FIFA World Cup 2022:
Oleksandr Zinchenko

Tearful Ukrainian football star Oleksandr Zinchenko said Ukraine would fight to bring the "incredible emotions" of World Cup qualification to people in their homeland when they face Scotland on Wednesday.

Iran PressEurope: Ukraine is two games away from qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, starting with a match against Scotland in Glasgow on Thursday — which was postponed in March following Russia's attack on Ukraine.

The winner at Hampden Park will play against Wales on Sunday in the decisive playoff.

"We want to give incredible emotions to the Ukrainian people because Ukrainians deserve it so much at this very moment," Zinchenko, the Manchester City defender, said at a news conference.

"Our mood, I would describe as a fighting mood, because everyone understands what is going on in Ukraine these days."

Zinchenko put football in perspective, saying the one thing Ukrainians want is "to stop this war" but that those who could follow the game at home would do so.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave his blessing for Ukraine's players and coach Oleksandr Petrakov to leave their homeland to prepare for and play what they hope will be two games in Britain this week.

The Qatar World Championships will be held from November 21 to December 18, 2022. 

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