Ukraine (National Football)

Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin wants FIFA to ban Iran from the 2022 World Cup because of its alleged military support of Russia against Ukraine.

Palkin said in a statement:

"Shakhtar Football Club calls on FIFA and the entire international community to immediately ban Iran's national team from playing at the World Cup for the country's direct participation in terrorist attacks on Ukrainians.

"This will be a fair decision that should draw the attention of the whole world to a regime that kills its best people and helps kill Ukrainians."

Palkin argued Ukraine should take Iran's place after the national team "proved that it is worthy of participation in the World Cup."

Shakhtar Donetsk is the most prominent club in the Ukrainian Premier League, winning the title last season while representing the nation in the UEFA Champions League this year.

FIFA indefinitely suspended Russia from World Cup qualifying in February after its attack on Ukraine. Belarus also received sanctions after its government's assistance to Russia.

Iran now appears to be involved in the attacks. The United States says Iranian troops were "directly engaged on the ground" in Crimea.

There have also been calls from within Iran to suspend the team from the World Cup amid protests over women's rights.

"Iran is brutally killing and torturing protestors and is oppressing women by criminalizing watching football or showing a few strands of hair," Sardar Pashaei, the executive manager of the United for Navid campaign, told CNN. "FIFA's silence is an endorsement of these human rights violations."

The Iran men's national team is set to compete at the World Cup in less than a month in Group B alongside the United States, England and Wales.

Ukraine had an opportunity to qualify for this group but suffered a 1-0 loss to Wales in the final playoff match in June. The qualifying match had been postponed three months to accommodate Ukraine.

If Iran is suspended, another Asian confederation team could get consideration to take its place. The United Arab Emirates lost to Australia in the final playoff in qualifying.

Ukraine is one win away from qualifying for the 2022 World Cup after a 3-1 win over Scotland in Wednesday's playoff semifinal.

After winning in a road environment in Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Ukraine will now travel to face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday with the winner earning a ticket to Qatar.

The UEFA qualifying playoff was initially scheduled to take place in March, but it was postponed because of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. The national team didn't return to the pitch until participating in a friendly in May.

Ukraine came out strong against Scotland and earned a win thanks to goals from Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk.

The visiting team came out with a lot of energy and created several quality attempts before finally breaking through in the 33rd minute. Yarmolenko beat the back line and came through with an outstanding finish to give his side the 1-0 advantage:

Early in the second half, Ukraine doubled the lead on a header from Yaremchuk:

Though Scotland has a roster featuring several Premier League players, the squad was thoroughly outplayed for much of the match.

Ukraine controlled 58 percent of possession and had eight shots on goal, compared to just four for Scotland.

There was still drama late as Scotland finally got on the scoresheet in the 79th minute. Callum McGregor took advantage of a mistake from goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan to cut the margin to 2-1.

Scotland still couldn't find the equalizer, and Ukraine finally sealed it in the 95th minute:

The squad will try to keep the momentum for four more days with Wales looming in the final round of the playoff.

Wales defeated Austria in the previous round behind two goals from Gareth Bale.    

The Ukrainian Association of Football has formally requested that FIFA postpone the Ukrainian men's national soccer team's March 24 World Cup playoff semifinal against Scotland due to Russia's ongoing invasion of the country.

Per ESPN FC's Mark Ogden, FIFA acknowledged Ukraine's request and said it is in "regular contact with UEFA and the Scottish Football Association to find an appropriate solution."

Sources told Ogden that there's a possibility the match could be rescheduled for June, provided the situation in Ukraine can be settled.

There are clear issues with Ukraine playing in a few weeks, as Ogden noted:

A government mandate has been issued in Ukraine for all males between the age of 18 and 60 to remain in the country, and sources have said that the national team players are determined to respond to that call and not leave their homes and families.

The players have also been unable to train since the outbreak of hostilities, so the prospect of preparing for, and playing against, Scotland later this month has been regarded in recent days by the UAF, UEFA and FIFA as unrealistic.

Ukraine finished second in Group D in the first round of UEFA World Cup qualifying thanks to a record of two wins, six draws and no losses. First place went to France, which automatically advanced to the World Cup.

Ukraine's path to the World Cup was not yet over, however, as it moved onto the second round of qualifying by virtue of its second-place group finish.

Ukraine was among 12 teams drawn into three separate groups of four. The teams in each of those three groups were scheduled to conduct single-leg tournaments, with the three winners going to the World Cup.

Ukraine was drawn into a group with Scotland, Wales and Austria. Wales is hosting Austria for a semifinal on March 24. Scotland is scheduled to host Ukraine on the same day in Glasgow's Hampden Park.

For now, the semifinal winners are scheduled to face off on March 29 in either Cardiff or Vienna, depending on the winner of the Wales-Austria match.

FIFA has already suspended Russia from all international soccer competitions in light of the invasion. Russia had earned a spot in the second-round qualifying tournament with Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Those three countries' football associations previously announced that they refused to play Russia regardless of the competition's location. None of them will, as that qualifier is now a three-team playoff.

The World Cup is scheduled to be held in Qatar from November 21-December 18.

Former Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko was appointed as the national team’s manager on Friday. 

The Football Federation of Ukraine's official website confirmed the move, which sees the 39-year-old take over from former boss Mykhaylo Fomenko.

Sky Sports News HQ and the UEFA Euro 2016 Twitter feed also noted the appointment:

Shevchenko is best remembered for his time with AC Milan, his goals helping the team to one Serie A title in 2004 and the UEFA Champions League the year before. Prior to his move to Italy, he won five league titles with Dynamo Kiev. After leaving Milan in 2006, he endured a tumultuous three-year stint with Chelsea.

He made 111 appearances for Ukraine, netting an impressive 48 goals. He is the country’s all-time record goalscorer.

Here is a reminder of just how good Shevchenko was in front of goal:

He takes over Ukraine with a big job to do. Fomenko’s side were one of the poorest to watch at the summer’s UEFA European Championship, and they were eliminated in the group stage having lost all of their matches and failing to score a goal.

Indeed, this statistic from BreatheSport is a damning indictment of the country’s efforts in the continental competition:

At 35-years-old, Andriy Shevchenko is still Ukraine's youngest ever goalscorer at a Euros... pic.twitter.com/i7PNtRFhI9

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) June 21, 2016

Shevchenko was part of the backroom staff, having been brought into the fold in February, so he’ll be acutely aware of what issues need to be addressed. A man of his outstanding stature in Ukrainian football will surely command the respect of the players he calls up.

There is some talent at his disposal. The twin threats on the flank of Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka are enough to trouble any side, while Manchester City starlet Oleksandr Zinchenko is an exciting prospect.

Following such a poor tournament showing, Shevchenko will need his team to entertain the supporters as a priority, just as he did for so many years.

France and Ukraine's Group D match features two of the better attacking nations in all of Euro 2012. You wouldn't necessarily expect it out of the Ukrainians but the Andriy Shevchenko-led attack found the back of the net twice against Sweden and created a number of other chances.

It remains to be seen if 35-year-old Shevchenko can keep pace, but he'll have to if the Ukrainian's are going to survive against the hungry French attack.

Les Bleus played to a disappointing draw with England in the group opener despite dominating the game from start to finish. They created more opportunities, put the ball around the woodwork, but couldn't find the back of the net more than once.

A win would be huge for this group (they haven't won in their last eight major tournament matches) but they need more than just a result.

The French squad is extremely temperamental. We saw them implode at the 2010 World Cup and now they're off to an inauspicious start at Euro. Things aren't terrible though, as they haven't lost yet, but they're about to walk into what is basically a home game in front of an inspired Ukrainian fan base.

Here are a few x-factors in this game.

Samir Nasri, France

The lone goal-scorer in the opener, Nasri was consistently on the move and created a number of opportunities. Unlike a number of players who've struggled to maintain form from their domestic teams to their national teams, Nasri didn't miss a beat.

The Manchester City striker is crucial to the French attack and will have to be big again today.

Karim Benzema, France

This Real Madrid superstar put five shots on goal, but could've done better against England and Joe Hart.

