Soccer-Ukraine raise country's spirits with Euro 2024 qualification

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 Qualifier -Play-Off- Ukraine v Iceland - Stadion Miejski Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland - March 26, 2024 Ukraine fans with flares REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

WROCLAW, Poland (Reuters) - Ukraine’s qualification for the Euro 2024 soccer finals has cheered a country suffering hardship in its conflict with Russia and for a few weeks in June and July the tournament will provide a welcome distraction from the harsh reality of war.

The team came from behind to defeat Iceland 2-1 in their playoff final in neutral Poland on Tuesday and book a fourth successive appearance in the continental finals.