The European Championship competitor carrying an incredible weight.
During the European Football Championship, Ukraine's team is playing not just for sporting victory, but against war. But it's not only that which makes them unique.
In 2006, there were many stories about the World Cup that are commonly told. Fan zones, a summer fairy tale, a sea of flags - it was those 30 days when Germany delighted the world with its hospitality. But there are also untold tales from those four weeks between June 9th and July 9th. While Germany celebrated, so did Ukraine - a first-time participant in a World Cup.
The nation was going through a tough time during those days. The aftermath of the Orange Revolution in 2004 was still being felt. The pro-Russian presidential candidate, Viktor Yanukovych, was accused of election fraud. Protesters took to the streets and managed to make a change. In the end, the pro-Western candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, wrested victory from Yanukovych in the rerun of the second round. This marked a significant milestone for the Euromaidan movement ten years later.
In the midst of this politically tumultuous period, Ukraine qualified for its first World Cup and made it to the quarterfinals, emerging as one of the top eight teams in the world. "That was something really special," recalls Ukrainian journalist Denis Trubetskoy, who is also a football fan and used to work as a sports reporter. Ukraine made it past the group stage, beating Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.
The round of 16 against Switzerland was, according to Trubetskoy, "probably the most boring World Cup game of all time." 0-0 after 90 minutes, 0-0 after 120 minutes, the Swiss remained scoreless. In the penalty shootout, they missed all 11 penalties, while Ukraine missed just once and sealed the game with three goals. "People from Crimea, in the Donbass, even in Lviv were just as excited about the Ukrainian team's performance," says Trubetskoy. The celebrations came to an end when Ukraine lost 0-3 against Italy in the quarterfinals.
Today, Ukraine's best football players are competing in a special tournament again. It's taking place in Germany. The European Championship is under challenging circumstances for the football-loving country. "Unfortunately, football is not a top priority," admitted trainer Serhij Rebrov. Those were different times when Ukraine was successful - before the Russian invasion forced them to fight for survival. Since February 2022, this war has left devastation and hardship in its wake.
A brief respite from this reality is what 90 minutes of football can offer. "It's a familiar distraction," says Trubetskoy. Football has played a similar role in recent weeks - whether it was the Eurovision Song Contest in May or a big World Cup boxing match between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. People in Ukraine gathered together to watch these events, even after the curfew, with a deep-seated desire for a few moments of peace in these trying times.
Despite having entered its third year of war, things aren't likely to get easier. "I don't like the phrase 'war-weariness', but people long for good days," explains Trubetskoy. The Russians have recently launched an offensive in Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine. While the focus is on endurance in military terms until the long-awaited weapon and ammunition deliveries from the West arrive, domestic politics face challenging decisions as well - including potential tax increases and the question of mobilization.
A glimpse of what 90 minutes can achieve in these times was provided by the friendly match against the German team in Nuremberg. As German fans made their way to the stadium, some carried Ukrainian flags among them. Some fans even supported both teams - wearing a Germany jersey and sporting a blue-yellow scarf. Throughout the game, louder than from the German supporters, echoed: "Ukraine, Ukraine." As in the past year, when the DFB commemorated its 1000th match, Ukraine was once again a guest among friends. The German Football Association had invited refugees, and this time DFB President Bernd Neuendorf announced a youth cooperation.
Though initially difficult, German-Ukrainian relations have transformed. No country has taken in more refugees than Germany, and in military aid, Germany leads the pack. "Relations are now at an all-time high," says Trubetskoy.
Despite the distraction a game like the one in Nuremberg can provide for a brief period, the war still looms over everything. People in Ukraine couldn't watch the match in bars due to the curfew, while the German team struggled on the field. Meanwhile, electricity went out in Kyiv, another reminder of the damage caused by Russia to the country's energy infrastructure. The same challenges apply to the host of the event. It would be difficult for fans to travel to Germany to support their national team. "The people have to cope with a difficult balancing act for two years," says Trubetskoy. "You can't just sit at home and feel sad all the time." With large gatherings and public viewings not possible during the war, perhaps football is the perfect escape.
Six months after the start of the war, the Ukrainian league resumed, first in empty stadiums and later with fans in attendance. Not everyone was pleased with this decision, but there were reasons behind it. "There is a political decision that football should continue running to show that Ukraine is not only about suffering and tears," says Trubetskoy.
The Ukrainian national team can also represent this sentiment at the European Championship. "It's hard to compare different generations, but you can say that the current national team is one of the best in history," says Trubetskoy. There was a talented team lead by the current association president and AC Milan icon Andrij Shevchenko at the end of the 1990s, but they were not internationally successful.
"The quality of the squad is clear even with just the goalkeepers," says Trubetskoy. Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin had a crucial role in their Champions League win. Benfica Lisbon's Anatolij Trubin befuddled the DFB team during the general practice session for the European Championship. And let's not forget Georgiy Bushchan from Dynamo Kyiv. Although Lunin is likely to be the starter, he's not without competition.
High expectations, enormous pressure
This begins with the goalkeepers and continues with the other positions. There's Mychajlo Mudryk, the 100-million-euro striker from Chelsea. Oleksandr Zinchenko, who nearly secured the English championship with Arsenal as left-back, is part of the team. Midfield playmaker Heorhij Sudakow from Shakhtar Donetsk leads the pack. And besides BVB-known Andrij Yarmolenko, there's also Artem Dovbyk. The 9-goal scorer from the previous season for Girona generated a lot of attention.
However, no other team at the European Championship has the weight of expectations like Ukraine, extending beyond the sporting element. The entire nation depends on their performance. "Our boys play especially for the people who are still defending our country every day against the enemy," said national coach Rebrow. They can rely on Rebrow. "He might be the best coach Ukraine has ever produced," says Trubetskoy. Rebrow instilled in the team a new quality: reversing the situation. Just like they did in the two EM playoff games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland. This is an indicator that the team can handle pressure.
Furthermore, the group stage schedule works in Ukraine's favor. With Belgium, Romania, and Slovakia, it's no surprise to reach the knockout stage. Finishing in third place could be sufficient. "I think there's a lot of potential for this EM," says Trubetskoy. And who knows, maybe this time they'll even reach beyond the quarter-finals.
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Despite the European Football Championship 2024 being under challenging circumstances, Ukraine's soccer team is determined to make an impact. They not only represent their nation on the field but also serve as a symbol of resilience against the ongoing Attack on Ukraine.
In light of the war, the performance of Ukraine's soccer team at the European Championship becomes even more significant. Trainer Serhij Rebrov admits, "Unfortunately, football is not a top priority," but for the football-loving nation, it offers a brief respite and familiar distraction.
