Ukraine beat Scotland to join Wales in play-off final

For them, it was more than a game. The Ukrainian team qualified for the final of the 2022 World Cup play-offs by winning in Scotland (3-1) on Wednesday June 1. Despite the invasion of their country by Russia since the end of February, Ukrainian footballers are only one victory away from qualifying for the next World Cup in Qatar (November 21 – December 18). But we will have to pass the Wales obstacle on Sunday.

“Their families are in Ukraine, their friends on the battlefield” recalled coach Oleksandr Petrakov before the match. The Ukrainians had not played a match since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24. Initially scheduled for the end of March, this semi-final had been postponed to this Wednesday, to be able to allow the Ukrainians to keep their chances of participating in the World Cup.

And Petrakov’s players knew how to take advantage of this opportunity. Star and captain Andriy Yarmolenko opened the scoring in the first half. Launched in depth, the striker lobbed the Scottish goalkeeper (33rd) in front of Ukrainian fans in a trance. Roman Yaremchuk doubled the lead (49th). Launched towards the final, the Ukrainians experienced a fright at the end of the match with a goal from Callum McGregor (79th). But the Scottish awakening was too late. At the end of the match, the addition was even salted by a third goal from the Blue and Yellow, signed Artem Dovbyk (96th).

“Everyone knows the current situation in Ukraine and every game for us is like a final, but we have this dream, as a team, is to go to the World Cup. There is only one game left, one more final and we have to win it. It will be necessary to seize (this opportunity) otherwise this match will have been for nothing (…). It will be a huge game for us. We will have to deliver the best performance of our lives and we will see what will happen“, defender Oleksander Zinchenko reacted to the Sky Sports microphone after the meeting, very moved.