Ukraine raise country’s spirits with Euro 2024 qualification
Georgia qualified for Euro 2024 thanks to a 4-2 shootout win over Greece ater a tense playoff final ended 0-0 following extra time on as they made history by reaching their first major tournament
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.
Poland secured their place at the finals with a penalty shoot-out victory over Wales and Georgia qualified for a first ever major tournament.
The Ukrainians 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.
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 ater Tuesday’s victory.
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”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy 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!”
Ukraine successfully completed its qualification mission in Poland, which has the largest concentration of Ukrainian refugees of any country.
Still, it has been no easy path to the finals. Rebrov’s side came through a tough qualifying group that included European champions Italy and runners-up England, managing draws against both sides.
It followed the disappointment of losing to Wales in a playoff for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ater which former Ukraine striker Rebrov took over in June last year.
With Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk in atack, the pace of winger Mykhailo Mudryk, guile of Zinchenko in midfield and steel of Illya Zabarnyi and Vitaliy Mykolenko at the back, Ukraine have a capable squad.
What they have proven now is that they can batle against the odds in the face of adversity and win the day, hoping that will become a unifying message for the country.
“It was very difficult to be on the coaching bench today, I saw how difficult it was for the guys,” Rebrov said.
“I am grateful to all of them for this git for our country. In such a difficult time, it is very important.”
They will go into Group E alongside Belgium, Slovakia and Romania and will have ambitions of progressing to the last 16.
Poland go into a difficult Group D at the Euro along with France, the Netherlands and Austria ater geting the beter of Wales in a tense shoot-out at the end of their play-off final in Cardiff.
The match ended 0-0 ater 90 minutes and there were no goals either in extra time, which ended with Wales having Chris Mepham sent off for a second booking.
A high-quality shoot-out, which began with Robert Lewandowski converting Poland’s first kick, saw nine successful penalties before Daniel James had his effort saved and Wales lost 5-4.
There will be no third consecutive European Championship for the Welsh team, who were semi-finalists in 2016, but Poland will be present at a fith continental finals in a row.