Ukraine have qualified for the 2024 European Championship after a 2-1 victory over Iceland in their play-off final.
Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk was the matchwinner for Ukraine, who had gone behind in the 30th minute after a superb individual goal from Genoa forward Albert Gudmundsson.
Valencia’s Roman Yaremchuk thought he had equalised for Ukraine shortly after, only to see his effort ruled out for offside. Ukraine did then level in the 54th minute through Girona’s Viktor Tsygankov, before Mudryk won the match late on as he converted from Heorhiy Sudakov’s cutback.
The game took place in Wroclaw, Poland due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Russia invaded their neighbours in February 2022 and international football has not been played in Ukraine since, with national team games being hosted in Poland, Germany and Czech Republic instead. Russia remain banned from competing at international tournaments by FIFA, world football’s organising body, and UEFA, Europe’s governing body of football.
“Amazing emotions,” Ukraine and Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko said after the game. “Amazing atmosphere in the dressing room after the game.
“First of all, we all knew the most important thing was the result of the football but these days wearing the Ukrainian badge on our chest every time we are on the pitch is something special.
“The feelings inside are so hard to describe as today every Ukrainian was watching our game.
“All the video messages we received before the game from Ukrainians in the country and abroad. Also from the military who are staying on the front line fighting for our independence and freedom, they were all supporting us. It was extra motivation for us.”
Arsenal defender Zinchenko celebrates Ukraine’s win (Rafal Oleksiewicz/Getty Images)
Ukraine’s win over Iceland means they will face Belgium, Romania and Slovakia in Group E at this summer’s Euros in Germany. Their opening game will be against Romania at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 17.
Georgia also qualified for the Euros for the first time in their history with a penalty shootout victory over 2004 champions Greece at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi. The game finished goalless after 120 minutes, with Georgia winning 4-2 on penalties after Greece missed their first and fourth attempts.
Georgia are managed by former Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol, who took charge in February 2021. Sagnol’s side won only two of their eight qualification matches but were eligible for a place in the play-offs by virtue of their UEFA Nations League 2022-24 performance, where they won League C Group 4 with five wins from six. They then beat Luxembourg 2-0 in last Thursday’s play-off semi-final to set up Tuesday’s showdown with Greece.
Georgia players celebrate after securing qualification for this summer’s Euros (Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP via Getty Images)
Georgia’s victory means they will be placed in Group F, where they will face Portugal, Turkey and Czech Republic.
Poland were the third side to qualify for the Euros on Tuesday night, with their 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Wales securing their spot at the tournament.
That game also finished goalless after regular and extra time, with Poland scoring all five of their penalties before Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved Wales’ fifth spot-kick from Leeds United’s Dan James to win the match in Cardiff.
Poland, who reached the last-16 stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, will face France, Austria and the Netherlands in Group D at the Euros.
(Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images)
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