Ukraine’s qualification for the Euro 2024 soccer finals has cheered a country suffering hardship in its conflict with Russia and for a few weeks in June and July the tournament will provide a welcome distraction from the harsh reality of war.
The team came from behind to defeat Iceland 2-1, opens new tab in their playoff final in neutral Poland on Tuesday and book a fourth successive appearance in the continental finals.
They will be in Group E with Belgium, Slovakia and Romania, who they face in their opening game in Munich on June 17.
Russia’s war with Ukraine has now entered a third year and, despite heavy casualties on both sides, it shows no sign of coming to an end following Russia’s invasion of February 2022.
“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,” team captain Oleksandr Zinchenko said after Tuesday’s victory.
“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.”
Coach Serhiy Rebrov said in the build-up to the Iceland match that it was hard for his team to concentrate on football.
“The missiles are flying every day. Our mission is to show that we’re all alive and fighting against the Russians and that we need Europe’s support,” Rebrov said.
He added that his players were “watching the news about the shelling of Odessa and Kyiv (and made) even more angry and eager to show our potential on the football field”.
The coach hailed the “character of our players and our nation” to keep going in a qualifying campaign where, as refugees from the war themselves, Ukraine have staged ‘home’ matches spread across Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the team’s resilience in difficult times.
“Thank you, team. For the important victory and making it to EURO,” Zelenskiy said in a post on X.
“For proving once again, whenever Ukrainians face difficulties they do not give up and continue to fight, Ukrainians certainly win.
“In times, when the enemy tries to destroy us, we demonstrate every day that Ukrainians are and will be. Ukraine is, and will be! Glory to Ukraine!”
