Hard fighting Ukraine book Euro 2024 place with win over Iceland
Ukraine will compete in the finals of a major tournament for the first time since being invaded by Russia after Mykhailo Mudryk’s winner in their Euro 2024 play-off final against Iceland.
Ukraine trailed 1-0 at half-time after Albert Gudmundsson put Iceland ahead with a superb strike.
But Serhiy Rebrov’s side came back from behind in the second half, levelling through Viktor Tsygankov, before Chelsea forward Mudryk’s late winner.
Ukraine will go into Group E at the Euro 2024 finals, alongside Belgium, Slovakia and Romania.
“I’m very proud to be Ukrainian, to be of the same blood as those who are now giving their lives for our freedom,” said Ukraine captain Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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“We need to talk about it, shout about it every day. This is the only way we can win.
“It was one of our most emotional games.”
Before the game, Rebrov said qualifying for the tournament would bring “a bit of happiness” for Ukrainians as the nation continues to be attacked by Russia.
Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been killed since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbouring country in February 2022.
The war means Ukraine’s footballers have been forced to play their ‘home’ matches outside of their homeland, with their Euro 2024 play-off tie against Iceland taking place in Polish city Wroclaw.
Iceland were aiming to reach the finals for only the second time after memorably reaching the quarter-finals in 2016 and took the lead in the 30th minute through Genoa forward Gudmundsson.
But Ukraine, who also recovered from a goal down to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in Thursday’s play-off semi-final, were the better side after the break.
Ukraine deservedly levelled when Girona’s Tsygankov was allowed the time to drift in from the right flank and precisely find the bottom corner.
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Continuing to dominate, Rebrov’s side were further rewarded when Mudryk swept into the same corner six minutes from time to spark joyous scenes among the Ukrainian fans.
Poland has welcomed more refugees from the war-torn country than any other nation and Ukraine’s victory was greeted by a sea of blue and yellow flags being waved in jubilation.
The Euro 2024 finals will begin on Friday, 14 June at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
The tournament concludes on Sunday, 14 July, with the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.