What was a special EURO viewing session for Ukrainian fans like on the battlefield?

“Ukrainian soldiers have just won a battle. They are exhausted and then sit and watch another battle. Perhaps at this moment, the match between the Ukrainian team and Romania is the only thing for them to entertain and soothe the souls of these strong men,” AFP described the time of watching the match of Ukrainian soldiers.

Ukrainian soldiers watch the match attentively.

The match against Romania on June 17 will mark Ukraine's fourth appearance at the European Championship. The first was in 2012, when Ukraine co-hosted the tournament with Poland, with some matches held in the city of Donetsk. But this year, millions of Ukrainian fans are taking to the battlefield. Their love for their team drives them to do whatever it takes to watch the match. Some on the front lines watch on screens hooked up to small batteries and satellite internet links that transmit artillery coordinates and other military data. Unlike ordinary fans, soldiers are banned from drinking alcohol and beer - almost indispensable when watching football in Europe. "We have to eat potatoes and drink soft drinks. If we had beer, everything would be perfect. But unfortunately, that's just a wish," a Ukrainian soldier told AFP .

For the National Guardsmen, who had been fighting together for more than a year, football became the only chance to bond. But unfortunately, they had to seek safety in the basement to cheer for the national team. Hiding underground, having just finished packing their weapons and removing their shirts, they watched as Ukraine was quickly overtaken by Romania.

The atmosphere became quiet at this moment, everyone was paying attention to how the players would handle the situation. A soldier in the group said: “It’s okay, football is about unity. We will definitely come back and do it.”

In the second half, the Ukrainian team continued to concede two more goals and left empty-handed on the opening day. However, the soldiers remained united: “During the war, we saw things differently. Even now, when we watch the match, we understand that at any moment we could have to leave and go into the trenches to fight. I think the players are the same, they are proud and ready to play their best for their country.”

Ukrainian fans sad when their team lost the match

With football leagues suspended, Ukraine are unlikely to qualify for EURO 2024. The Ukrainian team had to work hard and only qualified in Germany thanks to a play-off win over Iceland on March 26. More importantly, the play-off took place in Wroclaw, Poland, as Ukraine could not host the matches due to security concerns.

More broadly, the Ukrainian national team has not played a home match since February 2022. Many football stadiums and other sports training facilities were also destroyed by the war. The Sonyachny Stadium was shelled in May 2022 and was severely damaged.

But Ukraine’s love for football has not faded. The pain has made them stronger and more determined. Oleksandr Tymchyk, who played against Romania in the Euro 2024 Ukraine squad, lost his brother in Donetsk province in August 2023. Oleksandr Tymchyk keeps running because he knows he has to give his best for his country.

Oleksandr Tymchyk (in blue) keeps running on the field. His brother was killed while fighting in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine in August 2023

“We have one team on the pitch and millions of people on the front line,” said Andriy Shevchenko, a former Ukrainian football star and now head of the National Football Federation. “Every football player starts the day by opening his phone and checking the situation on the battlefield. We lost the first match, but we will definitely come back stronger. The Ukrainian team will never be defeated.”

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mot-buoi-xem-euro-cua-cdv-dac-biet-ukraine-noi-chien-truong-dien-ra-nhu-the-nao-185240618112911841.htm