The lead: Ukraine respond to pressure to keep Euro hopes alive DÜSSELDORF, Germany -- played this match under incredible pressure. From a footballing perspective, defeat against would have made advancing to the knockout stages a tough prospect. Then there was the pressure of public expectation, as the war with Russia continues back home.
The bulk of the support in the stadium was with Ukraine; there are 1.1 million Ukrainian refugees in Germany, and roughly 10,000 live in Dusseldorf. In a prematch fan march, a vast Ukraine flag was unveiled as the supporters chanted "Danke, Deutschland.
" (Thank you, Germany.) The reminders inside the grounds were there: soldiers were commemorated on flags, although one flag that read "Give us elections back" vanished soon after kickoff. Having floundered in a 3-0 loss against in the previous game, the pressure mounted on Ukraine early as they went a goal down when scored after missed a cross.
But, after flitting between trying to play intricate football at 100mph and going route one, coach Sergiy Rebrov illustrated the benefit of well-judged replacements to turn the game around in the second half and keep Ukraine's hopes of reaching Euro 2024's knockout phase alive. Indeed, it wasn't until he made substitutions in the second half that Ukraine really hit their stride. After that they played quicker, passes landed, and they fashioned a brilliant equaliser in the 54th minute as Zinchenko's lay-off allowed to slot home.
Then came 's winner in t.
