Ballon d'Or winner and Ukrainian Football Association President Andriy Shevchenko said the key message is that football and war are not separated.
"Football is not just a sport; it is also a powerful force, a symbol of solidarity, unity, and the support our country desperately needs".
'Football is not just a sport': Ukraine national team make emotional plea ahead of Euro 2024 debut
Copyright Ukraine Football Association
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Ukraine's football team, in Germany for Euro 2024, highlighted the war's devastating impact at home in a video appeal to the fans on Monday.
Ukraine's football team is about to try to make their country proud on Monday in their first tournament game against Romania at 3 pm CET.
- But the players currently in Germany for Euro 2024 haven't forgotten about their war-torn homeland.
Ballon d'Or winner and Ukrainian Football Association President Andriy Shevchenko said the key message is that football and war are not separated.
"There's no Ukrainian football player, city, stadium, playground, or child untouched by the war", he explained.
"We are here at EURO 2024 thanks to the incredible people fighting for our freedom, including hundreds of thousands of football fans who would rather be on the stands instead of on the frontlines."
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"Football is not just a sport; it is also a powerful force, a symbol of solidarity, unity, and the support our country desperately needs".
'Bombarded day and night'
"My dad and I used to go to the Krasnohrad stadium to play football after work", said Ukraine and Chelsea midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale war, my city has been bombarded with missiles day and night. Despite this, my family remain in Krasnohrad and they always believe in the victory of Ukraine."
Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin also comes from the Kharkiv region, which has been shelled by the Russian army since the beginning of the war.
A similar situation occurred in Zaporizhzhia, the hometown of Serhii Sydorchuk, Belgian club Westerlo's midfielder.
Dynamo Kyiv player Mykola Shaparenko's village of Velyka Novosilka was completely destroyed. The last 300 people remaining there don't have water or electricity.
The Donetsk region town of Ukraine's manager Serhiy Rebrov, Horlivka, was also affected. He hasn't been able to return home for over 10 years.
The video also features Arsenal's left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bournemouth defender Ilya Zabarnyi, Genoa midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi and Girona strikers Artem Dovbyk and Viktor Tsygankov.
Ukraine is currently struggling to fend off Russia's forces, particularly after Moscow mounted a new incursion in the north-eastern Kharkiv region.
The whole front, however, remains under pressure, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanding more firepower from his Western allies.
- The upcoming NATO summit in Washington, which kicks off on 9 July, should lay the basis for how the alliance intends to support Ukraine in this delicate phase of the war.
No end to war in sight
Attempts to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict have failed to make substantial progress so far.
Over the weekend, around 100 countries participated in a summit in Switzerland to chart a path towards peace.
The final document, signed by 78 delegations, said that any "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine must respect its"territorial integrity and sovereignty".
But that seems like a non-starter for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has consistently demanded Ukraine give up the four Russian-occupied regions as the first condition to start peace talks.
Attempts to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict have failed to make substantial progress so far.
Over the weekend, around 100 countries participated in a summit in Switzerland to chart a path towards peace.
The final document, signed by 78 delegations, said that any "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine must respect its"territorial integrity and sovereignty".
But that seems like a non-starter for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has consistently demanded Ukraine give up the four Russian-occupied regions as the first condition to start peace talks.
Ukraine to display destroyed stand in Germany as a reminder to Europe
Section of Kharkiv stadium will be displayed in Munich
Rebrov: ‘All players getting messages from our fighters’
Ukraine’s campaign at Euro 2024 will be accompanied by a stark reminder of the destruction inflicted on the country’s football scene after their football association was given permission to display part of a destroyed stadium, used during Euro 2012, in German cities.
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22 minutes agoSolidarity initiative for Ukraine: Veterans and children to attend UEFA Euro 2024 as guests
- Up to 300 Ukrainian veterans and children of war victims to attend group stage matches of their national team
- Eight German energy companies facilitate solidarity initiative together with Ukrainian partner Naftogaz Group’s ‘Energy of Victory of Ukraine’ Charity Foundation
- Companies continue series of aid and solidarity measures
The action is intended as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine and its people suffering as a result of the Russian war of aggression. The solidarity initiative is being organised by the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz and supported by eight German energy companies.
Yuliia Movchan, Director of the Charitable Foundation “Energy of Victory of Ukraine”, on the idea behind the campaign: "Even during the European Football Championship, the war against Ukraine continues. Our people have to endure terrible suffering every day. We want to remind the world of this and at the same time show our courage and resilience. We are pleased that we can realise this initiative together with our partners in Germany."
The Ukrainian fan delegations will be able to attend the three group stage matches in Munich (17 June), Düsseldorf (21 June) and Stuttgart (26 June). The energy companies EnBW, E.ON, RWE, Siemens Energy and Uniper as well as Amprion, 50Hertz and TenneT are helping to finance the initiative. UEFA and the DFB have reserved the ticket contingent.
German energy companies have been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022. In addition to financial aid, for example for refugee projects, the companies are helping in particular with donations in kind to maintain the power supply. For example, power cables, transformers and switchgears have been delivered to Ukraine to maintain or rebuild war-damaged infrastructure. The initiative for Ukrainian veterans and children of fallen soldiers is thus part of the German energy industry’s support and solidarity campaign.
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Ukraine players emerged onto the pitch with Ukrainian flags draped over their shoulders in the country's first game at a major tournament since the Russian invasion in February 2022.They missed out on qualifying for the World Cup two years ago but secured a fourth successive appearance at the Euros, despite the backdrop of the largest European conflict since World War II.
Three years ago Ukraine reached the quarter-finals under Andriy Shevchenko. But a lot has changed since for a country ravaged by war, with his former striker partner Serhiy Rebrov now in charge.
Romania sink error-prone Ukraine to end long drought at Euros
Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Romania won at a major international tournament for the first time in 24 years on Monday as they beat Ukraine 3-0 at Euro 2024, helped by two errors from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.Issued on: 17/06/2024 - 17:05Modified: 17/06/2024 - 17:03
Razvan Marin's shot from distance then skipped under Lunin as Romania turned the screw with two more goals before the hour, Denis Dragus tapping home the third.
It was a disastrous start to the campaign for Ukraine, who must quickly regroup with games to follow against Slovakia and Belgium.
Away from war, Ukraine’s soccer stars ready for battle
For Ukraine’s soccer team, the Euros offer their beleaguered nation a moment in the sun.
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