CNN —Ukraine’s soccer team qualified for this summer’s European Championships with a come-from-behind win over Iceland, a rare moment of joy for the country more than two years into Russia’s invasion.
Coach Sergiy Rebrov’s players made a ring around the center circle to lead the fans in a ‘Viking thunder clap’, the celebration made famous by their defeated opponents Iceland at Euro 2016.
Ukraine finished third in their qualifying group, behind England and Italy, but beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in an earlier play-off to set up the decisive clash with Iceland.
Russia will not be taking part, having been banned by European governing body UEFA because of the invasion.
Ukraine will play in Group E of Euro 2024, along with Belgium, Slovakia and Romania, and face the prospect of taking to the continental stage while war rages back home.
Persons:
Mykhailo Mudryk, Mudryk, Sergiy, Albert Gudmundsson, Viktor Tsyhankov’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Zelensky, Oleksandr Zinchenko
Organizations:
CNN, Chelsea, Iceland, Ukraine, “, UEFA
Locations:
Iceland, Wroclaw, Poland, Ukraine, England, Italy, Bosnia, Herzegovina, “ Ukraine, Germany, Europe, Russia, Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Avdiivka, Western, Israel, Gaza