As in the match against Scotland, players and supporters paid tribute to the Ukrainians, whose country is ravaged by the war. The Welshmen, they will participate in the second World Cup in their history, after sixty-four years of waiting.
Le Monde with AFP
At the final whistle, the Cardiff City Stadium has ignited. Victorious of the Ukrainians (1-0) in the final of European dams, the Dragons – The nickname the Welsh National Football team – validated, Sunday, June 5, the last post for the World Cup in Qatar (November 21, 18 december). A feat, sixty -four years after their last – and unique – participation in competition.
The joy of some contrasts with the tears of others and for the Zbirna, the dream will have been as crazy as the end is cruel. Under typically British weather, its players have delivered a great performance, undoubtedly galvanized by a flag signed by soldiers on the forehead hanging on the wall of their wardrobe.
Some arbitral decisions, such as the purpose refused to Oleksandr Zinchenko on a free kick pulled too quickly (3 e
é>) or a penalty refused to Andryi Yarmolenko (40
Irony of fate, the only goal of this tight match occurred on a deviation from the head of Yarmolenko, following a free kick pulled by Gareth Bale (1-0, 34
“We must pay tribute to Ukraine”
The Welsh selection knew that this meeting would be emotional, taking on a much wider issue than the strict sports framework for their rivals, whose country has been prey to war since the invasion of Russian troops, February 24 .
The Ukrainian coach Oleksandr Petrakov, 64, had even offered to put himself at the service of the national army before being encouraged to focus on the objective of a second participation in the World Cup, after that of 2006.
Sunday, the authorities had given 100 tickets to refugees, in addition to the 5 % of the seats allocated to visitors in the regulations in a stadium of 33,000 seats closed closed . And as during the semi-final against Scotland, Friday in Glasgow, nourished applause from players and stands paid tribute to the Ukrainian selection and its supporters at the end of the meeting.
“I think it was probably my best match in the Welsh jersey to be honest, reacted Wayne Hennessey at the microphone of Sky Sports at the end of the match. But we must pay tribute to Ukraine which is a fantastic team . “
In Qatar, the Welshman will join a very “English-speaking” group B with their English neighbor, the United States and Iran.