He has a nose for the goal and should see more space to operate if the Ukrainians pay attention to Nasri.

He's simply too good to be kept off the score sheet again.

Philippe Mexes, France

Considered the weak link in the French defense, Mexes will have his hands full with Shevchenko.

He cannot be the guy who is caught ball watching, not with Shev flocking to the ball so regularly, and his performance could be huge for France today.

Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine

Is there any way Shev can conjure up some magic again? He was brilliant against Sweden, but certainly won't sneak up on the French.

His team's success is tied directly to how much attention he attracts and what he can do with his opportunities.

With shouts of, “Sheva, Sheva,” echoing throughout Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine yesterday, the Euro 2012 Championships’ brightest, but oldest offensive star—or should I say Ukrainian soccer tsar—surprisingly took center stage.

Exiting the pitch in the 81^st minute to a raucous standing ovation, 35-year-old Andriy Shevchenko, the old guard of Ukrainian football, drank in the moment like extra smooth 100-year-old vodka reserved for royalty.

The once-electrifying striker for AC Milan and Chelsea embraced his coach, Oleg Blokhim, when he came out in the 81^st minute of Ukraine’s comeback 2–1 victory over Sweden in yesterday’s Group D of the Euro 2012 Championships.

Shevchenko remarked afterward, “I can’t dream of a better night,” after scoring twice in the co-host team’s opening game of the Euro 2012 tournament. Many European football fans laughed at the prospect that the “dreaming” Shevchenko actually thought he still possessed the stamina and skill to compete at such a high level.

Well, not only did Sheva compete, but he excelled, showing bits of brilliance while wearing the Ukrainian yellow and blue, despite the fact that many wanted Blokhim to ironically “block him” from sporting at this summer’s biggest stage.

Despite knee and back issues, Shevchenko looked every bit the regal striker he’s always been on the football field, where he’s amassed 109 Ukrainian caps and now recorded his 47^th and 48^th career international goals.

With celebrated AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring first for the Swedes early in the second half, Shevchenko rose to the occasion both literally and physically by finding the back of the Swedish goal on two thrilling, diving headers in the 56^th and 62^nd minutes. Those goals secured the win for the Ukrainians.

An excited, but exhausted Shevchenko commented after the match, “I feel I am 10 years younger today.”

Few football fans would argue that Andriy Shevchenko looked every bit the more youthful, scintillating scorer—or famous Ukrainian soccer tsar—he once was during this memorable win at Euro 2012 in his native city of Kiev.

It all went down like a fairytale at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on Monday.

After going down a goal to Sweden in their first Group D game, the home crowd went crazy thanks to their national football hero, Andriy Shevchenko.

Shevchenko scored in the 55th minute, three minutes after Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Sweden the lead, and then once again in the 62nd minute to win the match for Ukraine.

The win also put Ukraine at the top of the Group D table with three points, two ahead ahead of England and France who drew in the their match in Donetsk on Monday.

With the group wide open and the home support behind them throughout the tournament, it is very possible that Ukraine can go far in the tournament and surprise everyone, including themselves.

The Yellow-Blues are a mix of wily old veterans and young players looking to make their mark on the European stage.

Older players like Shevchenko (35), Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (33), and Andriy Voronin (33), are all in the latter stages of their careers and are looking for one last chance to take the nation by storm.

The three players were in their prime during Ukraine's 2006 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal run in Germany, where they lost to Italy in the final eight.

All three of those players scored moves to big European clubs within the next year after that tournament with Shevchenko to Chelsea, Tymoshchuk to Zenit St. Petersburg and Voronin to Liverpool.

Now with the three in the twilight of their careers, they could be on their way along with a new group of Ukrainian footballers to creating memories in their fans' minds for decades to come.

Up ahead for Ukraine are France and England and with a win in one of those games the team will advance into the knockout round.

A run into the knockout round will not only capture the hearts of the Ukrainian people, but it will captivate the rest of the world as well.

One can only dream at the moment, but if the unlikely Ukrainian success continues, the whole world will be not only watching but rooting for Shevchenko and company.