In an exclusive interview with GOAL, much-coveted Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Giorgi Sudakov opens up on the horror of the war in his homeland
What does Euro 2024 mean to Ukraine? It's an obvious question for Giorgiy Sudakov – but such a difficult one for him to answer. "I'm not sure I can put it into words," he admits. It's easy to understand why it's such a struggle.
After all, it is now just under two-and-a-half years since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Sudakov was just 19 at the time and his wife was pregnant with their first child. "We were so scared," he tells GOAL. "But I understood that my wife and my daughter were depending on me.
"Family is the most important source of support, faith and inspiration. Everything I do and everything I achieve is for them, and because of them. So, I decided to get my entire family out of Kyiv. Once we made it to Lviv, after a few days, my wife and I started volunteering."
He has been doing what he can ever since.
'Our people are everywhere'
Sudakov is a key member of the Ukrainian national team that has become a symbol of hope for an entire people, a group of young men that have defied the odds to qualify for a major international tournament despite not being able to play a single group game on home soil.
"It has, of course, been difficult from a psychological point of view," Sudakov says, "but we feel the support of our fans no matter where we play. Our people are everywhere."
And they made their presence felt and their voices heard whether Ukraine were playing in Trnava, Wroclaw, Prague or Leverkusen, as the constant support carried Serhiy Rebrov's squad all the way to Euro 2024 via the play-offs.
Advertisement'My future depends on this tournament'
It was the people back home, though, that Sudakov was most concerned about. There were times while on international duty that the midfielder would wake up to texts from his wife saying that she and his daughter Milana were hiding in the bathroom with sirens wailing outside warning of another Russian attack.
In such circumstances, it is impossible not to wonder how on earth he managed to stay focused on football.
"Firstly, I am a professional," Sudakov explains, "Secondly, playing in the Euros is something that I have dreamed about since my childhood. Thirdly, my future – and that of my family – depends on this tournament."
Impressing against Barcelona
Sudakov is acutely aware that a strong showing in Germany will almost certainly secure a move to one of Europe's top leagues. The interest is already there in an intelligent and technically-gifted midfielder who has already helped Shakhtar Donetsk win back-to-back Ukrainian titles, as well finishing as top scorer at last year's European Under-21 Championship in Romania and Georgia.
It was his performances in last season's Champions League that prompted Napoli to offer €40 million (£34m/$42m) for Sudakov's services during the January transfer window. The 21-year-old scored in Shakhtar's group-stage loss to Barcelona at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys before turning in a man of the match-winning display in their 1-0 victory over the Catalans in the return clash.
Mounting transfer talk
Hardly surprising, then, that Shakhtar rejected Napoli's bid, given they are supremely confident of securing a far bigger fee this summer, with top Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool reportedly interested in their most prized possession.
Sudakov makes no secret of his affection for the English game. He had a Manchester United shirt with Cristiano Ronaldo's name and number on the back when he was a child, while his current role model is Manchester City's Phil Foden.
"Just an incredible footballer," Sudakov enthuses. "His quality of play with the ball and his winning mentality inspire me."