The national team of Ukraine claimed a strong-willed victory over Iceland and qualified for Euro 2024!

26.03.2024 23:43

Photo by Andrii Yushchak

Having defeated Iceland in the final of the play-off selection — 2:1, our national team received the right to participate in the European Championship for the fourth time in a row. After Euro-2012, Euro-2016 and Euro-2020, Euro-2024 awaits Ukraine!

Today, March 26, the national team of Ukraine played a match against Iceland in the finals of the Euro 2024 qualification playoffs.

Having taken the third place in Group C, the blue-yellows kept their chances for the final tournament. Our team made it to the Playoffs Road B, in the semi-finals of which they knocked out Bosnia and Herzegovina (2:1). Now the national team of Ukraine faced Iceland in the final, which defeated Israel (4:1). Nominally, Serhiy Rebrov's wards played their home game in Wroclaw, Poland.

Karavaev, Popov, Pikhalyonok, Hutsulyak and Sikan remained outside the application for the match. Compared to the match in Zenica, Malinovskyi, Tsygankov and Yaremchuk came out from the first minutes, and Zinchenko, Zubkov and Dovbyk started the game on the bench.

Photo by Andrii Yushchak

Blue and yellow actively started the match, but over time the Icelanders coped with the onslaught. The teams exchanged moments — Lunin pulled Torsteinsson's shot, and Mykolenko, after a pass from Konopli, shot past the far post. In the 30th minute, the islanders opened the scoring quite unexpectedly — Albert Gudmundsson turned around near the semi-circle and hit the right corner.

The national team of Ukraine quickly recovered: Sudakov had his moment, but his shot from the right flank of the free kick was parried by the keeper, then after a corner kick, Zabarny shot into the net. In the 39th minute, our team scored after a great combination of Sudakov-Tsygankov-Yaremchuk, but the goal was canceled due to Viktor's offside.

Photo by Andrii Yushchak

The Ukrainians actively started the second half and equalized the score in the 54th minute. In the counterattack, Sudakov sent a diagonal to Tsygankov, who moved from the flank to the center and hit the far corner. After that, the blue-yellow continued to control the ball. After coming on as a substitute, Zinchenko created a moment for Yaremchuk, but he missed the shot.

Later, Sudakov made a good effort from a free kick - the goalkeeper parried. Then Mykolenko did not score from a good position, being in front of the goal. The Icelanders responded with two quality attacks: Thorsteinsson's dangerous shot from the penalty corner was parried by Lunin, and Albert Gudmundsson missed the chance after Zabarny's failed attempt.

Photo by Andrii Yushchak

But in the 84th minute, the national team of Ukraine scored - Sudakov gave a free kick to the penalty line, from where Mudryk, who was not covered by anyone, hit the left corner. As it turned out, it was this goal that brought the blue and yellow team to the European Championship, the fourth for our national team in history.

The final tournament will be held in Germany from June 14 to July 14. The Ukrainian national team will play in Group E, where they will face Romania (June 17), Slovakia (June 21) and Belgium (June 26).

Nations League Play-offs/Euro 2024 Qualifiers. Way B

Final

Ukraine — Iceland — 2:1 (0:1)

Goals: Tsygankov (54), Mudryk (84) — A. Gudmundsson (30).

Ukraine: Lunin, Konoplia, Zabarny, Matvienko (k), Mykolenko, Malinovskyi (Zinchenko, 64), Brazhko, Tsygankov (Talovyerov, 88), Sudakov, Mudryk, Yaremchuk (Dovbyk, 72).

Substitutions: Bushchan, Trubin, Mykhailichenko, Sydorchuk, Shaparenko, Vanat, Bondar, Zubkov, Tymchyk.

Trainer: Sergey Rebrov.

Iceland: Valdimarsson, Paulsson, Ingasson, Gretarsson, Thorarinsson (Finnsson, 64), J. Gudmundsson (k), Haraldsson (Anderson, 87), Traustasson, Thorsteinsson (Ellertsson, 87), Gudjonsen (Oscarsson, 64), A. Gudmundsson.

Substitutions: Olafsson, Gunnarsson, Sampstead, Hermansson, Finnbogason, Willumsson, Johannesson, Glinsson.

Trainer: Hey Gareyd.

Referee: Clément Turpin (France).

Booked: Malinovskyi (42), Zinchenko (90+2) — Haraldsson (21), Ingason (57), J. Gudmundsson (90).

March 26. Wroclaw Stadium "Tarchyński Arena Wroclaw".