Tag: Ukraine

Former Laker Slava Medvedenko selling rings to raise money for Ukraine

Former Los Angeles Lakers player Stanislav Medvedenko is selling his two NBA championship rings to raise money for his native Ukraine. Source: Associated Press @ Sports Illustrated More on this storyline SCP Auctions is donating the entire final …

More on this storyline

SCP Auctions is donating the entire final sale price of both rings to Medvedenko’s Fly High Foundation. Its goal is to support Ukrainian children by restoring the sports infrastructure of the war-torn country’s schools and launching a network of social sports clubs. “We want to restore gyms because the Russian army bombed more than a hundred schools,” he told The Associated Press by phone on Sunday. “Our country, they need a lot of money to fix the schools. Sports gyms are going to be last in the line to fix it. In Ukraine, we have winter and kids need to play inside.” -via Sports Illustrated / July 24, 2022
Medvedenko said he decided to sell the rings after going to the roof of one of the tallest buildings in his Kyiv neighborhood and watching rockets launched by Russian forces streak through the night sky. “In this moment I just decided, ‘Why do I need these rings if they’re just sitting in my safe?’” Medvedenko said. “I just recognize I can die. After that, I just say I have to sell them to show people leadership, to help my Ukrainian people to live better, to help kids.” -via Sports Illustrated / July 24, 2022
Explosions punctuate the night sky over Kyiv as Slava Medvedenko stares through a pair of high-powered binoculars. An AK-47 at his side, he studies the black, forested expanse that separates him from the frontlines of Russia’s war in his native Ukraine. In the weeks following Vladimir Putin’s February order for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this is how Medvedenko spends many of his nights: Manning a guard station atop the tallest building in the Kyiv neighborhood he lives in with his wife and two of his children. For four hours every day he watches the road that stretches to the suburban battlefield and anticipates the moment the Russians will come. His efforts serve as a snapshot of the stiff civilian resistance experts have said Russian forces were not prepared to meet. -via The Athletic / May 25, 2022

SCP Auctions is donating the entire …

SCP Auctions is donating the entire final sale price of both rings to Medvedenko’s Fly High Foundation. Its goal is to support Ukrainian children by restoring the sports infrastructure of the war-torn country’s schools and launching a network of social sports clubs. “We want to restore gyms because the Russian army bombed more than a hundred schools,” he told The Associated Press by phone on Sunday. “Our country, they need a lot of money to fix the schools. Sports gyms are going to be last in the line to fix it. In Ukraine, we have winter and kids need to play inside.”

Medvedenko said he decided to sell the …

Medvedenko said he decided to sell the rings after going to the roof of one of the tallest buildings in his Kyiv neighborhood and watching rockets launched by Russian forces streak through the night sky. “In this moment I just decided, ‘Why do I need these rings if they’re just sitting in my safe?’” Medvedenko said. “I just recognize I can die. After that, I just say I have to sell them to show people leadership, to help my Ukrainian people to live better, to help kids.”

Former Russia captain Igor Denisov denounces invasion of Ukraine

Denisov is among the most prominent Russian athletes to speak out against the war

Igor Denisov, formerly the captain of Russia’s national team, has denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview posted on Russian sports journalist Nobel Arustamyan’s Youtube channel, Denisov called the invasion “a complete horror,” adding “I don’t know, maybe I’ll be imprisoned or killed for these words, but I am speaking as it is.”

Denisov also said he had written directly to Vladimir Putin asking him to stop the war, which after years of brinksmanship officially began on February 24.

Denisov captained Russia on and off from 2012-2016, and appeared for his country in the 2014 World Cup. He retired from professional soccer in 2019, and still lives in Russia. He is one of the most prominent Russian athletes to publicly criticize the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, an act that can carry severe penalties. A Russian law enacted this year penalizes “public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Russian Armed Forces” with heavy fines and the possibility of 15 years in prison.

[lawrence-related id=1056,2777,959]

Wales defeat Ukraine to qualify for 2022 World Cup

Heartbreak for Ukraine, but Wales qualify for the first time since 1958.

Wales is going to the 2022 World Cup, overcoming Ukraine 1-0 in the final UEFA playoff Sunday to qualify for the first time in 64 years.

