curse of the joints
The Ukrainian national team has qualified for major tournaments 13 times, but too often stopped in the playoffs. While the national team of this country was ahead of everyone in their group in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, they only reached the World Cup once: Turkey, Denmark, Greece, Albania, Georgia and Kazakhstan.
Then, in the final part of the World Cup, the Ukrainian team was eliminated from the group, in the first round of the playoffs they moved to Switzerland in a penalty shootout, and then in the quarterfinals lost to the champions of the Italians. – 0:3.
Since then, the yellow-blues have not qualified for the world forum. The Ukrainians, who ranked second in their group after England in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and were the favorites of the play-offs with Greece, lost despite conceding the only goal in their field after the 0-0 away match. big game advantage.
Before the 2014 World Cup, the Ukrainian team also finished second in its group after the English, losing them by just one point. In the first play-off in Kiev, the French were knocked down – 2:0. But it was not possible to confirm the success on the road. In Saint-Denis, the “tricolors” scored two quick goals and already in the second half, playing in the majority, they scored the third goal.
At the World Cup in Russia four years ago, the Ukrainian team did not even reach the joints, allowing Icelanders and Croats to take the lead, then unraveled the duos with Greece and even reached the final in the final division!
And here is another failure. The loss to Wales in the final of the play-off group is even more offensive, after team captain Andriy Yarmolenko scored an own goal when the opponents took a corner, and also because of the Ukrainians’ overall game advantage. They had more possession of the ball, hitting the goal and hitting them more often. They’ve created more chances overall, but Gareth Bale and Co. He will go to Qatar.
In total, in 13 qualifying rounds for the World Cup and Euro, the Ukrainian team lost six times at the joints, only once managed to get into the European forum at this qualification stage.
“Let’s destroy the Welsh economy”
The drama of the Ukrainian national team, like all recent events across the country, caused a huge public reaction. While many fans sympathized with the losers, others expressed their support for Wales.
“Ukraine dominated but failed to pass this parked bus,” said Jess Patiño.
“Of course I’m happy for Wales but sad for Ukraine’s loss. Charlie with the Ukrainian flag attached to his social media profile, that was the moment I wanted both teams to win,” said Charlie.
“We all know that Ukraine should go to the World Cup instead of the USA team,” said Jared Mouch.
“I thought everything was ready for Ukraine to win the World Cup. Frankly not,” said Rob Pattison.
“Politics has no place in football. Ukraine played well but in the end Wales was better,” said a user nicknamed Aidan.
“This is not Eurovision. This is football. Congratulations to Wales,” said Iceman.
“How disrespectful it is for Wales not to let Ukraine enter the World Cup. Pity,” wrote We-Nigh_Ted, Welsh fan.
“How many games do you have ahead of you, Russia?”
As for the reaction in Ukraine, it also turned out to be heterogeneous, and the Ukrainian Football Federation set the tone – after the defeat from Wales, he returned to the Russian team.
“We lost the fight, but we have a lot of games ahead. How many games does the Russian team have?” – Wrote the press service of the UAF on its social networks.
“A Bitter End to Ukraine’s Mission”
As for the reaction of foreign media, they mostly sympathized with Ukraine, but at the same time noted the success of Wales, congratulated him on his victory, because Welsh entered the World Cup for the second time in history and for the first time. time since 1958!
The Guardian noted that Ukraine played better than their opponent and should have been penalized by 11 meters in the first half and that the Welsh players should panic at their moves until Yarmolenko reaches his own goal.
The broadcast emphasized that the match was overly emotional and at the end of the meeting, the audience bid farewell to the Ukrainian football players with great applause.
“A beautiful fairy tale played here was no small reward for getting through hell. It’s not about a sport that brings shadows of hope to gruesome scenes. No, it wasn’t. It was a Welsh story and in its own way it was magnificent,” wrote the Daily Mail.
“This was the painful end of Ukraine’s electoral mission to Qatar,” Al Jazeera said.
“The World Cup qualifiers should have given Ukraine a lot more, but Yarmolenko’s comeback after the presentation of Bale surpassed everything,” says CNN.
In general, we can say that the journalists covering the victory of Wales and the defeat of the Ukrainian team did not deviate from the sports agenda. And no one wanted the Ukraine team to go to Qatar without a fight or someone else’s place.