Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi starts for Ukraine in the World Cup play-off against Wales while war rages on in their country. ‘We think about them every day.’

They already defeated Scotland 3-1 earlier this week and now hope to do the same to Wales, as the winners of this match will have a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT) in Cardiff.

It has been an emotional experience for the Ukrainian players, many of whom admit they were tempted to go back and fight on the front lines for their country after Russia invaded.

However, over 100 days into the attack, Malinovskyi and his teammates have the opportunity to give the nation something else to look forward to.

“We think about them every day, I am so happy we give our country some positive emotions and they have a little bit of happiness.

“I hope they do the job in our country and we will try to do our job on the pitch,” the Atalanta player told Sky Sports UK.

Messages from family and friends, even soldiers under fire, urge them on to that “last step” towards the World Cup.

Atalanta became something of a symbol of football and humanity bridging the borders created by leaders, as Malinovskyi is good friends with his club teammate, Russia international Aleksei Miranchuk.

Their embrace became a banner seen regularly in Bergamo after the war broke out.

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