Ukraine’s incredible story, attempting to qualify even as the Russian invasion of their country continues, ended in heartbreak as Gareth Bale’s powerful free kick was deflected in by Andriy Yarmolenko for the game’s only goal.

Wales will go into Group B with the U.S. men’s national team, England, and Iran. The Welsh will play the USMNT in their opening match in Qatar on November 21, marking their first appearance at a World Cup since 1958.

Ukraine seemed to have a stunning opener in the 3rd minute, with Oleksandr Zinchenko firing a free kick from 32 yards past Wayne Hennessey, but referee Antonio Lahoz pulled play back as he had not blown the whistle for play to start.

Wales were struggling to hold Ukraine off, but in their hour of need, Bale delivered. It took some good fortune, as Yarmolenko’s attempt to head the shot away only served to wrong-foot goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan, but it was enough to give the Welsh a lead they would not relinquish.

Ukraine were pinning Wales back, peppering Hennessey with shots, but a 76th minute sequence saw Welsh substitute Brennan Johnson smack a shot off the woodwork before Bale was denied by a strong Bushchan save in the aftermath.

At the other end, Hennessey capped off a stellar performance with an incredible save to rob Artem Dovbyk’s 84th minute header, which ended up being Ukraine’s last and best chance at an equalizer.

Watch the goal that sent Wales to the World Cup

[lawrence-related id=2779,2170,1438]

 

USMNT will face Wales in its World Cup opener

The Welsh defeated sentimental favorite Ukraine 1-0 in Cardiff, locking up the final spot in Group B

The U.S. men’s national team finally knows which team it will face in its World Cup opener: Wales.

The Welsh defeated sentimental favorite Ukraine 1-0 in Sunday’s UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff final, earning a spot in World Cup Group B alongside the USMNT, England and Iran.

Andriy Yarmolenko’s own goal in the first half off of Gareth Bale’s free-kick delivery was the difference at Cardiff City Stadium.

It will be just the second ever World Cup appearance for Wales, and its first since 1958.

After the match, U.S. Soccer released a statement on Twitter congratulating both Ukraine for the spirit shown during an incredibly difficult period for the country, and Wales for reaching the World Cup.

USMNT vs. Wales on World Cup opening day

The USMNT will face Wales on November 21 at Al Rayyan Stadium, on the first day of World Cup 2022. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. ET.

Gregg Berhalter’s men will close out group play against England on November 25, and Iran on November 29.

The USMNT and Wales played most recently in November 2020, drawing 0-0 in a friendly in Swansea.

[lawrence-related id=2737,2731,2714]

Ukraine is one step from the World Cup after emotional win at Scotland

It was an incredible display from a team which hadn’t played in six months

Ukraine is just one step away from the World Cup after an emotional 3-1 win over Scotland in a playoff, as the war-torn nation returned to the field for the first time since Russia’s invasion in February.

Ukraine and Scotland were scheduled to face off in March in the UEFA playoff semifinal, but the match was pushed back to Wednesday after Russia invaded Ukraine.

With emotions high and the war still ongoing, Ukraine produced an heroic performance at Hampden Park in Glasgow, advancing to Sunday’s playoff final against Wales with a berth at the World Cup on the line.

The winner of that match in Cardiff will go into World Cup Group B alongside England, Iran and the United States.

Before the game, there were emotional scenes as Ukraine’s players entered the field draped in the flag of their country. Scotland fans were handed out cards with the words of Ukraine’s anthem so they could sing along in a show of support.

On 33 minutes, Ukraine took the lead after Andriy Yarmolenko brilliantly took down a ball over the top and lobbed the ball over Craig Gordon in Scotland’s goal.

After the break the Ukrainians doubled their lead after a patient bit of build-up play culminated in a textbook headed goal by Roman Yaremchuk.

As the game went on Ukraine began to understandably tire, with its domestic-based players well short of match fitness following the Ukrainian Premier League shutting down in February.

John McGinn missed an easy header for Scotland before Callum McGregor got a goal back with 10 minutes remaining as Ukraine looked to be in danger of conceding an equalizer.

But Ukraine held off a late Scottish charge and sealed the game deep into stoppage time when Artem Dovbyk finished off a breakaway.

[lawrence-related id=2170,2562]