The end of the dream for Ukraine will be as bizarre as the beginning. He was defeated (1-0) by Wales on Sunday in the final of the World Cup-2022 dam.
The blue and yellow will not see Qatar, carried by a large number of people and by an outpouring international sympathy.
Wales, unlike Wales, which once the opposition anthem was respected and applauded, didn’t lose sight of the sporting issue or its goal of winning the World Cup for first time since 1958.
He did not foil, unlike Scotland, who was defeated (3-1) in the semi-finals four days ago.
Oleksandr Pettrakov’s men performed in typical British conditions, but they still proved that they were worthy of a place at the World Cup.
They were galvanized by the flag of soldiers from the front, which was hanging in their locker room. It contained all the ingredients for winning this match: combat, strategy, tactics, desire. Only one thing: Reality.
A few refereeing decisions were very weighty, like the goal that was denied to Oleksandr Zinchenko for a free kick taken too fast (3rd) and the penalty that was denied to Andryi Yarmolenko (4th).
The Ukrainians will regret their missed chances against Wayne Hennessey, who will undoubtedly be remembered as the hero on both sides, despite some academic interventions.
Roman Yaremchuk, who had made a mistake in his Welsh alignment, was placed in front of the goalkeeper. However, his shot was stopped in just two stages (12th). Hennessey was also unable to resist a shot by Zinchenko (40th), before having an incredible reflex foot to repel Viktor Tsygankov’s deflection to six meters. Yaremchuk, who was well placed to resume, failed to place it at the bottom (55th).
A few minutes later, Tottenham defender Ben Davies made a remarkable save in front Yarmolenko (59th). What about the amazing save on his Hennessey line from a powerful header by Artem Dovbyk? (84th).
It is not surprising that the goal was conceded on a deflection from Yarmolenko’s head (1-0, 34th), following a free kick by Gareth Bale, who took Georgi buschchan wrong foot.
The Welsh could have ended the suspense in the second half with a lively and open second half.
Aaron Ramsey was seven meters away from the goal. He opened his foot too far and missed the target (48th).
Dan James was unable to recover in the area (62nd), Brennan Johnson fired a volley (75th), and Bale, who was ideally positioned at the far post, received the gloves of Buschchan (776th).
The final whistle was broken by the sadness of the Ukrainian players who paid tribute in the Cardiff City Stadium to their fans. This contrasted clearly with the joy felt by the Welsh who hadn’t qualified for a World Cup tournament since 1958.
They will be joining a group B made up of English-speaking people from Qatar and their English neighbour, the United States, to offer their historical leaders Bale and Ramsey a final adventure in the most beautiful international competitions.