Ukraine-Albania, the probable formations

Ukraine and Albania both know they have been eliminated in the semifinals in the playoffs that award the last places at the 2026 World Cup to European selections. Yet they return to the field Tuesday night at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium (during the year the home of Levante), with kickoff at 8:45 p.m., to honor to the last day their (now faded) dream of being there in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Rebrov will send his Ukraine out with a very covered tactical scheme, in which the only forward will be Vanat with a four-man midfield composed of Tsygankov, Yarmoliuk, Sudakov and Zubkov. Four-man defense will also be in front of Trubin, while Zaliuzhnyi will act between the lines, acting as a glue with the median.

Sylvinho will instead launch a bolder Albania, with Uzuni and Hoxha forming the offensive pair. A few meters behind them Shehu, while Asllani, Laci and Bajrami will act in midfield. Familiar names between goal and defense, with Strakosha between the posts and the quartet consisting of Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti and Mitaj protecting him.

Probable lineups

UCRAINE (4-1-4-1): Trubin; Tymchyk, Zavarnyi, Bondar, Mykolenko; Zaliuzhnyi; Tsygankov, Yarmoliuk, Sudakov, Zubkov; Vanat. C.T.: Rebrov.

ALBANIA (4-3-1-2): Strakosha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Asllani, Laci, Bajrami; Shehu; Uzuni, Hoxha. C.T.: Sylvinho.

.