Ukraine 2-1 Iceland (Mar 26, 2024) Game Analysis

Ukraine‘s tears of despair turned to pleasure after qualification for the Euro 2024 soccer event was achieved with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iceland of their playoff closing held in Wroclaw Stadium in Poland on Tuesday.

Viktor Tsygankov and Mykhailo Mudryk scored second-half objectives because it was mission completed in a marketing campaign the place Ukraine have been compelled to play “home” fixtures in Slovakia, Czechia, Germany and Poland following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of the nation that sparked a conflict which nonetheless rages.

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Albert Gudmundsson had put Iceland forward within the first half, however they surrendered possession and the initiative as they struggled to comprise Ukraine for a lot of the competition.

It is a fourth straight go to to the continental finals for Ukraine, who take their place in Group E with Belgium, Slovakia and Romania, towards whom they open their marketing campaign on June 17.

“Thank you boys! Thank you to the team! For proving once again that when Ukrainians face challenges but refuse to give up and continue the fight, they invariably win,” Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned in a message on Telegram.

Chants of “Ukraine, Ukraine” rang across the stadium, the scenes of jubilation and yellow and blue flags waving not far faraway from what may be anticipated if the sport had been in Kyiv.

Poland is residence to a lot of refugees from the conflict, a lot of whom may have been within the stadium to witness one among their staff’s best triumphs given the circumstances.

It makes up for the nation lacking out on the final World Cup following a playoff defeat by Wales and for the second sport operating they needed to come from behind to safe victory after snatching a 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Thursday’s semifinal.

“I think this is a very important victory for the entire Ukrainian people, for our soldiers,” coach Serhiy Rebrov advised reporters.

“I am very happy for the players, because these two [playoff] games were very difficult and nerve-wracking. Both before and after the matches, we said that these victories are for our country, people, defenders who defend our freedom.

“Everyone understands how necessary this victory is.”

For the second game running, Ukraine had to come from behind to secure victory.

Gudmundsson scored a sublime goal to give Iceland the lead on the half-hour mark as he picked up the ball just outside the box, beat two defenders to make the space and rifled a precise shot into the corner of the net.

The start of the second half was frenetic, and Ukraine drew level with a fine equaliser.

Tsygankov was picked out on the right wing and cut inside, drifting into a central position before firing low into the bottom corner of the net with his left foot.

Ukraine keeper Andriy Lunin made a superb stop to deny Jon Thorsteinsson, sprawling to his left to claw away a curling effort from just inside the area, and it was Ukraine who then found the winning moment.

Mudryk scored only his second international goal as he latched onto a cutback from Georgiy Sudakov and buried the ball into the net, as well as Iceland’s hopes, leaving Ukrainians to celebrate a victory that gives their team a place in Germany.

“We had been nonetheless in it when it was 1-1,” Iceland winger Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson advised newspaper Morgunbladid.

“Then comes the second aim and we have spent an unbelievable quantity of power making an attempt to maintain [the scores level], so that is what fully modified the sport.”