Ones to watch at Euro 2016: Ukraine’s Yevhen Konoplyanka

Although Ukraine will certainly face something of a rough test among Group C at Euro 2016 this summer – with each of Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland looking to stake a meaningful claim for themselves at the upcoming international tournament – Mykhaylo Fomenko’s determined outfit will nonetheless be spurred on greatly with the addition of 26-year-old Sevilla winger Yevhen Konoplyanka.

 

The former Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk wide-man has scored eight well-taken goals in all competitions for the eventual Europa League winners this season, as well as registering nine decent assists whilst he’s been out on the pitch for Sevilla in 2015/16. The Ukrainian international could therefore continue his fine form upon the European stage at Euro 2016 this summer, especially as Fomenko’s side will be desperate for as many attacking outlets as possible once the highly anticipated tournament finally comes around.

 

 

 

When it comes to bamboozling opposing defenders inside the final third with his quick-feet and trickery, taking on daring shots in and around the opposition’s penalty box time and time again, as well as simply providing his respective fan-base with all the sensation and excitement you could seemingly desire from a modern day winger – Konoplyanka has certainly impressed throughout the 2015/16 domestic campaign.

 

After receiving his fair share of reported transfer interest from the Premier League in recent windows – from the likes of Stoke City and West Ham United, to both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur among the upper echelons of the English top-flight – the 26-year-old’s recent rise at Sevilla should hardly arrive as much of a surprise in the cold light of day.

 

Whilst Ukraine have traditionally represented something of a largely forgettable and uncompromisingly robust outfit upon the international scene in several major tournaments past, perhaps Euro 2016 really could represent a sharp upturn in fortunes for Mykhaylo Fomenko’s team with Yevhen Konoplyanka sincerely looking to continue his fine domestic form in France this summer.