In a poignant display of solidarity during this year’s UEFA Euro, the Ukrainian national football team has made a powerful tradition of draping their national flag over their shoulders before international matches.This symbolic gesture, initiated in response to the ongoing conflict in their homeland, first took root following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The tradition began in earnest on 1st June 2022, when the Ukrainian players donned their national flags for the World Cup qualification play-off against Scotland at Hampden Park. This marked the first collective act of this kind for the national team. Prior to this, gestures of support had been seen at club level, such as when Everton players showed solidarity with their Ukrainian teammate Vitaliy Mykolenko by emerging with flags after the invasion started.
The significance of this act is profound. Wearing the flag serves as a public declaration of national pride and defiance against aggression, especially as Ukraine continues to endure the impacts of the war.
Yesterday, Ukraine suffered a 3-0 loss to Romania in Matchday 1 of 3 of the group stages.