The aftermath of their victory was industrial in its quietude for the Ukrainians. The stadium – still nostalgic with jubilant cries from the spectators and the Viking-inspired applause, painted an eerily silent portrait of its champions. Players trudged their way to the team bus, each absorbed in a silent state of disbelief, grappling with the meaning of their victory. A wearied Georgiy Sudakov confessed, “I’m spent, emotionally numb,” followed by Oleksandr Zinchenko’s admission of leaving “everything in the dressing room.”
Perhaps this sense of emotional hollowness was the inevitable aftermath of a triumphant feat that paradoxically changed little. The Ukrainian players had given their all on the Wroclaw pitch, in a rapturous display of passion and eager spirit, earning their country a fourth consecutive place in the European Championship. But when pitched against an outcome that is more academic than emphatically transformative, victory tastes bittersweet. Åge Hareide, Iceland’s coach, acknowledged his team’s defeat with grace, “Losing to someone else would’ve been a pity, but Ukraine…that feels okay.”
The sobering overtones of war echo unpredictably within the realm of sports. Ukraine’s qualification for Euro 2024 marks a poignant milestone – but what does it truly entail? Does it represent a fleeting olive branch to a nation in mourning or is it indicative of more ambitious goals to be realised through their participation in the upcoming championship held in Germany?
“Every day, we exhibit to our foe that we exist and will continue to exist,” stated Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine’s president, in a salute to his nation’s relentless spirit. Refusing to equate the destructive might of Putin’s military to the offensive strategy of, for instance, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Zelenskiy nevertheless emphasises Ukraine’s indomitable message: We will not be defeated. Keep faith in us. Under coach Serhiy Rebrov’s leadership, Ukraine has demonstrated this fighting spirit, winning four of their last six matches from losing positions.
Clearly, the symbolic stature of being more than mere sportspersons is not lost on the Ukrainian players. They understand their participation in the championship as a global promotional platform. “It is a paramount opportunity,” avowed Zinchenko. “The world watches this tournament. It’s a priceless chance to showcase our prowess as a team, and the pride we take in our nationality.”
The frequent mention of the Ukrainian military by critics, some seen watching the game on small screens in rudimentary shelters or broadcasted onto hung bed sheets, is by no means incidental. “The victory is for our citizens, for the soldiers defending our liberties,” declared Rebrov. Sudakov further explained, “Reflect on the recent occurrences in Ukraine, with drones, missiles, bombs targeting various cities, it’s beyond belief. Hence, our dire need for backing.”
Attaining visibility through success then exhaustively leveraging it to rally support is their strategy. The subsequent public pressure may potentially result in an escalated supply of western weaponry. Could this be their modus operandi? They may have no other recourse but this form of diplomatic engagement through football, relentlessly capturing every possible moment of worldwide coverage and strongly repeating their message. Zinchenko emphasised, “This call to action needs to be relentless; it is our only path to victory.”
Therefore, the longer Ukraine competes in the tournament and the further they progress, they receive more opportunities to air their views. This naturally leads to a relevant albeit unexpected question: what are their prospects in the Euros?
Ukraine is to compete in Group E alongside Belgium, Romania, and Slovakia, arguably the friendliest group, with both Romania and Slovakia ranking lower than Ukraine in the Fifa world rankings. Making the knockout stages is the least of their expectations. Mirroring their quarter-final attainment three years prior, isn’t farfetched.
Despite the distractions and haphazard training, there lies a remarkable squad ready to shine, one that could unite and excel under competitive football’s high-pressure environment.
Sudakov, who dealt with both goals that Tuesday, is a visionary strategist. Mykhailo Mudryk, a budding winger, could be sparked into action following his victorious goal. Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid and Anatoliy Trubin from Benfica give Ukraine not one, but two internationally acclaimed goalkeepers.
During the international pause, Rebrov tactfully alternated between strikers Artem Dovbyk and Roman Yaremchuk, ensuring they both remained invigorated and eager. The team’s depth is so outstanding that it even permitted Zinchenko to be strategically benched against Iceland.
However, to harness their full potential, the Ukraine team must find a precise equilibrium. Despite their phenomenal skill set, their performance during the qualifying stages has fluctuated between exceptional efficiency and disastrous ineffectiveness. Their technical prowess enables them to aggressively compete for extended periods, while their emotional investment allows them to achieve highs that few teams can match. If Rebrov successfully manages to channel these aspects, he could potentially create something extraordinarily exceptional. – Guardian