There are games that are much more than that. Ukraine planned to play against Scotland for continuity in the playoffs. Qatar World Cup. But the Russian invasion changed everything. This Wednesday, Ukrainians will rush their World Cup options in a conflict that now has entirely different connotations to them.

The Ukrainian team met on May 6 for the first time since February 24, the day the war began. Given the impossibility of education in their country, they did so in Brdo pri Kranj in Slovenian territory. This Wednesday at Hampden Park in Glasgow they will try to break Scotland. The winner will race against Wales on Sunday for the final ticket to Qatar.

Opponent’s Praise

“It’s been a long wait since November when we found out who we’re going to play against. Obviously, conditions have changed for the Ukrainian team, but I’m glad they have the chance to go out and play for their country,” he said. Steve Clarke, Scotland manager. “They will want to represent their country well and we are no different. We have waited a long time for this match and we are determined to go to Qatar.”

“I have great respect for the Scottish team and am grateful that they agreed to unconditionally postpone the original match to June,” he said. Oleksandr PetrakovHe took over from Andrey Schevchenko on the Ukrainian bench.

Three friendships in half a year

First game since invasion, Borussia Monchengladbach On 12 May, in a friendly match, which serves not only to prepare for the fight against Scotland, but also to raise money for the besieged country. Ukrainians wore T-shirts with their country’s silhouette and protest messages. Later, they were also measured empoly italian and Rijeka Croatian. They were going to play the last friendly match against the Democratic Republic of Congo last Thursday but the African nation canceled the match.

The 64-year-old Ukrainian coach tried to enlist in the army when the invasion began. “They told me, ‘You’re too old and you don’t have military skills. You better take us to the World Cup instead,'” he told Time magazine. This Wednesday, he and his players will try to grant wishes from the trenches.