Last Updated: September 21, 2022, 00:38 IST
Robert Lewandowski and Andriy Shevchenko (Twitter)
The two-time FIFA world player of the year received an armband in Ukraine’s blue-yellow flag colours from the country’s great Andriy Shevchenko at Poland’s national stadium in Warsaw
Robert Lewandowski increased his support for Ukraine on Tuesday when the Poland captain pledged to take an armband in the country’s blue-yellow flag colours to the World Cup in November.
Lewandowski first showed his opposition to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine within days of it starting in February. He called for Poland to boycott playing Russia in a World Cup qualifying game.
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The two-time FIFA world player of the year received his gift from Ukraine great Andriy Shevchenko at Poland’s national stadium in Warsaw.
“Thank you, Andriy. It was a pleasure to meet you!” Lewandowski wrote on his Instagram account. “It will be an honour for me to carry this captain’s armband in the colours of Ukraine to the World Cup.”
The star forward’s public stance helped ensure Poland did not play Russia in a World Cup qualification playoffs semifinal scheduled in Warsaw on March 24.
“We can’t pretend that nothing is happening,” Lewandowski said then, two days before FIFA and UEFA banned Russian teams from international competitions — effectively removing Russia from the World Cup.
After Poland advanced through the playoffs to the World Cup in Qatar, Ukraine lost to Wales in a playoff final postponed until June to help the team prepare amid the war that shut down domestic football.
Poland will play in Group C with Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia at the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament.
