England must beware Ukraine's inverted wide threat

One of the most prominent tactical developments of last few seasons has been the popularity of the ‘inverted’ winger – that is, a winger playing on the opposite side to his strongest foot.

 

Whereas previously the standard job of a wide player was to receive a pass, skip down the outside and swing in a cross, now it’s increasingly common to see players receive a pass, cut inside and shoot.

 

Although that added goalscoring potential is a crucial factor in the popularity of these players, it’s also a reaction to the rise of attacking full-backs. Now, with those players providing the width, pace and crossing from a deeper position, managers don’t need that role replicated from higher up the pitch. Attacking full-backs when playing behind a winger who drifts inside, creating space on the overlap.

 

The popularity of these players became particularly obvious during the 2009/10 campaign, when the four European finalists all used wingers on the ‘wrong’ side. In the Champions League final, Inter had Samuel Eto’o and Goran Pandev cutting inside against a Bayern side who had based their team around Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery doing the same thing. In the Europa League final, Atletico’s Simao Sabrosa and Jose Reyes flooded the centre against Damien Duff on Fulham’s right, and Simon Davies on the left.

 

Roy Hodgson was in charge of Fulham for that final, of course, and tonight he’ll encounter another side whose primary threats come from inverted wingers. Ukraine are lacking a reliable goalscorer upfront in the post-Shevchenko era, but with speedy wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka cutting inside and shooting from range, Ukraine certainly have goalscoring potential from deeper positions.

 

England also faced Ukraine at Euro 2012, of course, defeating the hosts 1-0 in a quiet, unremarkable group game. Ukraine’s most dangerous attacker was Konoplyanka, who started on the left before drifting inside and unleashing no fewer than five shots from distance.

Konoplyanaka is a typical, modern day counter-attacking winger. His club side, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, have often been excellent on the break in recent years, and his part in the system is simple – he drops deep, generally into his own half, and looks to pick up possession when the opposition have men forward. Then, he breaks quickly forward with the ball, before shooting powerfully from inside-left positions.

 

But while he’s naturally a direct, goalscoring winger, the 23-year-old is also surprisingly calm and measured with his passing – frequently knocking simple passes into the central midfielders with his favoured right foot, keeping possession rather than running down blind alleys. An intelligent user of the ball, he only attempts to beat opponents if there’s space to break into – and can also create chances for others, too.

On the other flank, Yarmolenko isn’t quite a mirror image of Konoplyanaka – he’s much taller, for a start – but he offers something similar. His club side, Dynamo Kiev, have also been a counter-attacking force in recent years, and he follows the pattern of picking up possession in his own half, before roaring forward and shooting.

He’s arguably less intellegent in his decision-making than Konoplyanka, however. He more frequently attempts crosses that don’t reach their intended target (rather than playing safer, clever passes), and is dispossessed too often when attempting to dribble past defenders. That said, his international goalscoring record (11 in 33) is more impressive than that of Konoplyanaka (8 in 30).

Ukraine are still struggling for a first-choice centre-forward – Konoplyanaka and centre-back Yevhen Khacheridi are the top goalscorers in this qualification campaign, and Roman Bezus has scored more than any striker despite only being used from the bench. Marko Devic has returned from injury and should start, but England should be more wary of the threat from wide. 

As Konoplyanaka rather undiplomatically put it this week, “If Scotland managed to score two goals versus England, so can we.”

Latest in Analysis
England players celebrate after Myles Lewis-Skelly scored the opening goal in the 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Albania at Wembley Stadium, London, March 2025
Stats and facts to set the scene as England face Latvia in World Cup qualifying
Wales players celebrate a goal against Iceland during the UEFA Nations League match at the Cardiff City Stadium, November 2024
A goal-fest in store as Wales entertain Kazakhstan in their first game of 2025?
Northern Ireland players celebrate after Isaac Price scored to complete a hat-trick in the UEFA Nations League match against Bulgaria at Windsor Park in Belfast, October 2024
Here's what to watch out for as in-form Northern Ireland gear up for Switzerland friendly
Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, looks on during a training session at St Georges Park on March 18, 2025 in Burton-upon-Trent, England Journalist and Media pundit, Henry Winter looks on from the press box during the international friendly match between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina at St James' Park on June 03, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
'Where’s the "one of our own" that’s remotely good enough? The FA needed to be pragmatic, not patriotic.' Writing exclusively for FourFourTwo Henry Winter reminds England fans why they have good reason to be smiling
Andy Robertson celebrates with John McGinn after scoring Scotland's winning goal in stoppage time against Poland in the Nations League in Warsaw, November 2024
Three things to keep an eye on as Scotland look to avoid Nations League relegation in Greece play-off
England manager Thomas Tuchel speaks at a press conference, March 2025
What to look out for as Thomas Tuchel's England tenure gets underway with Albania clash
Latest in Features
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
 Sheila Garcia of Real Madrid CF battle for the ball with Alessia Russo of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 18, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
'Over two legs I expected Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, I still think they can despite being 2-0 down,' says former Lioness Izzy Christiansen
Luiz Diaz of Colombia celebrates with James Rodriguez of Colombia after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Colombia vs Paraguay: Live streams for World Cup qualifier
Uruguay's Argentine head coach Marcelo Bielsa (R) gives instructions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Uruguay and Argentina at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, on March 21, 2025.
How to watch Bolivia vs Uruguay: Live streams for Conmebol World Cup qualifying
BRASILIA, BRAZIL - MARCH 20, 2025: Vinicius Junior of Brazil in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Argentina vs Brazil: Live streams for blockbuster World Cup qualifier
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on March 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Quiz! Can you name FourFourTwo's greatest Premier League players ever?