Romania and Ukraine open their Euro 2024 campaigns both hoping to make positive starts at the expense of the other.

The two Eastern European nations surprised many in qualifying and will be eyeing a top-two finish with Belgium in Group E.

Mudryk became an instant Ukraine hero with this goalCredit: Getty

Romania topped their qualification group ahead of Switzerland having not lost one of their ten matches.

However, Tricolorii haven’t won a match at a major tournament since their dramatic late victory over England at Euro 2000.

Ukraine are the second-highest-ranked team in Group E but had to come from behind to beat Iceland during the playoffs in March.

Romania vs Ukraine: Date and how to follow

This Group E showdown will take place on Monday, June 17.

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Kick-off at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena will be at 2pm UK time.

talkSPORT will have full coverage of the match and more details will follow nearer to the tournament.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

The tie will also be shown on free-to-air TV on BBC One.

Dragusin signed for Tottenham in JanuaryCredit: Getty

Romania vs Ukraine: Team news and latest squads

Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko is in danger of missing Euro 2024 after suffering a suspected ankle ligament injury in April.

The left-back has been named in Ukraine's preliminary squad for the tournament but his country are still sweating on his fitness.

Romania

  • Goalkeepers: Florin Nita (Gaziantep), Horatiu Moldovan (Atlético Madrid), Stefan Târnovanu (FCSB), Răzvan Sava (CFR Cluj)
  • Defenders: Nicușor Bancu (Universitatea Craiova), Andrei Burcă (Al-Okhdood), Ionuț Nedelcearu (Palermo), Adrian Rus (Pafos), Andrei Rațiu (Rayo Vallecano), Radu Drăgușin (Tottenham), Vasile Mogoș (CFR Cluj), Bogdan Racovițan (Raków Częstochowa)
  • Midfielders: Nicolae Stanciu (Damac), Răzvan Marin (Empoli), Alexandru Cicâldău (Konyaspor), Ianis Hagi (Alavés), Dennis Man (Parma), Valentin Mihăilă (Parma), Marius Marin (Pisa), Darius Olaru (FCSB), Deian Sorescu (Gaziantep), Florinel Coman (FCSB), Adrian Șut (FCSB), Constantin Grameni (Farul Constanța)
  • Forwards: George Pușcaș (Bari), Denis Alibec (Muaither), Denis Drăguș (Gaziantep), Daniel Bîrligea (CFR Cluj)

Ukraine

  • Goalkeepers: Heorhiy Bushchan (Dynamo Kyiv), Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica), Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid)
  • Defenders: Mykola Matviyenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Vitaliy Mykolenko (Everton), Illya Zabarnyi (Bournemouth), Oleksandr Tymchyk (Dynamo Kyiv), Yukhym Konoplya (Shakhtar Donetsk), Bohdan Mykhaylichenko (Polissya Zhytomyr), Valeriy Bondar (Shakhtar Donetsk), Maksym Talovyerov (LASK), Oleksandr Svatok (Dnipro-1)
  • Midfielders: Serhiy Sydorchuk (Westerlo), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal), Ruslan Malinovskyi (Genoa), Viktor Tsyhankov (Girona), Taras Stepanenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleksandr Zubkov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Mykola Shaparenko (Dynamo Kyiv), Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea), Heorhiy Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Volodymyr Brazhko (Dynamo Kyiv)
  • Forwards: Roman Yaremchuk (Valencia), Artem Dovbyk (Girona), Vladyslav Vanat (Dynamo Kyiv), Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv)
Arsenal left-back Zinchenko plays in midfield for his countryCredit: Getty

Romania vs Ukraine: Players to watch

Radu Dragusin

The Tottenham defender had started to find his feet in England in the final few weeks of the Premier League season.

Spurs beat out competition from Bayern Munich to sign the centre-back in January from Genoa in a £25million plus add-ons deal.

The Romania international was key in his former club's promotion to Serie A and made 22 appearances this season before his move.

However, he managed to play 90 minutes just twice in his first 15 Premier League games and was an unused substitute nine times.

Dragusin finally broke into Tottenham's team for the final weeks of the season and a positive showing at Euro 2024 will go a long way to convincing Ange Postecoglou that he's worthy to start next season.

Dragusin can make himself one of the breakout stars of the tournamentCredit: Getty

Mykhailo Mudryk

Ukraine have plenty of talent through their squad with Real Madrid goalkeeper Lunin, Arsenal's Zinchenko, as well as La Liga top scorer Dovbyk.

However, Euro 2024 could be the tournament for Mudryk to explode despite the winger's struggles since his £89million move to Chelsea.

It was the 23-year-old's goal earlier this year that sent Ukraine to the tournament which coincided in a spike in his performances.

Mudryk showed signs of his potential in the final months of Mauricio Pochettino's reign before a concussion ended his season early.

Coming into a knockout tournament as the underdog akin to the 2022/23 Champions League where he announced himself on the European stage at Shakhtar Donetsk could be perfect for him.

Mudryk is still heralded by his country despite his Chelsea strugglesCredit: Getty

Romania vs Ukraine: What has been said?

Arsenal's versatile star Zinchenko hailed Ukrainian soldiers after a ‘dream’ win over Iceland secured their spot at Euro 2024.

“I am very proud to be a Ukrainian, to be of the same blood as those who are now giving their lives for our freedom,” Zinchenko said.

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“We need to talk about it, shout about it every day. This is the only way we can win. It was one of our most emotional games.

“It is an amazing feeling. I am very happy because it is another dream come true. A big thank you to our fans, they helped us through these difficult times amazingly.”

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