With Group E delicately poised before the last round of group stage matches, Ukraine have a chance to qualify for the last 16 at Euro 2024. For the Ukrainians, going far in Germany is about more than football – it’s about giving hope to those back home in a country at war.
A damaged stand from Sonyachny stadium in Kharkiv being displayed at the tournament is a stark reminder for football fans of the destruction being inflicted on Ukraine beyond the festive atmosphere in Germany for Euro 2024.
Built for Euro 2012, Sonyachny stadium is one of 500 Ukrainian sports facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by Russian missiles since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The president of the Ukrainian Football Federation and Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko knows the stadium well: The Ukrainian squad trained there before the qualifiers for Euro 2021 when he was the team coach.
“The stadium means so much for us. Learning that the stadium was destroyed felt like finding out that your home was ruined,” he told FRANCE 24.
For Ukrainian football fans in Germany, Euro 2024 is a moment of escapism from the reality of war. For others, it’s a time to remember lost loved ones. Kristina Matvienko attended a game during Euro 2012 in Donetsk with her husband, Vyacheslav, who was a big football fan. Vyacheslav was killed in the battle for Mariupol in 2022.
“I was overwhelmed by the feeling that we would be cheering and watching the match together again," said Matvienko, who came to Düsseldorf with her daughter Liza for Ukraine’s game against Slovakia.
"I believe he is with me and Liza. Today I represent him, our hero.”
Many of the players in Ukraine’s squad, including Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk and Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, come from towns or cities that are either occupied or have been damaged by Russian air strikes.
While Shevchenko, 47, said that Ukraine has an “ambitious young team” that wants to go far at Euro 2024, he said the squad also wants to use football to “send an important message around the world” – to urge countries to continue to support Ukraine after almost two and a half years of war.
“Football is a very important part of society in Ukraine. The players have such a strong power to unite the people. They give hope, especially for the young generation during this difficult time,” Shevchenko said.
For now, Ukrainian football fans can continue to dream. Their team can still qualify for the last 16 after beating Slovakia 2-1 in their second group game in Düsseldorf. Group E will go down to the wire, with all four teams on three points.
Ukraine have a tough task ahead as they take on Belgium, who were the big favourites to top the group.
The stakes are high, as a win for either team would guarantee them qualification. Although the underdogs, Ukraine’s players are particularly motivated to secure a victory as they know how much it would mean back home.
