In a Kyiv market, Ukrainians take heart from team’s inspiring play at Euro 2024

3 months ago

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Published astatine 4:15 pm, June 29, 2024

Derek Gatopoulos and Anton Shtuka, Associated Press

Ukraine Euro 2024 lucifer | Alex Babenko, Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian fans took bosom from their team’s inspiring decorativeness astatine nan Euro 2024 shot tournament, contempt being eliminated from nan tournament.

As Ukraine’s lucifer successful Stuttgart ended 0-0 against Belgium connected Wednesday, astir 1,000 fans who had gathered astatine an indoor marketplace successful Kyiv sang nan nationalist anthem.

“A beardown federation is 1 that stays agreed and supports each different astatine each times, some successful conclusion and successful victory,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote successful an online station aft nan game.

“Today, we convey Ukraine’s National Football Team. Despite nan unfortunate result, they fought for our country. Our awesome victories are ahead.”

Anastasia Plokha said she attended nan instrumentality arena to grant nan representation of her husband, who was killed successful nan warfare pursuing Russia’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful February 2022.

“I truthful (strongly) supported our Ukrainian squad today. They played excellently,” nan 27-year-old fittingness trainer said. “I deliberation it was a difficult game, but they fought a lot. And possibly (needed) a small spot of luck.”

Ukraine fans respond during a nationalist screening of nan Euro 2024 lucifer betwixt Ukraine and Belgium successful Kyiv, Ukraine, connected Wednesday, June 26, 2024. | Alex Babenko, Associated Press

All 4 teams successful Group E vanished pinch 4 points. Romania ended up first, followed by Belgium and Slovakia. Ukraine was past connected extremity difference.

Ukraine had mislaid to Romania 3-0 successful its opening crippled and bounced backmost pinch a 2-1 triumph complete Slovakia.

The viewing area Wednesday was group up wrong Kyiv’s Rye Market, a Soviet-era building, contempt wartime restrictions connected nationalist gatherings.

A mascot, a cardboard cutout of nan Ukrainian team, and outdoor games were disposable for nan children arsenic nan fans watched nan crippled connected a elephantine screen, often breaking retired into chants of U-KRA-I-NA!

Yevhen Klopotenko, a Ukrainian personage cook who organized nan event, said he was proud of nan players.

“Our squad showed they were fresh to conflict and that they wanted to win, and they were doing everything. Belgium is now 1 of nan champion shot countries successful nan world,” Klopotenko said.

“They did a awesome job. And that’s why I conscionable want to opportunity convey you.”