Ukraine secured their place in a major tournament for the first time since the Russian invasion two years ago, rallying from behind to defeat Iceland 2-1 in a match held in Wroclaw, Poland. Albert Gudmundsson initially stunned the crowd, including a significant Ukrainian refugee population, by putting Iceland in the lead in the 30th minute.
Iceland, with a population of under 400,000, aimed to return to the competition’s finals after reaching the quarter-finals in 2016. However, Ukraine, quarter-finalists in Euro 2020, leveled the score nine minutes into the second half with a brilliantly executed goal by Viktor Tsygankov from Spanish club Girona.
With extra time looming, Ukraine clinched victory with six minutes remaining when Mykhailo Mudryk of Chelsea netted a first-time shot from the edge of the area.
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“Thank you, guys! Thank you, team! For the intense emotions for the entire country. For the crucial victory and securing a place in EURO. For reaffirming once again: whenever Ukrainians face adversity but refuse to surrender and continue to fight, Ukrainians emerge victorious,” expressed Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Having narrowly missed direct qualification to Italy in their group and subsequently being pushed into the play-offs, Ukraine can now anticipate the European Championship, commencing in Germany on June 14. They will compete in Group E alongside Belgium, Slovakia, and Romania, harboring ambitions of advancing to the knockout stage.