni; Tymchyk, Kovalenko, Zinchenko, Korniyenko; Yarmolenko, Tsyhankov; Yaremchuk

Bulgaria possible starting lineup:
Mihailov; Turitsov, Bozhikov, Dimitrov, Velkovski; Yankov, Chochev; Despodov, Nedelev, Kirilov; D. Iliev

We say: Ukraine 1-1 Bulgaria

Neither of these sides generally score in bulk, so a low-scoring draw could be on the cards - particularly if the second half peters out due to substitutions and a desire to preserve energy before more important upcoming engagements.

There is certainly a drop-off in quality outside the hosts' first-choice selections, so any major changes would mean they can be held by a gradually improving Bulgaria.

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