- Taken together, the 182 faces displayed one huge image of fallen soldier
Ukrainian fans have paid tribute to their fallen friends by unfurling a huge mosaic of 182 football-loving soldiers killed in the war with Russia at their last Euro 2024 game.
Taken together, the 182 faces displayed one huge image of fallen soldier and football fan Nazariy Hryntsevich, codenamed Hrienka, who died fighting on the front line in Ukraine in May aged 21.
All the soldiers commemorated in the mosaic reading 'piece has a price' were part of fan movements supporting Ukrainian football clubs.
The emotional tribute illustrated that off the pitch, there are still thousands of football fans fighting for Ukraine on the 600-mile front line in the east and south of the country.
Ukraine's Euro 2024 dreams were shattered when they drew 0-0 against Belgium last night and were knocked out of the tournament.
Taken together, the 182 faces displayed one huge image of fallen soldier and football fan Nazariy Hryntsevich, codenamed Hrienka, who died fighting on the front line in Ukraine in May aged 21
All the soldiers commemorated in the mosaic were part of fan movements supporting Ukrainian football clubs
'Being in the tournament was very important for our country. We showed the character of our nation, after nearly 900 days of the war,' Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov told reporters.
'It's very important to show people in Europe, people in Ukraine, that we are still fighting.'
'We wanted to bring them joy, to make them proud. We left it all on the field, but it wasn't enough,' Ukraine defender Oleksandr Tymchyk said after the game.
The national team has been a rallying point for Ukrainians throughout post-Soviet times and Euro qualification was a source of pride as the country's military fights to contain the slow advance of Russian forces along the front line.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who had hailed the team's 2-1 defeat of Slovakia, was philosophical about the latest outcome.
'A strong nation is one that maintains unity and in which people always help one another. Both in times of defeat and in times of victory,' Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram after the match.
The emotional tribute illustrated that off the pitch, there are still thousands of football fans fighting for Ukraine on the 600-mile front line in the east and south of the country
'Despite the disappointing result, you fought for our country. Our victories still lie ahead. Victories for Ukraine. For now, let us stand firm, rise up and move forward to become stronger in the future.'
At viewing parties throughout the country, seasoned soccer fans and others simply there to back the team were disappointed, but determined to get behind future successes.
As a border guard regiment gathered at a compound in Donetsk region, a few kilometres from the front line, one soldier held his head in his hands and another cradled his weapon as they watched the match.
'I would have liked to see them win, but a game is a game,' said Roman, 33, a member of the regiment. 'Some of us are playing sport, some of us are fighting. That's the way things are.'
