Soccer vs. Ukraine boosts national spirit with qualification for Euro 2024
Wrocław, Poland (Reuters) – Ukraine's advance to the Euro 2024 soccer final is a boost for the country, which is reeling from the conflict with Russia, with the tournament providing a distraction from the harsh realities of war for several weeks in June and July. It will be a welcome occasion.
The team came from behind to defeat Iceland 2-1 in the playoff final held in neutral Poland on Tuesday, advancing to the continental final for the fourth consecutive year.
They will be placed in Group E alongside Belgium, Slovakia and Romania and will face off in the opening game in Munich on June 17th.
The war between Russia and Ukraine is now in its third year and shows no signs of ending since the February 2022 invasion, which the Kremlin calls a “special military operation” despite heavy casualties on both sides. There isn't.
After Tuesday's victory, team captain Oleksandr Zinchenko said: “I am very proud to be Ukrainian and to be of the same blood as those who sacrifice their lives for our freedom.” .
“We have to talk about it and shout about it every day. This is the only way we win. It was one of the most emotional games for us.
“It feels great. I'm so happy because it's another dream come true. I'm so grateful to all of our fans for being an amazing help during this difficult time.”
Coach Serhii Rebrov said it was difficult for his team to focus on soccer as they prepared for the game against Iceland.
“Missiles fly every day. Our mission is to show that we are all alive and fighting against Russia and that we need European support,” Rebrov said.
He added that the players “have seen the news about the shelling of Odessa and Kiev (and) are even more angry and eager to show our potential on the football field.”
The manager praised the “character of the players and the nation” for continuing a qualifying campaign in which Ukraine, a refugee from war, has hosted “home” matches spread across Europe.
poetic irony
There was also the poetic irony that Poland, where the team's mission was successfully completed, now has the highest concentration of Ukrainian refugees of any country.
The road to the finals was certainly not easy.
Rebrov's team advanced through a tough qualifying group that included European champions Italy and runners-up England, keeping both teams to draws.
Former Ukraine striker Rebrov was appointed in June last year after a disappointing loss to Wales in the play-offs for a place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
With Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovvik in attack, winger Mykhailo Mudryk showing speed, Zinchenko's Gyle in midfield, and Ilya Zabarny and Vitaly Mykolenko at the back, Ukraine has We have a talented team.
What they've proven now is that in the face of adversity, you can fight through it and come out victorious, and I hope that's a message that unifies this country.
“It was very difficult to be on the coaching bench today. I saw how difficult it was for the players,” Rebrov said.
“Thank you to everyone for your gift to our country. In difficult times like these, it is so important.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Additional reporting by Olexander Kozhukhar in Kyiv; Editing by Ken Ferris)