The Ukrainian dream ended in Cardiff. The team of the invaded country, at war with Russia and that had the sympathy of most of the other neutral fans, is not going to the World Cup.
This Sunday (5), Wales beat Ukraine 1-0 and secured the European play-off for the Qatar World Cup, to be played between November and December this year.
The decisive goal, ironically, was scored by Ukrainian captain Yarmolenko. He headed a free-kick from Gareth Bale in the 34th minute of the first half with a header against his own goal.
The second half was dramatic due to Ukraine’s desperation to equalize. The selection created at least three great chances to score, but took risks. Bale and Daniel James could also have expanded for the team that played at home.
With seven minutes to go, goalkeeper Hennessey made the best save of the match with a header from Yaremchuk. As soon as the final whistle blew, the Ukraine players threw themselves onto the pitch.
It will be the second Welsh participation in the competition. The only time it qualified, in 1958, it reached the quarterfinals, was eliminated by Brazil, 1-0. In this game, Pelé scored his first goal in the history of the World Cup.
With the result, Wales will be in group B, alongside England, the United States and Iran. His debut will be against the Americans, on November 21, at Al Rayyan Stadium.
The place in the Cup represents the outcome with a golden key for the Welsh generation, led by attacking midfielder Gareth Bale, who had already reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
Despite the defeat, Ukraine left the field to applause from the Welsh crowd, a sympathy they had already found in Glasgow when they beat Scotland 3-1 in the play-off semi-final.
Because of the invasion, football in the country is paralyzed. The last game played in the national league took place on December 12, 2021. The championship was suspended because of the winter and would resume in February, which did not happen. It was declared the end of the tournament at the end of April, as there is no prospect of resumption.
From the list of 23 players called up, 15 play in Ukraine. Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Taras Stepanenko has moved with his wife and three children to a war shelter in Kiev. Goalkeeper Georgiy Buschan was photographed at a subway station, seeking protection from bombings.
Serhiy Sydorchuk, captain of Dynamo Kiev, slept in his car with his children and pregnant wife in a parking lot.
Even players who work abroad had to continue playing and wait for news from family members who are still in Ukraine. This is the case of Manchester City’s full-backs Oleksandr Zinchenko and Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko; and West Ham striker Andriy Yarmolenko (all England teams).
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