Ukraine's National Team Eliminated from the 2022 World Cup

Ukraine's national team fought until the end for a spot in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but it was not enough, and they were eliminated in the final round of the European qualifiers. They lost 1-0 against Wales. The result generated deep pain in the yellow team, and some players couldn't hold back their tears, like Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The left-back from Manchester City was visibly affected, squatting in a section of the Cardiff City Stadium. Spanish referee, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, noticed the difficult moment the player was going through and decided to act.

The cameras captured the precise moment when the referee approached Zinchenko, took him by the head, and said a few words to console him. The emotional images from the match quickly went viral on social media.

Similarly, referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz has been praised for his gesture towards the Ukrainian player. It's worth mentioning that the Spanish referee has always been known for his close contact with the athletes in the matches he officiates, and this time, after the World Cup qualification, was no exception.

The Historic Qualification of Wales

On the other hand, the Wales national team had an exuberant celebration with their fans after confirming their qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Andriy Yarmolenko's own goal, resulting from a powerful free-kick by Gareth Bale, was enough to secure a 1-0 victory.

This way, the "Dragons" qualify for their second World Cup in history. They haven't participated since the 1958 edition in Sweden. This time, the team from the United Kingdom will share Group B with England, the United States, and Iran.