Ukrainian soccer star Oleksandr Zinchenko couldn바카라™t hold back the tears as he tried to explain what it means to represent his country바카라™s national team at this moment, with a spot at the World Cup within reach. (More Football News)
Ukraine are two games away from qualifying for the World Cup 2022, starting with a match against Scotland 바카라” which was postponed following Russia바카라™s invasion.
Ukrainian soccer star Oleksandr Zinchenko couldn바카라™t hold back the tears as he tried to explain what it means to represent his country바카라™s national team at this moment, with a spot at the World Cup within reach. (More Football News)
Ukraine is two games away from qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, starting with a match against Scotland in Glasgow on Wednesday 바카라” which was postponed in March following Russia바카라™s invasion of Ukraine. The winner at Hampden Park will play against Wales on Sunday in the decisive playoff.
바카라śWe want to give incredible emotions to the Ukrainian people because Ukrainians deserve it so much at this very moment,바카라ť Zinchenko, the Manchester City defender, said at a news conference. 바카라śOur mood, I would describe as a fighting mood, because everyone understands what is going on in Ukraine these days.바카라ť
Zinchenko put soccer in perspective, saying the one thing Ukrainians want is 바카라śto stop this war바카라ť but that those who could follow the game at home would do so.
바카라śI바카라™m pretty sure that all Ukraine who has this opportunity is going to watch us, and we are going to feel this support 100 percent,바카라ť he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave his blessing for Ukraine바카라™s players and coach Oleksandr Petrakov to leave their homeland to prepare for and play what they hope will be two games in Britain this week.
바카라śClearly it바카라™s a very difficult task to prepare your team for the game when every single player is thinking about mothers, fathers, close relatives, family back home in Ukraine,바카라ť Petrakov said. 바카라śWe use all sorts of methods, even jokes. We motivate people in a light manner. But clearly every player understands how huge the task is.바카라ť
While Zinchenko and nine others in the 26-man squad have continued playing for clubs outside Ukraine since the war started in February, the home-based players have not had a competitive game since December. The national league paused for a midwinter break and never resumed because of Russia바카라™s invasion.
With officials from Scotland and Wales giving their consent for FIFA to postpone the playoffs, Ukraine got extra months to prepare to field a team.
바카라śFirstly, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Scottish national team 바카라” to the coaching staff, players, to the whole Scottish people 바카라” who have provided Ukraine with this incredible help,바카라ť Zinchenko said.
A mutual respect is clear between the two teams ahead of the game.
바카라śNothing but good thoughts for them and good wishes for them 바카라” except during the game,바카라ť Scotland coach Steve Clarke said Tuesday. 바카라śBecause obviously they want to go to Qatar and represent their country. But I바카라™m desperate to go to Qatar with Scotland.바카라ť
The Scots and Welsh have their own historical motivation for denying Ukraine the last of the 13 European places at the World Cup. Scotland last went to the tournament 24 years ago and Wales has waited 64 years. Ukraine went to the 2006 World Cup and was a quarterfinalist.
Ukraine has prepared during a month-long training camp in the safety of Slovenia and players from its top clubs Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv also toured Europe playing games to raise money to help defend Ukraine.
Clarke said Ukraine바카라™s players find themselves in 바카라śan incredible situation. They will be ready for the game, no worries.바카라ť
He expects Scotland바카라™s fans to respect Ukraine바카라™s national anthem, even applaud it.
Zinchenko appreciated a publicity campaign to help Scottish fans learn the words of the Ukrainian song: 바카라śWe have to be together, we have to fight Russian aggression, we have to defeat that evil.바카라ť