Ukraine’s hopes of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup are over, after losing to Wales 1-0
Ukraine’s men’s soccer team lost their World Cup qualifying match against Wales, 1-0.
Despite losing their chance to compete at the World Cup in Qatar, the team spirit during the qualifying tournament has not gone unnoticed.
The men’s soccer team faced off against Wales, with hopes of a victory to send them through to their first World Cup in 64 years.
However, Wales stole the title, with a 1-0 win.
Ukraine predominately dominated the match, also scoring a goal from a free-kick, which was later disqualified for the player taking the strike before the referee’s whistle had blown.
Wales scored in the back half, sealing their path to the Qatar World Cup, kicking off in November.
Despite the score, Ukraine’s participation throughout the tournament has been remarkable.
As the war wages on in their home country, players and fans sang the National Anthem with such pride.
The footballers have been the brightest of lights in the darkest of times, with the nation’s yellow and blue flags flooding the stadiums.
In a show of solidarity, the Welsh Football Association also handed out tickets to Ukrainian refugees living nearby.
“Every Ukrainian wants one thing – to stop this war,
I have spoken with people from all around the world, from different countries. I have also spoken to some Ukrainian kids who just don’t understand what’s happening back in Ukraine. They only want the war to stop. They have one dream, to stop the war.
When it comes to football, the Ukrainian team have their own dream. We want to go to the World Cup, we want to give this incredible emotion to the Ukrainians because Ukrainians deserve it so very much at this moment.”
Ukrainian defender, Oleksandr Zinchenko
Because to Ukraine, this was far more than just a game.
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