that brutally attacked our neighbour,
when women and children die.
“[The players] decided that in
the face of such a terrible crime it
was impossible to play against Russia
...Everyone’s thoughts were also with
Tomasz Kedziora. We were all afraid
for his health”.
After a few days, Kedziora and his
family were evacuated with the help
of the Polish government. He later
wrote on Instagram: “We are already
safe in Poland. However,our hearts
stayed with everyone in Ukraine”.
After some hesitation, FIFA eventually
excluded Russia, with Poland receiving a
bye to the play-off final, where they
beat Sweden 2-0.
“I am glad that the Czechs and
Swedes supported us,” said Kulesza.
“It is an important voice of solidarity.
War and aggression are not politics.
War is war, and we cannot pretend
that it is a conflict between two sides”.
After the PZPN’s statements,
OleksandrGlyvynskyy,the Ukrainian
FA media manager, texted his opposite
number in Poland,Jakub Kwiatkowski.
“I wrote to him: ‘Bravo Cossacks!’
This is the biggest compliment in
Ukraine. Cossacks were heroes,
they always fought for freedom.
“From the very first day, Poles
support us humanely and morally,”
added Glyvynskyy. “We appreciate
it, as much as we appreciate what
Polish footballers have done”.
Dariusz Kurowski
I
n March, when Ukraine’s Andriy
Yarmolenko replaced Michail
Antonio with West Ham United
and Aston Villa still goalless, a
supportive roar greeted him.
Going into the match, the
Hammers had lost three games
in a row, all in different competitions. But
18 minutes after his introduction, the 32-
year-old had brought that run to an end.
His precise touch and clinical finish
were impressive enough, helping the East
Londoners to a 2-1 victory as they aim
to keep pace with the Premier League’selite. But the timing of the strike made
it extra special, coming just weeks after
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Yarmolenko is undisputedly one of
Ukraine’s most influential footballers.
He’s one of only five players to win100
Ukrainian caps, while 2004 Ballon d’Or
winner Andriy Shevchenko is the only
man with more international goals.
Born in Saint Petersburg to Ukrainian
parents, the winger has been vocal in his
condemnation of those who refuse to
speak out against Russia’s invasion, and
was given compassionate leave to be
with his family members still in Ukraine.
After the goal against Villa, he dropped
to his knees and cried in a moment that
hinted at his unimaginable anguish.
“It was so emotional for me, because
you know the situation in my country,” he
toldSky Sportsafter the game. “It’s so
difficult for me in this moment thinking
about football, because every day in my
country the Russian army kills Ukrainian
people. It was so emotional.
“I just want to say thank you to my
team-mates, who support me all thetime, every day. West Ham fans support
Ukraine and Ukrainian people, and I also
want to say thank you to British people
because we feel your support.”
Fourdayslater, he continued to
show his gratitude with arguably the
most important goal that the London
Stadium has ever seen.
Yarmolenko had entered the game
87 minutes into a gruelling Europa
League second-leg tie against Sevilla.
Trailing1-0 from the first leg, West Ham
had drawn level through a Tomas Soucek
header. Many will have been thinking
about penalties as the
game entered extra
time but, when Bono
parried Pablo Fornals’
effort, the Ukrainian
was first to react
and converted a
simple finish to inspire
unbridled claret and
blue celebrations.
While the Aston Villa
goal had produced an
outcry of emotion, this
time he was more
restrained. As his
team-mates buried
him in a group hug
and fans exploded
in elation, the Ukrainian carried the
expression of a man who simply had
more important things on his mind.
It seems unfair that Yarmolenko’s best
moments on the pitch in England have
coincided with such depressing scenes
away from it. Since he joined West Ham
from Borussia Dortmund in 2018, he
has had to contend with injuries and has
mostly been used as a substitute when fit.
The recent emotionally charged goals
have not been his only memorable
moments in claret and blue – he hit a
brace against Everton in his first Hammers
start, notched in two victories against
Manchester United, and boosted West
Ham’s survival hopes towards the end
of the 2019-20 campaign with a classy
goal against Chelsea – but they have
certainly elevated him to a new heroic
status in the eyes of West Ham fans.
If he and the club can continue
to impress, both domestically and in
Europe, his reputation can only continue
to improve. He would surely trade it in,
however, for peace in his homeland.
Danny LewisEmotional...
Yarmolenko sinks
to his knees after
scoring against
Aston VillaAndriy Yarmolenko
Despite distractions in his home country,
the West Ham United ace is finding form
PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS“Ukraine – we are with you”...children’s
drawings next to the donation point for
Ukraine in the Legionowo sports complex