Ukraine’s dream of a World Cup venue crumbled on Sunday in the qualifier final. The player down was Oleksandr Zintshenko.
The Ukrainian men’s national football team’s World Cup dream crumbled on Sunday as Wales won the qualifiers 1-0. For Wales, the World Cup venue is the first since 1958.
For Ukraine, the trip to the World Cup would have been the second since independence in 1991. Earlier in 2006, the country reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Germany.
After the final whistle, many Ukrainian players sank to the ground in disappointment. The players then went on to thank the large number of supporters who arrived on the scene.
– I have no criticism of any player on our team. If you have anything to criticize, criticize me. If a team loses, the only loser is the coach, the head coach Oleksandr Petrakov commented after the match According to Sky Sports. (switch to another service)
Petrakov also spoke about the Russian offensive war in Ukraine.
– You know what’s going on in Ukraine. We are at war all over the country. Children and women are dying every day, and our infrastructure is being destroyed by Russian barbarians. The Russians want to hurt us, but the Ukrainians are defending their country, Petrakov said.
Representing Manchester City at the club level Oleksandr Zintshenko praised the Welsh goalkeeper after the match Wayne Hennesseyn played an incredible match. Zintshenko was of the opinion that Ukraine did not make a loss.
He also regretted that the team was unable to provide feelings of joy to the Ukrainians.
– It’s all about emotions in football and we can bring great moments to our supporters, but unfortunately we didn’t get the result we wanted today. Everyone must continue to fight, and as footballers we must represent our country as well as we can, Zintshenko told Sky Sports (moving to another service).
– Everyone has a need to live in peace, and we must end the war altogether. Today it is Ukraine, but who knows about tomorrow? We have to stay together, Zintshenko continued.
When Petrakov stood up to leave the press conference, he received applause from those present.
– I would like to express my gratitude to Wales. I wish your team all the best at the World Cup, and the whole of Ukraine is very grateful to Wales, he said before leaving.
Ukraine reached the qualifying final by defeating Scotland 3-1 on Wednesday. That match was the team’s first competitive battle since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Sky Sports wrote that Ukraine deserves a huge honor for getting so close to the World Cup, even though half of the team has not played in competitive clubs since the offensive war started by Russia.