War-battered Ukraine celebrates soccer team’s ‘crucial victory’ to reach Euro 2024

Ukraine’s soccer team qualified for this summer’s European Championships with a come-from-behind win over Iceland, a rare moment of joy for the country more than two years into Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine’s soccer team qualified for this summer’s European Championships with a come-from-behind win over Iceland, a rare moment of joy for the country more than two years into Russia’s invasion. A late winner from Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk was enough to secure the 2-1 victory on Tuesday night, and spark jubilation among the tens of thousands of Ukrainians inside the Wroclaw Stadium in Poland, the neutral venue chosen because of Moscow’s ongoing war against its neighbor. At the final whistle, Mudryk fell to his knees in prayer as players and coaches celebrated on the field, and the fans who packed out all four sides of the stadium cheered with joy, in a sea of blue-and-yellow scarves and flags. Coach Sergiy Rebrov’s players made a ring around the center circle to lead the fans in a ‘Viking thunder clap’, the celebration made famous by their defeated opponents Iceland at Euro 2016. Poland is home to about 1 million refugees from neighboring Ukraine, among the nearly 6 million Ukrainians who have fled since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, according to UN data. Ukraine finished third in their qualifying group, behind England and Italy, but beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in an earlier play-off to set up the decisive clash with Iceland.