Outsiders with bite. Built on willpower, shaped by physicality.
Head Coach: Darren Bazeley
Typical Formation: 4-2-3-1
Current Form: Inconsistent but spirited; finding rhythm through struggle.
New Zealand don’t pretend to be anything they’re not. They know their lane — structured, disciplined, and quietly dangerous on the counter. Their weapons aren’t many, but they’re sharp: Chris Wood leads the line with Premier League pedigree, while Liberato Cacace gives width and whip from the left. Deeper in midfield, Joe Bell orchestrates transitions with understated calm.
They don’t seek control. They seek moments. Disruption is the goal — to drag teams into a rhythm they don’t want and capitalize when the chaos favors them.
Key Players:
Strengths: Set pieces, aerial duels, and sheer grit. They play compact, they foul smart, and they know how to suffer.
Weaknesses: Struggle when chasing games. Possession under pressure invites danger. Depth and pace are question marks.
Technical artisans with steel beneath the surface.
Head Coach: Serhiy Rebrov
Typical Formation: 4-3-3
Current Form: Locked in. Fresh off qualification, focused on flow.
Ukraine aren’t just warming up — they’re preparing to explode. With Euro 2024 around the corner, this match serves as their final dress rehearsal. Expect nothing left to chance. This is a team full of top-flight experience: Zinchenko the metronome, Mudryk the spark, Dovbyk the hammer.
Rebrov’s side is engineered for control. They press intelligently, move in triangles, and punish lapses. Even with rotation, the standard doesn’t drop — it pivots. By the way, if you were looking for extra value before this match, the updated 1xbet promo code Bangladesh can give you a solid boost.
Key Players:
Strengths: Ball control, high pressing, and creative depth. They wear opponents down with sharp passing and calculated aggression.
Weaknesses: Can become passive in dominant spells. If they ease off, they allow hope — and hope is dangerous in football.
This isn’t just about talent. It’s about tempo. Ukraine will own the ball, own the pace, and stretch the Kiwis until structure gives way to inevitability. The challenge isn’t if Ukraine can break them — it’s how quickly they do it.
For New Zealand, the first 45 minutes are survival. Stay compact, frustrate, disrupt. But pressure builds like water behind glass — and eventually, glass breaks.
Ukraine are expected to control the tempo with superior technical quality and midfield depth. New Zealand may offer resistance early but lack the creativity to trouble Ukraine's back line.
Total score Under 3.5
Handicap -1.5 for Ukraine
Both teams to score - No all offer strong value.
For extra coverage, Asian Total Under 3.25
Place a bet on the line of 1xBet with odds of 1.76 for a Ukraine win.