It has been an emotional time for Bournemouth’s Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi who has enjoyed a transformative year for club and country.
The 21-year-old played the full 90 minutes in the Euros play-off wins against Iceland and Bosnia, before returning to club duty and helping the Cherries beat beleaguered Everton.
Zabarnyi has played every minute of his side’s 29 league games this season and is thrilled to have helped war-torn Ukraine qualify for a major tournament.
‘I am proud and our qualification was for all the people in Ukraine,’ he said. ‘They deserve it.