Ukraine goes into a different war, invades Scotland

Proudly Ukrainian…Zinchenko wraps himself with his country’s flag when he won the EPL with Man City last week.

By George Aluo

Ukraine would this night go into a different kind of war when they face Scotland in a Qatar 2022 World Cup play off.

A victory would enhance the country’s chance of reaching the mundial despite what they are suffering at home with Russia’s invasion.

Manchester City’s strongman, Oleksandr Zinchenko is confident his country will win insisting that the game is more than a football match.

Today’s game at Hampden Park in Glasgow comes against the backdrop of war, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

The fixture was originally due to take place in March but was delayed by FIFA until June to give Ukraine the chance to qualify for the Qatar finals later this year.

An emotional Zinchenko, who broke down in tears at a media conference on Tuesday as he outlined what the match meant to him, later told Sky Sports he and his team-mates are determined to lift the spirits of a beleaguered nation.

Asked whether this is more about sending a message, he said: “Yes, 100 per cent. That’s for sure. Everyone is in the same situation and everyone is going to give everything. “My mission is to try to help Ukraine as much as I can, to make Ukrainian people proud and that our nation is living with freedom and that we will never give up.

“We need to focus on our game, we need to try and give some good emotions to the Ukrainian people so that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

Zinchenko, who scored against Sweden at Hampden in the European Championship finals less than 12 months ago, admits he is not sure how he will react when Ukraine’s national anthem is played ahead of kick-off.

“I have been thinking about this moment for a long time,” he added.

“I don’t know what is going to be inside my heart because I think it’s impossible to describe the feeling. I try to imagine but I think it’s going to be so emotional.

“When this tough period started on February 24, nobody was thinking about football and I couldn’t even think that this game was going to happen.

“I think it’s impossible to describe until you are in this position, so for us as football players, we have unbelievable lives, we have families, facilities around us, but for the people who are struggling, suffering, starving, it’s impossible to describe.”

The 25-year-old left-back, whose team will also need to beat Wales in Cardiff on Sunday to qualify for the World Cup, revealed he stays in regular contact with those close to him back in his home country but remains concerned about their safety.

“I keep in touch with everyone, with all my family every single day and with my friends,” Zinchenko said. “They look like they’re in the safe positions, the safe cities, but you never know what can happen because the Russian aggression is still there.

“They’re attacking other cities and civilian buildings with their bombs, so you never know what can happen.”