Ukraine vs. North Macedonia Predictions: Goals, Goals, Goals!

Our Euro 2020 correspondent Neil Monnery is expecting an entertaining game to kick-off Thursday's Euro 2020 slate as Ukraine take on North Macedonia...

Location: Budapest, Hungary

Date: Thursday, June 17.

Kick Off Time: 9AM ET

TV: ESPN

Two teams looking to open their Euro 2020 points tallies meet in Romania on Thursday morning. Ukraine were involved in a thrilling 3-2 match in Amsterdam as they nearly caused the Dutch an almighty shock with two late goals to level it up before the home side won it late.

North Macedonia are the minnows of the tournament but they too were involved in a thoroughly entertaining game before going down 1-3 to Austria. With two good games behind both sides and the need for a positive result - I am already highly anticipating this early kick-off and immediately my best port of call is the over 2.5 goals market hoping to see it in positive odds and boom - yes I do.

Without burying the lead - I’m clearly going to play that market. Neither side are great defensively - with both having conceded three times in their opening game but desperation will lead to more aggressive and attacking behavior.

Andriy Yarmolenko has struggled getting a game at West Ham in the EPL this season but he caused the Dutch all manner of problems on Sunday afternoon. I fully expect him to continue in that rich vein of form. He got Ukraine’s first goal that day and is +200 to score again in this one, which is almighty tempting. The other score that day was Roman Yaremchuk and he’s +190 to hit the back of the net.

I’m going to look at the veteran on the North Macedonian side of the field however for my anytime scorer bet. Goran Pandev has been a quite wonderful player and has had a fantastic career. Getting that goal against Austria on Sunday might have been his highlight however. He’s +450 to score anytime and that seems too long for a striker of his quality - even if he’s playing in a poor side.

This game will be open and if you wanted to push the over 2.5 goals market up to 3.5 then at +290 - I wouldn’t be averse to doing that myself.

Picks: Over 2.5 goals with Unibet and SugarHouse at +108 and Goran Pandev to score anytime at +450 with Borgate and BetMGM.