the ‘incredible emotion’ of Ukrainian fans ahead of the team’s first official match in Scotland

They slipped into their luggage a large Ukrainian flag, which they intend to deploy in the stand of Hampden Park, the stadium in Glasgow (Scotland), Wednesday, June 1. They are Tania and her 16-year-old son, Kiril. The two Ukrainians have just left the Kherson region and have been hosted by Mary for only two days in the Scottish city. In the evening, they will attend a match full of symbols: the Ukrainian football team returns to competition for the first time since the beginning of the war with Russia.

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“Their arrival on this date is a coincidence”assures the Scottish, delighted to be able to help them and especially to have found them tickets for this qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup. “It’s an incredible emotion!, recognizes Kiril. I am a big football fan. So this Ukraine game is really important for me.”

In total, about 2,500 Ukrainians secured their place for this playoff game “but the yellow and blue stand will be mostly made up of Ukrainians who have been living in the UK for years”assures Stepan, a Ukrainian born in the United Kingdom. “Of course, in the face of war, a football match means nothing. But sport has this gift of healing and bringing people together, of bringing them to communion”he assures, while showing on his mobile phone a video in which we see the last time he was able to celebrate his national team.

This match is also a spotlight, after three months of war in Ukraine. Some, like Oksana, have the feeling that we are starting to look elsewhere. “This is really important to us”defends in an impeccable Scottish accent this Ukrainian who has lived in Scotland for seventeen years.

“It’s a way of showing the world that we are still here, that we are fighting with our identity and that we are not giving up.”

Oksana, a Ukrainian who has lived in Scotland for seventeen years

at franceinfo

Under these conditions, it’s not easy to be a Scottish supporter this Wednesday evening at the Glasgow stadium. “It’s going to be hard to see that the world only has eyes for the Ukraine team, but hey, that’s normal”recognizes Chris, who will be in the stands. “And then if ever Scotland is eliminated, it will always be easier to bear than to see his country invaded!

Scotland, however, dreams of returning to the World Cup because it has not happened since 1998. However, “we don’t want pity” refuses Mikhaelo, a Ukrainian living in Norway. He came to Glasgow on purpose, for the match. “Scots will have to play 100 per cent tonight. No mercy, despite the war in our country”he concludes.