World Soccer - UK (2022-06)

International

comeback...

it promises to

be an emotional

night for Ukraine

he delayed World Cup

play-off semi-final

between Scotland and

Ukraine is upon us.

It’ssettobeamatch

full of emotion as the

war-torn visitors prepare for their first

game since the Russian invasion.

Ukraine have several domestically-

based players, with the majority at either

Dynamo Kyiv or Shakhtar Donetsk. The

Ukrainian government granted them

The rescheduled European Path A World Cup play-off decides

who faces Wales in the final at the Cardiff City Stadium

special visas to leave the country to

train, with both sides embarking on a

Global Tour for Peace in April to raise

money for war victims ahead of their

national team training camp.

Ukraine head coach Oleksandr

Petrakov had hoped to prepare in their

homeland – in the city of Uzhhorod

near the border with Hungary and

Slovakia – for his side’s Hampden

Park showdown, however that

idea was thought better of.

Scotland and Ukraine

in semi-final showdown

“Unfortunately, the plan to prepare

for the match against Scotland in the

western region of the country has

been abandoned,” he said.

“It is far too dangerous. We run the

risk of Russia finding out our location and

they could launch a planned, deliberate

missile strike directly at us.”

Both Petrakov and Ukrainian FA

president Andriy Pavelko also dismissed

any suggestion of Ukraine being given

a bye to the finals in Qatar.

T

UEFA World Cup play-offs

JARED TINSLAY

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