Duesseldorf, Germany (AP): At the European Championship, Ukraine will focus on resilience, whether on the pitch or inspiring those at home during a time of war.
After being defeated 3-0 by Romania in its first encounter, Ukraine conceded the opening goal to Slovakia on Friday but rallied for a much-needed 2-1 victory, causing passionate scenes among its fans.
“Our mental strength was shown to the best of our ability on the pitch,” midfielder Mykola Shaparenko said through a translator after scoring one goal and setting up another.
Ukraine Back On Track After Comeback Win Over Slovakia At Euro 2024
Ukraine’s first comeback victory in the Euros in 12 years was also their third in four competitive games this season. More crucially, the Ukrainians remained in contention for the round of 16 after substitute Roman Yaremchuk scored the winning goal.
Showing that Ukraine can fight, overcome hurdles, and triumph “is exactly what Ukraine’s National Football Team is doing today,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media following the game.
Following two 2-1 comeback wins in the playoffs in March to advance to Euro 2024, Ukraine’s victory over Slovakia by the same score has rejuvenated the team’s campaign. The next goal is to reach the knockout stages of Ukraine’s first big tournament since Russia invaded in 2022. This is likely to necessitate at least a draw against Belgium on Wednesday.
Ukraine’s abysmal goal difference following a 3-0 loss to Romania on Monday meant another setback would have pushed it to the verge of elimination.
Ukraine Back On Track After Comeback Win Over Slovakia At Euro 2024
“Today, it was a different spirit,” coach Serhiy Rebrov explained. “It was a very important win for our country, for Ukraine, for our fathers, for our supporters, and I’m sure today they were proud of the players.”
Slovakia is level with Ukraine and Romania in Group E with three points each. Romania and Belgium will play on Saturday.
Rebrov made four changes to the lineup following the Romania setback, but the defense remained fragile, at least at first.
Ivan Schranz, who scored the only goal in the unexpected 1-0 victory over Belgium four days ago, was left free at the far post as his marker Oleksandr Zinchenko jumped to stop a cross that sailed over his head.
Zinchenko was to blame for the first goal but was crucial in the second, overlapping on the left wing to receive the ball and cross low for Shaparenko, who found space to score his first international goal in nearly three years.
Ukraine Back On Track After Comeback Win Over Slovakia At Euro 2024
Bringing Yaremchuk off the bench to replace the fairly useless Artem Dovbyk transformed the game once more as he stormed past the Slovakian defense to score the winning goal.
Slovakia is attempting to avoid a repetition of the 2021 Euros, when it won its first game but lost the next two and was ousted from the group stage on goal difference. Coach Francesco Calzona stated that the team’s next game against Romania on Wednesday may be played without defender David Hancko, who has injured his hamstring.
SOURCE – AP
