United against war: Ukraine and Scotland sang the Ukrainian national anthem in Glasgow | VIDEO

Ukrainians and Scots left their World Cup ambitions at the gate of Glasgow’s Hampden Park stadium to show solidarity, unity and revulsion against the Russian invasion, in a very emotional match that began with the entire stadium singing the Ukrainian anthem with one voice.

Peace and freedom is the lesson that the Ukrainian and Scottish fans wanted to teach the world, moments before their biggest match in decades, with a stadium without an empty seat.

Scotland plays to qualify after more than two decades to a new World Cup event, in Qatar, against a country devastated by war; Ukraine, for its part, wants to give away that happiness that only sport can provide in such difficult times.

Fans gathered around the sound given off by the strings of the banduras, a traditional Ukrainian instrument, similar to the bandurria, by Gemma Roberts and Katyrena Katruch, and the powerful voice of the tenor Vasy.

”We have sung for our team, for our people, we are very happy to be here”, “the people here are great, very big, very friendly”, says Katyrena. “Shen never maree – low – ooo – cry – enee; nee slarva…” (“The glory and freedom of Ukraine has not died yet… Luck will smile on us, Ukrainian brothers”), says the lyrics of the Ukrainian anthem, which was later chanted by the entire stadium, regardless of the color of its jersey.

”It is a very important and emotional match for both fans, Scotland and Ukraine”, affirms the Ukrainian tenor Vasy, aware that the result will grant the possibility of continuing to dream of the possibility of playing in a World Cup.

The Welsh team awaits the winner of this play-off semi-final next Sunday, but, at least before the game, they all play under the same flag.