Fifa World Cup: In Ukraine, watching matches, playing football poses challenges

Ukrainian video-game vendor Roman Kryvyi — fresh from a football game on a snow-blanketed field in suburban Kyiv — sat up close to a TV in a kebab shop, as intermittent city power returned just in time for Tuesday’s World Cup game between Wales and England.

For the 22-year-old football buff, there was no question about which side to support in the matchup: he remembers how he was crestfallen — rolling on the floor in despair and on the verge of tears — when Wales ousted his beloved Ukraine in the qualifiers. The grudge hasn't worn off.

“Only England! England has supported us in a military way,” Kryvyi said, overlooking the fact that England and Wales are both part of the United Kingdom — whose government has generously backed Ukraine with firepower and other support. He wants England to go all the way.

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With their team not having made it to the finals this year, many Ukrainian football fans are throwing their support behind European countries that have backed Ukraine's fight against Moscow's forces, or backed teams with greats like Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi of Argentina. Others just want to see top-notch play, out of appreciation for the game.

For Ukrainians these days, football trails well behind mere survival in the order of priorities. However, the sport — as in many places around the world — can offer an escape from the troubles of daily life. For players, running around a field can offer up camaraderie and churn up body heat, and in these times, Kryvyi says simply: Life must go on. Watching the World Cup in Qatar gives a sense of connection to the rest of the world.

Like many fans in Ukraine, Kryvyi and teammate Hlib Kuian, 21, were far from certain that they would be able to see the England-Wales match.

Russian military strikes in recent weeks have devastated power plants, rendered internet services uncertain, and affected basics like water and heating — on top of the deaths and injuries.

Only minutes before Tuesday evening's match, which England ended up winning 3-0, Mazza Cafe kebab-stand operator Mashrabjan Haydarov spotted that the lights had come back on in an apartment building across the street, so he turned off the generator outside that had been powering his bulbs and TV, and switched back to the local grid.

Then, even though the electricity was back, the internet popped off momentarily. The friends, accustomed to daily setbacks (large and small), shrugged off the delay until the service rebooted. They also had to return home right when the match was set to end because of a 11pm curfew.

"I know that the Russian Federation wants that I live like this.”