It’s more than a play-off semi-final for the World Cup. By going to Scotland on Wednesday June 1, the Ukrainian team offers itself the possibility of giving a little smile to the country attacked by Russia. “It’s a chance to win another battle, peaceful, this one“, underlines Andriy Bidnyk, the usual interpreter of the Ukrainian selection.
“Their families are in Ukraine, their friends on the battlefield“, recalls, in the Slovenian daily Delo, team coach Oleksandr Petrakov. The latter could not have been on the bench, he who tried to enlist to defend his country. But his request was denied. The authorities explained to him that he would be more useful in his coaching role by qualifying Ukraine for the World Cup.
“It’s crucial to stay focused” about football and trying to forget about the war for 90 or 120 minutes, he added. To allow players to concentrate, “The use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited during training”. “Their thoughts are always drawn elsewhere and they have to be calmed down again and again”, he points out.
“It’s the most important game in our history”assures AFP Iryna Koziupa, journalist for the sports site tribuna.com, which follows the national team.
“It’s not even about football anymore but about hope for all people in Ukraine. It will be a sign that the war doesn’t break us.”
Iryna Koziupa, Ukrainian journalist for the tribuna.com websiteat AFP
“Before this match against Scotland, we must reject any parasitic thoughts”, supported the experienced Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov (37) on the website of his federation. But war will inevitably hover over the encounter.
“This game against Scotland offers some fresh air, at least for a while.observes the interpreter Andriy Bidnyk. We usually gather in bars or at friends’ houses to watch these matches, but this time, with the curfew, the majority of Ukrainians will be watching it from their homes, or their new homes for those who have had to flee their home…”
If Ukraine win, they will have a final to play in Wales on Sunday (8:45 p.m.) to try to join Group B of the World Cup, with England, the United States and Iran . On the sporting level, the Yellow and Blue have excellent memories of Glasgow, where they won at the last second of extra time against Sweden (2-1 ap), in the round of 16 of the last Euro.
Opposite, in this very particular context, Scotland does not have a good role, given what a victory for Ukraine would symbolically represent. “We gave them all the time they needed”, Scottish captain Andrew Robertson told the BBC. Scheduled for March, the match has indeed been postponed. “We helped them as much as we could, but on Wednesday night we have to be ready to fight for our dreams.”
The president of UEFA goes in the same direction. “On the pitch, every team must play”emphasizes Aleksander Ceferin.