Ukrainian national football team: losers as role models

SYou were so close to your goal. “Did the rain bother us?” asked Oleksandr Zinchenko, midfielder of the Ukraine national team, after the 1-0 defeat against Wales in the final play-off game – and gave the answer himself: “No, the weather was the same for both teams. I can’t say that we are tactically or technically inferior to Wales.”

In fact, Ukraine were the better team at many points during the Cardiff game, creating more chances to score. But of all things, a goal by captain Andriy Jarmolenko ended Ukraine’s dream of playing at the World Cup in Qatar. In the 34th, Yarmolenko scored an own goal.

“I never thought football could hurt,” Yarmolenko later wrote on Instagram. “A time of tears and unfulfilled dreams. We wanted them to just smile and cry with tears of joy. A time that makes you weep with pain.” For the Ukrainian footballers, progress would not only have been a sporting triumph, but also the next message to their own nation, where the Russian invasion has now been going on for more than 100 days.

“We did everything we could,” said coach Oleksandr Petrakov, “but I really want the people of Ukraine to remember our efforts.” Despite his tragic role in the decisive game, Yarmolenko also wrote that he was proud of it is to be a role model for his compatriots: “We don’t give up, no matter how difficult the situation is.” A message that goes far beyond football.

Vadim Gutzeit also took up the politicization of the game: “The whole world cheered for us,” wrote the Ukrainian sports minister on Facebook. “The coaching staff and the lads made everything possible on the pitch and even a little bit more. In the war, without the opportunity to finish the championship and fully train, the national team of Ukraine put on an exceptional performance and had to stop one step from triumph. They are real heroes, we are incredibly proud of the whole country!” Focus now on the restoration of the Ukrainian Premier League, the return of football to stadiums. Because despite the war, it should be played again soon.

The Ukrainian football association Ukrajinska Assoziazija Futbolu wants to host the championship in August. “I spoke to President Zelenskyy about the importance of football as a distraction,” said association president Andrei Pavelko to the AP news agency. Football has a very great power so that people in Ukraine can believe in a future again.

The political and social relevance of football has evidently not escaped the attention of the Russian side. According to media reports, the Ukrainian live broadcast of the play-off game was attacked by suspected Russian hackers. Accordingly, instead of the logos of the broadcasting stations “Football 1” and “Football 2”, the logo of “Russia 1” appeared. Numerous users are also said to have had no access to the service at all at times.

However, those who were able to follow the game to the end experienced a touching and hopeful scene after the final whistle: Spanish referee Antonio Lahoz approached Zinchenko, who was sitting on the rain-soaked Cardiff pitch. There, the referee offered some consolation to the defunct Ukraine international at a moment of sporting low point and national mourning.