One ticket to the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year is still up for grabs in Europe. Three countries are still hoping. Also Ukraine with Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Wales, Scotland and Ukraine are still aiming for the World Cup. On Wednesday, the Scots host the Ukrainians in the play-offs in Glasgow. The match was already scheduled for March, but had to be postponed because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The winner will then travel to Wales next Sunday for the decisive match.
But first the focus is on 1 June and an important match for the Ukrainian national team. “One of the most important in my life,” said Oleksandr Zinchenko. “The boys look ready and there is no need to talk about motivation at all,” said the full-back, who recently became English champions with Manchester City in a heart-stopping final.
“I’m shaking inside,” the Ukraine international told the BBC, referring not to the Premier League title decider but the upcoming game at Hampden Park. The 25-year-old is thinking of his compatriots and wants to give them “maybe a smile for a few seconds”.
Preparation in Slovenia
Preparation for Ukraine, who have not played a competitive match since war broke out at the end of February, last took place in Slovenia at the invitation of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. “But in this case there are no excuses,” says Zinchenko, seeing his team’s duty regardless of the accompanying events.
“It is very important for our national team and for our country that we make it,” said former Ukrainian Bundesliga professional Andrey Voronin, who made 74 appearances for Ukraine, most recently in the team’s charity match at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
