Player of national team tells how putin visited Ukrainians after historic match with russia

On October 9, 1999, the Ukrainian national football team played the last match of that year's group stage of Euro-2000 selection. The match against the russian national team took place in Moscow at the Luzhniki Arena, where, thanks to the legendary goal of Andrii Shevchenko, the Ukrainian national team won a draw, which not only allowed our team to continue participating in the tournament, but also knocked the russians out of it.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the events, Oleksandr Koval, who participated in the match, spoke about the events of that day in an interview with NV.

"Memories and impressions from the match against russia in Moscow in 1999 remained positive. The game was generally equal, Shevchenko equalized at the end, so only positive ones. There was no hostility from the russian fans at that time, but there was disdain, as if the Ukrainian national team was second class," Koval recalls.

Also, the former defender of the Ukrainian national team said that after the match, vladimir putin, who at that time held the position of the head of the Government of the russian federation, came to the locker room of the Ukrainians.

"After the match, putin came into our locker room, but I don't remember exactly what he said. They say that he thanked us for the game and congratulated us on the result we needed, but it was clear from his face that he was not sincere," Oleksandr Koval said.

He also added that after the match, russian fans attacked the bus carrying Ukrainian football players.

"When we were leaving the stadium, russian fans started throwing stones and bottles at our bus. It was unpleasant for us, negative emotions remained after that. There was no fear at that moment, we were accompanied by the police, but their one car would not have done anything to the crowd fans. If they continued to attack the bus, it would be difficult to fend off the fans," Koval said.

As previously reported, FIFA has published an updated ranking of national teams. Compared to its previous version, Ukraine has risen by 1 position and currently occupies the 24th place.

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