Ukraine shows shell-blasted Kharkiv stadium seats to remind Euro 2024 of war

MUNICH, Germany : Former Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko presented the shell-blasted seats of a Kharkiv stadium built for Euro 2012 in Munich on Monday, as cheering Ukraine fans vowed to keep fighting the Russian invasion.

Ukraine's football association said the Sonyachny stadium in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, had been destroyed by Russian shells in 2022. In a central Munich square, Ukrainian refugees and supporters who had driven 25 hours from Ukraine looked at the blue and yellow seats, hours before their team were due to play their first Euro 2024 game against Romania in the city.

"When I was the coach of the national team, we often came to Kharkiv for training. We prepared for the Euro 2021 qualifiers at Sonyachny. Learning that the stadium was destroyed felt like finding out your home was ruined," said Shevchenko, now president of the Ukraine Football Association (UAF).

"Even if football pitches or stands cannot withstand Russian shells, we will never stop standing for our country and telling the world about this ruthless war," Shevchenko added.

Kyiv wants to bring a stark reminder to Euro 2024 that Ukrainian forces have been engaged in Europe's bloodiest fighting since World War Two, and civilian life in the country has been upended. More than 500 sports facilities have been destroyed, including 77 football stadiums.

Ukraine's first match will highly emotional for the team, Ukrainian refugees and those watching at home.

Coach Serhiy Rebrov said he and his players were in contact with soldiers on the front lines who have told them to show "the spirit of Ukraine" at the tournament.

FORMER HOST NATION

Ukraine and Poland co-hosted Euro 2012, with the final held in Kyiv. Besides Kyiv and Kharkiv, Lviv and Donetsk also