Young football players and residents in Kyiv react after Ukraine qualifies for Euro 2024

(27 Mar 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP AND SNTV CLIENTS MAY USE
ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP AND SNTV CLIENTS MAY USE
Kyiv - 27 March 2024
1. Various of children at practice
2. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Artem Mykhailenko, 15, student and soccer player:
"Very grateful to our guys for eagerly turning the game completely around for the second match in a row."
3. Various of children at practice
4. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Artem Mykhailenko, 15, student and soccer player:
"They, to some extent, determine how the world sees us. We need to show what we are truly worth, who we are, and that we are Ukraine, that Ukraine is a great, united, and strong country in many respects."
5. Various of children at practice, stretching
6. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Hlib Kochetov, 12, student and soccer player:
"It is very important because we are showing that war does not stop us from pursuing sports, and we can qualify for the European Championship and compete in it."
7. Various of children at practice
8. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Anatolii Kartashov, 36, coach:
"Children watch football, they have idols, they know the players. They have dreams, they set goals for themselves. Many of them want to become professional soccer players, so this is a very positive event."
9. Various of practice, coach explaining exercises to players
10. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Oleksandr Bryl, 41, head of service department:
"Engaging in sports is incredibly important in and of itself, especially in our time, during challenging times. It serves as a distraction, particularly from the ongoing war in Ukraine."
11. Coach saying (Ukrainian) "Glory to Ukraine!", players replying, "Glory to heroes!"
12. Various exteriors of Olympiyskiy Stadium
13. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Ruslana Karlash, Mariupol resident:
"I wish our team to win, so that everything is cool. Thank God that every day we have the opportunity to live. I want the God to give them strength, patience to go through this tough match and for them to bring us victory."
14. Various of Ukrainian soldier Dmytro playing with dog
15. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Dmytro, 28, Ukrainian soldier:
"We are finally in the Euros. Very satisfied. This is actually a direct victory in such a difficult time for the country. We are sure that our national team will still show a good result at the Euros. Very pleased that they are in the Euros."
16. Various exteriors of Olympiyskiy Stadium
STORYLINE:
Soccer fans in Kyiv on Wednesday reacted after their national team qualified for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament.
The 24-nation Euro 2024 lineup was finalised on Tuesday with three qualifying playoffs giving a stronger eastern European flavor to the tournament that opens June 14 in Germany.
Mykhailo Mudryk’s sweeping low shot in the 84th minute lifted Ukraine to a 2-1 victory over Iceland and a second late comeback win in the playoffs for a team representing the war-torn country.
The “home” game for Ukraine was played in neutral Poland because international games cannot be played in Kyiv for security reasons during the military invasion by Russia, whose team UEFA banned from trying to qualify.
Ukraine fans’ displayed yellow-and-blue banners criticizing Russia and its President Vladimir Putin in the stadium in Wroclaw.
In the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday, children at football practice shared their excitement.
"It is very important because we are showing that war does not stop us from pursuing sports," said 12-year-old Hlib Kochetov.
Ukraine is in Group F with Belgium, Romania and Slovakia.
Euro 2024 will be played in 10 German cities from June 14 to July 14.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...