Yaremchuk completes comeback for Ukraine in victory against Slovakia

Roman Yaremchuk is a tall player who has great skill. Mykola Shaparenko passed the ball to him after 80 minutes in a way that wasn't perfect. It was too high to control easily and too low to head. However, Yaremchuk managed to control it with a quick movement of his leg and gently pushed it past Martin Dubravka. The shot didn't have much power, but it was enough to go into the goal. This goal helped Ukraine win the game, which seemed unlikely at half-time.

The return of Ukraine and Slovakia to the final 16 will depend on their victories in the upcoming group matches. Despite the exciting and lively game, it was somewhat overshadowed by the political background. Politics have been subtly present throughout the tournament, even with players like Kylian Mbappé and Marcus Thuram making explicit statements against political parties in France.

In Hamburg, fans from Albania and Croatia chanted disrespectful words towards Serbs. A Kosovan journalist was banned for making an eagle gesture towards Serbian fans who had been insulting him. English and Serbian fans both booed each other's anthems, possibly stemming from the Nato bombing of Belgrade. Hungarian fans sang power ballads with irredentist themes, now linked to the German far right. Austrian fans booed la Marseillaise, recognizing it as the war song of the Army of the Rhine in the War of the First Coalition in 1792. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón wisely suggested that everyone should just focus on the game of football.

However, when the match schedule was announced, none seemed to carry as much political significance as this one. For Ukraine, every game is a chance to make people aware of their country's struggles and the ongoing conflict with Russia. As the war continues, every opportunity to gain support and shed light on the situation is crucial. Slovakia initially showed support for Ukraine by offering military aid, but when nationalist Robert Fico became prime minister, the focus shifted. Fico vowed to decrease aid to Ukraine and instead align more closely with Hungary, whose leader, Viktor Orban, is known for his support of Vladimir Putin.

Peter Pellegrini, a close colleague of Fico, took over as president in April. Sadly, Fico was attacked last month in Handlova, resulting in him being shot twice. The perpetrator, Juraj Cintula, a 71-year-old poet, has been arrested. Cintula has been vocal about his opposition to Fico's efforts to limit press freedom, weaken anti-corruption bodies, and decrease support for Ukraine. Fico is now recovering and has used the incident to criticize the left and the EU for not tolerating differing opinions. In his absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Robert Kalinak is serving as the temporary prime minister.

The atmosphere in the stadium was friendly, and the game was exciting enough to keep the fans focused on the action rather than on political issues. Ukraine's coach, Serhiy Rebrov, made four changes to the team that had previously lost to Romania, including benching captain Taras Stepanenko and Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. The new goalkeeper, Benfica's Anatoliy Trubin, quickly made three impressive saves in the first 15 minutes of the game. While this validated Rebrov's decision, it also highlighted Slovakia's strong early performance.

This Slovakia team is a new and improved version compared to the dull teams of the past. Under the leadership of former coffee salesman Francesco Calzona, they play with zest and intricacy, like a fine wine with fruity undertones. They play with enthusiasm and determination, fueled by their victory over Belgium. In their match against Ukraine, they took the lead early on, with Lukas Haraslin setting up Ivan Schranz to score.

Finally, Ukraine was awakened by an exciting turn of events. Oleksandr Tymchyk nearly scored before the first half ended, hitting the post with a powerful shot. Nine minutes into the second half, Shaparenko, who had just entered the game, scored off a cross from Zinchenko to level the score. Mykhailo Mudryk also had a close call, hitting the post with a shot that Dubravka bravely allowed. Ukraine showed energy and precision in their counterattacks. Slovakia may be left wondering how they let their early lead slip away. By the time Yaremchuk scored the winning goal, it seemed inevitable.