Ukraine advances to finals of Euro 2024
Poland also qualifies, inflicts hearbreak on Wales with 5-4 win on penalties
WROCLAW, Poland (Reuters) – 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 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.
“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 buildup 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 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 Zelensky 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!”
POLAND EDGES WALES
In Cardiff, Poland’s Wojciech Szczesny saved a Daniel James spot kick as they dashed Wales’ hopes and won a penalty shootout 5-4 to qualify for Euro 2024 as the last country through from the playoff finals.
The victory at the Cardiff City Stadium, after a cagey 90 minutes and further deadlock in extra time, secured Poland a fifth straight appearance at the continental tournament.
They will be in Group D with France, the Netherlands and Austria.
“It wasn’t easy because we knew Wales at home are dangerous. For us the most important thing was to play our own game and that’s what we’ve done,” said Poland manager Michal Probierz.
“We missed opportunities to shoot more, we are aware of that. The most important thing was qualifying, nobody cares about anything else today.”
Wales went into their first ever shootout with 10 men after Chris Mepham was sent off in added time of extra time for a second yellow card but they matched Poland until James’ miss.
It was the first time since 2012 that Wales, whose talismanic record scorer Gareth Bale retired after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, had failed to qualify for the Euros.