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- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave his blessing for Ukraine鈥檚 players and coach Oleksandr Petrakov to leave their homeland to prepare for and play what they hope will be two games in Britain this week
GLASGOW, Scotland: Ukrainian soccer star Oleksandr Zinchenko couldn鈥檛 hold back the tears as he tried to explain what it means to represent his country鈥檚 national team at this moment, with a spot at the World Cup within reach.
Ukraine are two games away from qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, starting with a match against Scotland in Glasgow on Wednesday 鈥� which was postponed in March following Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine. The winner at Hampden Park will play against Wales on Sunday in the decisive playoff.
鈥淲e want to give incredible emotions to the Ukrainian people because Ukrainians deserve it so much at this very moment,鈥� Zinchenko, the Manchester City defender, said at a news conference. 鈥淥ur mood, I would describe as a fighting mood, because everyone understands what is going on in Ukraine these days.鈥�
Zinchenko put soccer in perspective, saying the one thing Ukrainians want is 鈥渢o stop this war鈥� but that those who could follow the game at home would do so.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty sure that all Ukraine who has this opportunity is going to watch us, and we are going to feel this support 100 percent,鈥� he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave his blessing for Ukraine鈥檚 players and coach Oleksandr Petrakov to leave their homeland to prepare for and play what they hope will be two games in Britain this week.
鈥淐learly it鈥檚 a very difficult task to prepare your team for the game when every single player is thinking about mothers, fathers, close relatives, family back home in Ukraine,鈥� Petrakov said. 鈥淲e use all sorts of methods, even jokes. We motivate people in a light manner. But clearly every player understands how huge the task is.鈥�
While Zinchenko and nine others in the 26-man squad have continued playing for clubs outside Ukraine since the war started in February, the home-based players have not had a competitive game since December. The national league paused for a midwinter break and never resumed because of Russia鈥檚 invasion.
With officials from Scotland and Wales giving their consent for FIFA to postpone the playoffs, Ukraine got extra months to prepare to field a team.
鈥淔irstly, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Scottish national team 鈥� to the coaching staff, players, to the whole Scottish people 鈥� who have provided Ukraine with this incredible help,鈥� Zinchenko said.
A mutual respect is clear between the two teams ahead of the game.
鈥淣othing but good thoughts for them and good wishes for them 鈥� except during the game,鈥� Scotland coach Steve Clarke said Tuesday. 鈥淏ecause obviously they want to go to Qatar and represent their country. But I鈥檓 desperate to go to Qatar with Scotland.鈥�
The Scots and Welsh have their own historical motivation for denying Ukraine the last of the 13 European places at the World Cup. Scotland last went to the tournament 24 years ago and Wales have waited 64 years. Ukraine went to the 2006 World Cup and was a quarterfinalist.
Ukraine have prepared during a month-long training camp in the safety of Slovenia and players from its top clubs Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv also toured Europe playing games to raise money to help defend Ukraine.
Clarke said Ukraine鈥檚 players find themselves in 鈥渁n incredible situation. They will be ready for the game, no worries.鈥�
He expects Scotland鈥檚 fans to respect Ukraine鈥檚 national anthem, even applaud it.
Zinchenko appreciated a publicity campaign to help Scottish fans learn the words of the Ukrainian song: 鈥淲e have to be together, we have to fight Russian aggression, we have to defeat that evil.鈥