Football returns to war-torn Ukraine

ar and football have been intertwined in the minds of Ukrainians for many decades. In August 1942, just over a year after the Nazi invasion of Ukraine, a football match took place in Kyiv between the Ukrainian team – featuring several professional players – and Wehrmacht soldiers. Thousands watched on as the Ukrainian side defeated their German occupiers in a clash that was later nicknamed “The Death Match”, after four of the players involved for the home team – who had all played for Dynamo Kyiv before the war