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Poland and Ukraine are set to face each other in an international friendly match at Wroclaw Stadium on Sunday, 31 May 2026, kicking off at 22:30 WIB.

As both nations failed to qualify for the World Cup, this encounter will serve as preparation for their upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, which begins in September.

Match Preview: Poland vs Ukraine

After several appearances in World Cup finals and five consecutive European Championship qualifications, Poland had high hopes of making it to the next World Cup.

However, despite a favourable route in the play-offs, a 2-1 quarter-final win over Albania was followed by a 3-2 defeat to Graham Potter’s Sweden, who were struggling for form at the time.

Poland’s seven-match unbeaten streak came to an end thanks to Viktor Gyokeres’ 88th-minute winner. The loss also denied Robert Lewandowski another chance to play on football’s biggest international stage.

Although Lewandowski had hinted at international retirement, he remains in the squad for this game. Meanwhile, head coach Jan Urban has started searching for a long-term successor to the 37-year-old striker.

Alongside five wins in their last seven unbeaten games, Poland also recorded two 1-1 draws against World Cup participants, the Netherlands.

On the other hand, Ukraine were the team Sweden defeated to reach the World Cup play-off final against Poland. The 3-1 defeat marked the end of Sergei Rebrov’s tenure as head coach.

Andrea Maldera, formerly an assistant coach for Ukraine and right-hand man to Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille, has been appointed as Rebrov’s replacement.

Since 10 June, Ukraine have recorded five wins, one draw, and three losses from nine matches, including two defeats to France.

Their most notable wins came against Iceland and, more recently, Albania, whom they beat 1-0 in a friendly in March.

The two sides last met in June 2024, when Poland claimed a 3-1 victory. Poland have enjoyed three consecutive wins over Ukraine since 2016.

Poland’s Recent Form (all competitions):

• Win
• Draw
• Win
• Win
• Win
• Loss

Ukraine’s Recent Form (all competitions):

• Win
• Win
• Loss
• Win
• Loss

Team News: Poland vs Ukraine

With Matty Cash missing from Poland’s squad, Arkadiusz Pyrka could make his third appearance as his replacement at right wing-back.

Tomasz Kedziora is an alternative option for Przemyslaw Wisniewski in the back three, while Michal Skoras and Filip Rozga could return after being left out against Sweden.

Lewandowski is expected to start this match, while Karol Czubak—who recently scored 18 goals for Motor Lublin—could make his international debut in the second half.

It remains to be seen how Maldera will set up Ukraine in his first match in charge, but five players who started in the 3-1 loss to Sweden in March are unavailable.

Mykola Matviyenko could return at centre-back, with Valeriy Bondar shifting to right-back, while Mykola Shaparenko and Ruslan Malinovskyi may also return to the lineup.

Andriy Yarmolenko is in line for his 125th cap, and Artem Dovbyk could be chosen to replace Roman Yaremchuk in the attacking role.

Predicted Line-ups: Poland vs Ukraine

Poland: Grabara; Kiwior, Bednarek, Wisniewski; Pyrka, Szymanski, Zielinski, Zalewski; Swiderski, Kaminski; Lewandowski

Ukraine: Trubin; Bondar, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Sudakov, Shaparenko; Tsygankov, Malinovskyi, Yarmolenko; Dovbyk

Score Prediction: Poland vs Ukraine

Sportsmole’s Prediction

Although both managers are expected to field strong starting line-ups, mass substitutions and potential debuts may take place in the second half.

Considering that, we predict a balanced contest that could end in a low-scoring draw.

Predicted Score: Poland 1-1 Ukraine

TribunLombok’s Prediction

Poland hold several advantages ahead of this match. Apart from playing at home in Wroclaw, they also have a more stable squad compared to Ukraine, who are in a coaching transition period.

Robert Lewandowski remains a major difference-maker. Despite being 37, his goal-scoring instinct and leadership in the dressing room remain vital. With creative support from Piotr Zielinski, Sebastian Szymanski, and Nicola Zalewski, Poland possess a dangerous attacking variety.

Ukraine’s individual quality, however, cannot be underestimated. Players like Artem Dovbyk, Viktor Tsygankov, Georgiy Sudakov, and Illia Zabarnyi are capable of creating threats at any moment. Yet, a managerial change often requires time to build chemistry and implement a new tactical system.

Another factor is Poland’s favourable head-to-head record, having won the last three meetings against Ukraine, including a 3-1 victory in their most recent encounter. Psychologically, this gives the hosts an edge.

As this is a friendly match, both managers are likely to make several substitutions in the second half. Such changes often affect team cohesion and may lead to additional scoring opportunities.

Ukraine have the potential to score through their counter-attacking strength, but Poland’s experience and squad stability make them slight favourites for a narrow win. The most realistic prediction is a competitive match ending in a 2-1 victory for Poland.

Predicted Score: Poland 2-1 Ukraine