Soccer-Ukraine can make nation proud in World Cup playoff, says Zinchenko

(Reuters) - Ukraine full back Oleksandr Zinchenko said his team hope to make their country proud when they take on Scotland in a World Cup playoff semi-final next week.

Ukraine play Scotland at Hampden Park on June 1 in a match that was postponed from March due to the Russia's invasion, which Moscow calls a "special military operation."

"The first period when it just started, it was so complicated to be focused on football," Zinchenko told https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61596231 the BBC.

"All my thoughts were with Ukraine, Ukrainian people. I would say for everyone, for every Ukrainian footballer ...

"This game is one of the most important games in my life. The guys look ready and it's not necessary to talk about motivation."

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