by Andriy Lunin, a world-renowned goalkeeper, prepared for a daunting task after a crucial Champions League penalty shootout. He stepped forward, drew his shoulders back, and cleared his throat before introducing himself as Andriy Lunin.
The players were assembled by head coach Serhiy Rebrov and a few members of the team’s administrative staff early last week as Ukraine’s Euro 2024 training camp moved into its middle phase.
The idea of using the squad’s qualification for the Euros to draw attention to the situation of their fellow countrymen in their home country—which is still raging 28 months after Russian tanks crossed the border—had been discussed previously.
The choice was made for 13 players whose hometown had been destroyed by bombs and who were struggling to create an emotional movie that would be shown to a global audience. The players were under the direct supervision of Andriy Shevchenko, the head of the Ukrainian soccer federation and a former superstar striker.
Lunin, whose stunning penalty kick helped Real Madrid eliminate Manchester City from the Champions League, kicked things off with a serious and gruff voice.
Standing next to Mykhailo Mudryk of Chelsea, they emphasized their shared hometown of Krasnohrad, a small city in the Kharkiv region that has been severely damaged by the conflict. Film footage of the devastated area was spliced in with their faces.
Then there was Radomyshl-born Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal. Mykola Shaparenko of Dynamo Kyiv hails from the abandoned town of Velyka Novosilka. The bombed capital of Kyiv is home to Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi. Others included hail from Crimean and Donbass-seized regions.
Rebrov said to reporters, “The players were crying naturally because making the video was so emotional for them.” It goes without saying that something like this will inspire you in a unique way.
We can assist those fighting for our nation and demonstrate to the world the real face of Ukraine by the way we battle in our games.”
On Monday (9 a.m. ET), Ukraine will play Romania in Group E’s opening match in Munich. Later, the country will play Slovakia and group favorite Belgium.
GROUP E
Shevchenko aims for the players to gain the support of neutral fans and become the “second team” at the Euros, stating that they will not feel alone due to their distance from their homeland and roots but will find warmth and interest in their history.
Ukraine’s qualification is a testament to its determination to live, cheer, and look beyond conflict. Despite being staged at neutral sites, Ukraine failed to advance from a qualification group with England and Italy on goal differential. However, it advanced into the playoffs with consecutive 2-1 victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland, securing its place.
Lunin leads a strong defensive setup, with nine players scoring. The team’s overall ability makes it realistic to advance to the Euro knockout stage. FOX soccer analyst Giorgio Chiellini believes a team motivated by the will of the people can achieve something special.
