June 21 – Bringing a brief moment of joy to its war-torn people at home, Ukraine’s national team rallied to complete a dramatic 2-1 comeback against Slovakia with an 80th-minute winner from substitute Roman Yaremchuk.
Ukraine’s players each had a national flag tied around their shoulders as they entered the field.
The team remains keenly aware that the further they go in the tournament the more they can draw attention again to their country’s plight and the invasion by Russia.
On the streets of Dusseldorf, Ukraine displayed a destroyed stand of a Kharkiv stadium as a reminder of the destruction by the war not just to society at large, but also to the sports and football communities. Some Ukrainian fans marched to the stadium.
Opponents Slovakia have not been without their own political turmoil after the shooting of Robert Fico, the country’s pro-Russia Prime Minister.
Sergei Rebrov’s men were focused on immediate survival in the tournament after their 3-0 drubbing by Romania. No one is entirely sure what Ukraine’s participation in this tournament means, but at least Ukraine wanted to bring some relief to people back home.
Ivan Schranz celebrates Slovakia’s first goal
From the kickoff, the Ukrainians looked nervous and soon they were overwhelmed by Slovakia, who applied the intensity and composure of their shock 1-0 win against Belgium. On the left channel, Lukas Haraslin slalomed past the opposing defence and Ivan Schranz prompted a good save from Trubin.
Schranz caused the Ukrainian rearguard all kinds of problems and in the 17th minute, he headed home after Oleksandr Zinchenko didn’t check his shoulder.
It was Schranz’s second of the tournament, but Trubin should have done better. The goal had been coming and Ukraine’s defending was simply sloppy. In fact, the match did not feel like a contest. Rebrov’s side had too little quality and end product.
After the 30-minute mark, Ukraine grew into the match. Oleksandr Tymchyk shot…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/06/21/ukraine-come-behind-keep-nation-siege-much-alive/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-06-21 15:28:01
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.