Ukraine gamers have continued to put on their nationwide flag round their shoulders when lining up for the nationwide anthem earlier than their video games at Euro 2024.
As you may count on, that new custom started following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which started in February 2022 and stays sadly ongoing to this present day.
Everton’s gamers wore the Ukrainian flag as they emerged from the tunnel days after battle broke out, doing in order a show of help and solidarity for his or her teammate Vitaliy Mykolenko – however the Ukraine nationwide crew took a bit longer to undertake the identical present of patriotism and defiance.
From EU flag to Ukrainian flag: When Ukraine began sporting flags in the course of the nationwide anthem
Ukraine have draped EU flags over their shoulders from time to time (Picture credit score: Sean Gallup/Getty Pictures)
Ukraine performed a pleasant in opposition to German aspect Borussia Monchengladbach in Could 2022 as a charity fundraiser, however didn’t put on any flags round their shoulders in the course of the nationwide anthem on that event.
Nevertheless, they adopted that up with two extra fundraisers in opposition to Italian aspect Empoli and Croatian aspect Rijeka, and for these video games Ukraine gamers got here out sporting the flag of the European Union – 12 gold stars organized in a circle on a blue background. Nevertheless, former Croatia star Dario Srna stood close by sporting the Ukraine flag earlier than the Rijeka match.
Ukraine’s subsequent recreation got here in opposition to Scotland at Hampden Park on 1st June 2022 in a World Cup qualification play-off, and that seems to be the primary event that each one their gamers wore the Ukrainian flag round their shoulders for the nationwide anthem.
Since then it has been an everyday sight when the Ukraine aspect comes out to line up for the nationwide anthem: the gamers all wore flags all through the 2022 World Cup and have now continued the custom into Euro 2024, as we noticed after they arrived onto the pitch for his or her opening Group E recreation in opposition to Romania.
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Ukraine have been pressured to play their nominal residence video games away from their homeland since struggle broke out, as a substitute taking part in in Poland, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
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