Ukraine midfielder Serhiy Sydorchuk has issued his heartfelt gratitude to Aaron Ramsey after the Wales playmaker went into the away dressing room to console the heartbroken players following their World Cup play-off final defeat.
Wales was sent into a frenzied euphoria on Sunday after Rob Page's side came out triumphant against Ukraine in their biggest game for generations, booking their spot in Qatar after a 64-year absence from the World Cup. For all the well-placed goodwill across the sporting world, willing Ukraine to win owing to the Russian invasion in recent months, Wales fronted up and earned the most precious of 1-0 victories.
While Wale got swept into giddy happiness, though, their opposition were left inconsolable following their defeat. The scenes of Welsh players belting out Yma o Hyd, sliding in front of their fans on their stomachs in a uniform line and spraying beer in the dressing room was clearly at odds with what their Ukrainian counterparts were experiencing.
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And Sydorchuk, who was introduced for the final throes of Sunday's clash, has revealed that he and his team-mates sat in silence for 20 minutes in the bowel of Cardiff City Stadium, crestfallen at the realisation that their World Cup dream was over. The Ukrainian, though, did reserve special thanks for Ramsey, who entered their dressing room and spoke to each player individually after the game, and the Welsh fans.
"I will never forget the Cardiff locker room," the Dynamo Kyiv midfielder, 31, said on Instagram. "20 minutes after the match we just sat in silence. Two hours ago, the dream was one step away, and now it is not even on the horizon.
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"It is difficult, because you understand that the dream was not only yours, but also of millions of people. Our fans are the best. Thank you everyone. But I also want to thank the fans from Scotland and Wales. I don't remember when our fans supported us so passionately.
"I also want to thank the rivals. Especially Aaron Ramsey, who went into the locker room after the match and approached everyone. I know that the dream has not disappeared. She just has a new time frame. The main victory of the country awaits us ahead. Glory to Ukraine!"
