Highly emotional duels
The Ukrainian footballers were only able to enjoy the onset of winter in Gdansk to a limited extent before the very special European Championship opportunity. Although people were happy about the first snow “like children”, the seriousness and threat still resonates even 21 months after the start of the Russian war of aggression. They also thought that their own soldiers would now have an even harder time at the front, said national player Valeriy Bondar.
“We will do everything to make our soldiers happy,” the defender announced with a lot of pathos before the qualifying game on Monday (8:45 p.m./Nitro and DAZN) against defending champions Italy. Because football is no longer an option in Ukraine, the team around Premier League professionals Mykhaylo Mudryk and Oleksandr Zinchenko prepared for the duel in wintry Gdansk, Poland. Mudryk and Co. traveled to Leverkusen on Saturday, where they played in front of full stands. The team has previously played home games in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
17 of 24 tickets awarded: These teams have qualified for the Euro 2024
If Ukraine wins the direct duel in the Rhineland, it will actually get its ticket to the European Championship for 2024 in the midst of the war situation in its own country. The European champion, on the other hand, would experience another complete flop after missing the World Cup in Qatar. It’s a highly emotional scenario on several levels.
“I don’t even want to talk about being the favorite. Everything will be clear on the pitch. I think we will show a lot of motivation. That won’t be the issue,” said defender Oleksandr Svatok. The Ukrainian professionals speak in unison of the “great pride” that unites and drives them these days.
A draw is enough for favorite Italy to defend second place in the table behind the confident English. In this case, the playoff round would be on the agenda for Ukraine in March 2024. The first game could then take place against Israel, which is also currently homeless in football terms due to the Gaza war.
Ukraine to Kazakhstan: Memorable chances of a European Championship ticket
The European Football Union UEFA has been criticized many times for the bloated European Championship with 24 teams and the increasingly complicated qualification system including the Nations League. UEFA officials can already look forward to this Monday evening with great satisfaction. Because it’s not just Ukraine and Italy playing for a European Championship ticket in a kind of knockout game in the middle of the group phase.
The former football dwarfs Kazakhstan and Moldova are suddenly within reach of participating in the European Championship for the first time. The Kazakhs will play against the Slovenians in Ljubljana on Monday (8:45 p.m.). At the same time, Moldova is competing in the Czech Republic. Coach Jaroslav Silhavy’s team is without Vladimir Coufal, Jakub Brabec and Jan Kuchta. The trio was suspended for disciplinary reasons, the Czech association said. The three players are said to have visited a nightclub on Saturday evening and thus “fundamentally violated the internal rules”. The underdogs each need an away win in order to achieve the European Championship premiere – which was unimaginable a few years ago – and to actually be able to plan for Germany.
UEFA is renaming some venues: the stadiums for the 2024 European Championship in Germany
It is an ideal scenario for UEFA: the field is opened up and mixed up for teams that once had no chance – like North Macedonia in 2021. Nevertheless, top nations like Italy and Poland with Robert Lewandowski are having a hard time qualifying. Despite the expansion, Norway and super striker Erling Haaland are already completely out – at a time when Luxembourg, Georgia and Estonia are still seriously fighting for a European Championship ticket. Four tickets will also be awarded in the playoffs played via the Nations League.
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