Wembley Stadium, London
CNN
—

The sight of Ukrainian flags flying along Wembley Way – the road approaching the iconic Wembley Stadium – took on additional significance on Sunday as Ukraine took on England in the Euro 2024 qualifier.

As the horrors of war continue to cast a shadow over the country, here the Ukrainian men’s national team faced off against one of the best teams in the world on the world stage.

Win or lose, the Ukrainian players wanted to give their fans a show and give those at home 90 minutes of rest.

However, the team knew it would take something of a miracle to beat England at Wembley and it didn’t happen.

England were 21 places ahead of Ukraine and had too much quality on the pitch and its experience shone through.

Goals from England’s all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka were all that was needed as the 2–0 win secured another three points in the qualifying campaign.

Despite the defeat, Ukrainian fans continued to raise their voices as a sea of ​​yellow and blue sang and danced in unison until the final whistle – some even left messages asking for more military aid in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Ukrainian agent Ruslan Rotan thanked the fans for their “incredible wave of support”.

He also thanked the home crowd, adding: “It was an atmosphere I have not experienced at any other international match.”

In reality, the atmosphere around the stadium started building hours before kick-off on what started as a cold and rainy London afternoon.

But the gray clouds were in stark contrast to the bright yellow and blue flags that the supporters who went inside waved and hovered over them.

One thousand Ukrainian refugees, and the families who sponsored them in the UK, were invited as special guests to the match and were joined by more than 4,000 fans who managed to secure tickets.

Despite being vastly outnumbered by the English faithful, the Ukrainians were in good spirits.

And while acknowledging the heartbreaking backdrop of this game, many supporters simply wanted to enjoy the experience and focus on football – a distraction from the brutal reality at home.

“It is the best way to remind people of Ukraine. To show the world that we are still standing,” Ukrainian fan Oleksii Soboleva (40) told CNN Sport before kick-off.

Soboleva and his family had moved to London six months ago, having previously left Ukraine before the full-scale invasion last year.

They all agreed that whatever the outcome, it would be an emotional night at Wembley.

“We’re not afraid of England though,” Marta Soboleva told CNN Sport, a wry smile spreading across her face, eyes full of excitement.

Not far from where the Sobolevas spoke to CNN Sport, a small group of Ukrainian fans had gathered at the foot of the steps leading to the historic arena.

A little earlier, Andriy Shevchenko, former striker and former manager of the Ukrainian national team, was among those who fulfilled his media duties ahead of the game.

The 46-year-old had stayed to chat and take pictures with supporters and joined in chants in support of his beloved country.

The Ukrainian fans continued to enjoy the spectacle in the stadium and greeted their players with a thunderous applause as they entered the field, each with a Ukrainian flag wrapped around them.

Before the match, Ukraine’s boss Rotan thanked the United Kingdom for the help it had given his country since the start of the war, but promised his side would put the niceties aside once the referee blew the first whistle .

The Ukrainian team kept their word, creating some half-chances in the early stages and giving their passionate support something to cheer about – and they cheered.

As their team struggled to keep pace with England on the pitch, the Ukrainian fans at Wembley outnumbered the rather subdued English crowd outside.

For much of the first half, Ukraine had actually managed to keep England at bay by throwing their bodies on the line to prevent their host from taking the lead.

But eventually the pressure of England’s constant attacks became too much and Kane scored the opener in the 37th minute after latching on to Saka’s cross.

The goal seemed to open the floodgates, with Saka himself doubling the lead three minutes later with a beautiful curled effort from outside the box.

Although the second half was more of a formality, the fans of both sets interacted in good faith. At one point, thousands of supporters lit up Wembley Stadium using the flares on their phones as they watched England dominate possession.

The final whistle was greeted by huge cheers from the Ukrainian section of the stands as it serenaded the players who applauded support in return.

In the context of war, the result of Sunday’s match mattered little, but this was another example of when sport is much more than just a game.

The 90 minutes brought a smile to the faces of the thousands of Ukraine fans in the stadium. It showed that the country was still standing strong and was a sign of better days.

And while many players will leave England disappointed, they will be proud to have once again represented their country on the world stage – a powerful message for a country still under attack.