LMAO what a hot take
Wales and Scotland should step aside and let Ukraine go to the World Cup - however hard it may be
Ukraine playing in Qatar is something everyone craves now and helping them do so would earn Wales and Scotland lasting respect and gratitude
When
Gareth Bale scored his second superb strike against Austria in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier, Welsh celebrations were uninhibited. And who can blame them. As the country’s first appearance in the final stages of the competition in 64 years grows ever closer, that is something to get excited about.
At least for a moment or two. But then, lurking on the horizon, comes a possibility charged with sufficient complexity and nuance to temper any relish at the prospect of progress. In order to get to Qatar in November,
Wales may well have to defeat Ukraine. Scotland face the same moral conundrum. To get to the point where they could meet up with Wales for the last berth in the tournament, they will first have to better Ukraine, whenever their delayed semi-final is able to take place.
It is not a thought to savour. Rather it is one to bring pause. Both Wales and Scotland are used to being the underdogs, the neutral’s favourite, the side everyone else wants to win. Especially when they are playing England. Not this time. This time they are loaded with a different symbolism. This time they are the sides playing to destroy a rare moment of illumination for a nation currently shrouded in miserable, imposed darkness. Suddenly they are the sides looking to extinguish a rare moment of hope in a nation being destroyed before our very eyes.
When the draw for the play-offs was made last November, pitching Wales with Austria and Scotland with Ukraine, with the winners meeting in a mini final, the entire focus in the UK was of a potential British showdown. For the Scots here was the chance to reach the last stages of the competition for the first time since 1998 against the most familiar of foes. For the Welsh, the meet-up offered the tantalising opportunity
to avenge Joe Jordan’s handball in 1978, that cynical bit of gamesmanship that had deprived them of qualification the last time the two met in World Cup anger.
And then Russia invaded Ukraine and everything changed.
Imagine if Ukraine made it to the tournament in November, what that could mean for the morale in the beleaguered nation. Imagine Andriy Yarmolenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko lining up to sing the Ukrainian national anthem ahead of their first group stage game against Brazil. What a magnificent riposte it would be to the murderous dictator in the Kremlin, a man who knows full well what the World Cup offers in terms of international prestige and exposure. After all, he bribed and bullied his way to hosting the entire competition the last time it was staged.
How brilliant it would be imaging him tuning in to watch the world celebrating the participation of a country he insists should not even exist. And for the poor beleaguered citizens of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol here would be the chance for a rare moment to escape the misery of relentless Russian aggression. A moment for the world to rally to their cause.
Ukraine in Qatar is the thing everyone now craves. And for Wales and Scotland that is a problem. So onerous is that possibility - and hear this out - maybe the wisest course for both would be to stand aside and let Ukraine qualify automatically.
As David Moyes pointed out recently, when it comes to showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine British football has been good at gestures. Brighton have played in Ukraine kit, Southampton have lit up St Mary’s in yellow and blue, Premier League captains have worn armbands in Ukrainian colours.
But this would be more than virtue signalling. This would be a proper and meaningful statement of support. For Wales and Scotland to stand aside would be one of the most impressive actions in the history of sport. Sacrificing your own goals and ambitions to promote and highlight someone else would command genuine, lasting respect. A lot more respect indeed than qualifying and not making it beyond the group stage.
And if they feel unable to do so, maybe England should?
He's going to become a legend in this save mark my wor-hor-hooooords!
And of course, just good transfer business overall.
