Ukraine Players Applaud Their Fans After World Cup Play-Off Heartbreak

Ukraine's players applauded their fans in some emotional scenes after experiencing heartbreak in the World Cup play-off.

The nation has been left ravaged following the invasion from Vladimir Putin and Russia and has led to unimaginable pain and suffering.

But the football team did their country proud in the most trying of times and reached the final play-off following a 3-1 win away at Scotland on Wednesday.

They ultimately fell at the final hurdle, succumbing to a narrow 1-0 loss to Wales. But there was a special moment post-match in Cardiff when the players clapped those in the away section.

Ukraine players with their fans at full-time 💙 💛 pic.twitter.com/eo0mjUdYit

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 5, 2022

Many of the players were in tears as the emotions took over. Oleksandr Petrakov's squad joined the fans in an Iceland Viking-style clap.

100 tickets were given to Ukraine refugees by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Welsh government in a wonderful gesture.

As inspiration before the crunch clash, a flag on the wall of the dressing room contained personal messages from soldiers in the midst of the conflict.

A Ukrainian flag with personal messages from soldiers at the heart of the battle is hanging up in Ukraine's dressing room 🇺🇦❤️ pic.twitter.com/hoSVu2usg2

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 5, 2022

Heartbreak for Ukraine 💔 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Rurqrt1OR2

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 5, 2022

Bale & Zinchenko ❤️ pic.twitter.com/EKDIZulojH

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 5, 2022

Wales ended Ukraine's fairytale dream but created their own courtesy of an Andriy Yarmolenko own goal from a Gareth Bale free-kick in the first half.

Rob Page's side have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1958 in Sweden and will face England, the United States and Iran in Group B in Qatar.