Ukraine clinches EURO 2024 spot with hard-fought win against Iceland!

26.03.2024 23:43

Defeating Iceland in the playoff final with a score of 2:1, our national team has earned the right to participate in the European Championship for the fourth consecutive time. Following EURO 2012, EURO 2016, and EURO 2020, Ukraine is now set for EURO 2024!

Today, on March 26th, the national team of Ukraine faced Iceland in the playoff final of the EURO 2024 qualification.

Having secured the third position in Group C, the blue-yellow team maintained their chances for the final tournament. Our team entered Path B of the playoffs, eliminating Bosnia and Herzegovina in the semifinals (2:1). Now, the Ukrainian national team faced Iceland in the final, who defeated Israel (4:1). The nominal home game for Serhiy Rebrov's team was held in Wroclaw, Poland.

Karavaiev, Popov, Pikhalonok, Hutsulyak, and Sikan remained out of the squad for the match. Compared to the game in Zenica, Malinovskyi, Tsygankov, and Yaremchuk started from the first minutes, while Zinchenko, Zubkov, and Dovbyk began on the bench.

Photo by Andriy Yushchak

The blue-yellow team started the match actively, but over time, the Icelanders coped with the pressure. Both teams had their chances - Lunin saved a shot from Thorsteinsson, and Mykolenko's attempt after Konoplya's pass went wide. Unexpectedly, Iceland opened the scoring in the 30th minute - Albert Gudmundsson turned near the semi-circle and accurately shot into the right corner.

The Ukrainian team quickly responded: Sudakov had his chance, but his shot from the right flank was saved by the goalkeeper, and after a corner, Zabarnyi shot wide. In the 39th minute, our team scored after a brilliant combination of Sudakov, Tsygankov, and Yaremchuk, but the goal was disallowed for an offside by Viktor.

Photo by Andriy Yushchak

Ukraine started the second half aggressively and equalized in the 54th minute. In a counterattack, Sudakov passed diagonally to Tsyhankov, who shifted from the flank to the center and accurately shot into the far corner. After that, the blue-yellow team continued to control the ball. After Zinchenko came on as a substitute, he created an opportunity for Yaremchuk but Roman missed the target.

Later, Sudakov had a decent attempt from a free kick - the goalkeeper parried it. Then, from a good position, Mykolenko failed to score, finding himself in front of the goal. Iceland responded with two quality attacks: Lunin saved a dangerous shot from Thorsteinsson from the corner, and Albert Gudmundsson failed to capitalize on a chance after Zabarnyi's unsuccessful action.

Photo by Andriy Yushchak

But in the 84th minute, the Ukrainian national team scored - Sudakov passed to Mudryk on the penalty area line, from where the unmarked Mudryk accurately shot into the left corner. As it turned out, this goal secured the blue-yellow team's place at the European Championship, the fourth for our national team in history.

The final tournament will take place in Germany from June 14th to July 14th. The Ukrainian national team will compete in Group E, facing Romania (June 17th), Slovakia (June 21st), and Belgium (June 26th).

UEFA Nations League/Euro 2024 Qualifiers. Path B Final

Ukraine vs. Iceland - 2:1 (0:1)

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

Ukraine: Lunin, Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko (c), Mykolenko, Malinovskyi (Zinchenko, 64), Brazhko, Tsygankov (Talovierov, 88), Sudakov, Mudryk, Yaremchuk (Dovbyk, 72).

Subs: Bushchan, Trubin, Mykhaylichenko, Sydorchuk, Shaparenko, Vanat, Bondar, Zubkov, Tymchyk.

Coach: Serhiy Rebrov.

Iceland: Valdimarsson, Paulsson, Ingason, Gretarsson, Torarinsson (Finnsson, 64), J. Gudmundsson (c), Haraldsson (Anderson, 87), Traustason, Thorsteinsson (Ellertsson, 87), Gudjonsson (Oskarsson, 64), A. Gudmundsson.

Subs: Olafsson, Gunnarsson, Sampsted, Hermannsson, Finnbogason, Williams, Johannesson, Gislason.

Coach: Age Hareide.

Referee: Clement Turpin (France).

Yellow cards: Malinovskyi (42), Zinchenko (90+2) - Haraldsson (21), Ingason (57), J. Gudmundsson (90).

March 26th. Wroclaw. Tarczyński Arena Wrocław.