We haven’t had such a sad European Cup autumn for a long time
Football autumn starts very gloomy for Ukraine. When it seemed that life had prepared for everything with our football, it was time for another hard disappointment. In the history of Ukrainian football, there has not been such a disappointing qualification for European cup tournaments for a long time.
No, we all understood, realizing that holding the championship in the conditions of a full-scale war, rocket attacks, destroyed cities and stadiums is already a sporting and human feat in its own way. And such conditions, plus one and a half championships in two years in several cities and at several arenas (thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the situation in the venues has become much better) cannot but affect. And that the rivals are in obviously more favorable conditions. But the reality is even harsher.
It is likely that we live in illusions and memories of a truly high-level tournament, with great legionnaires, rich clubs, huge budgets and the same choice of players. Perhaps our level is really the same as that of Georgia and Slovakia.
But it’s still hard to come to terms with the fact that, given the 0.8 points that Shakhtar brought to Ukraine for a direct entry into the Champions League group, our country has 1.7 points in the current European season. More than we have already earned, including Moldova, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Armenia and even Luxembourg with Albania. Not to mention the super football country – Cyprus. Yes, a lot depends on the luck of the draw, but just let us remind you once again who our clubs were eliminated from – Dila, Panathinaikos, twice Slavia, Spartak from Trnava and Besiktas.
Very painful and therefore just facts.
Out of five of Ukrainian clubs that started in the qualification of the European Cups, at the group stage will play only two. Moreover, both of them guaranteed themselves a place at this stage even before the start of the European season and regardless of their performances: Shakhtar directly got into the Champions League group, Zorya had at least a Conference League group.
On the fourth Ukrainian clubs managed overcome only one stage of selection out of six – Dynamo passed Aris in the third round of the Conference League qualification on aggregate. The White-Blues, Vorskla and Zorya lost one stage each, Dnipro lost three.
Dnipro-1 became the first team to eliminated from the qualification of all three European competitions.
Dnepr-1 did not win a single match out of six in European qualification this season.
Of the 14 matches in the qualification of European competitions, four our teams lost eightwon three, ended the same number in a draw.
For four our clubs have earned less than one point for the qualification of European competitions. To be precise – 0.9. Dnipro received 0.3 points for draws with Panathinaikos, Slavia and Spartak, Dynamo, Vorskla and Zorya received 0.2 points for winning against Aris, Dila and Slavia, respectively.
At the group stage of the Conference League, Icelandic Breidablik and Kosovo Balkans will play, but there will be no Dnipro-1, Dynamo and Vorskla.
Source: Sportarena
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
