Mykola Neseniuk: "It was not only the idea of our players and coaches"

Renowned journalist Mykola Nesenyuk commented on the results of the Euro 2024 play-off match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine (1-2), which took place yesterday in Zenica.

"25 years ago, in the autumn of 1999, Ukraine was hopelessly losing away to the team of the aggressor country in a decisive match of the European qualifiers. A few minutes before the end of the game, Andriy Shevchenko shot a free kick towards the goal almost from the centre of the pitch. The other goalkeeper made a mistake and threw the ball into his own net.

Everyone thought it was an accident, but Shevchenko disagreed - he said it was by design. He knows best what to say.

Yesterday, Ukraine was hopelessly losing the decisive match of the European qualifiers to Bosnia. A few minutes before the end, the home defence made a ridiculous mistake and Roman Yaremchuk equalised. A few minutes later, our team scored again. After the game, the Ukrainian coach Serhii Rebrov said that it was by design.

I agree with both Shevchenko and Rebrov. I pay tribute to our players who fought to the end. But even then, a quarter of a century ago, and now, I am sure that it was not only the intention of our players and coaches. We had no right to lose then and now. After all, there is the highest justice in the world, which sometimes triumphs. Unfortunately, not always.

Back in 1999, we had a match with Slovenia, where the Ukrainians already had the right to lose. And so they did. Now we have a game against Iceland. It is advisable not to repeat ourselves..." Nesenyuk wrote on his Facebook page.