There has always been something endearing about Oleksandr Zinchenko. He perseveres when others give up, he won’t hear the word ‘no’.
He is light-hearted, quick-witted and — increasingly evident over the last two years — not bad at his job.
So for those who know him well, watching Zinchenko embrace his pregnant wife, television reporter Vlada, after winning man of the match as captain in Ukraine’s historic Euros win at Hampden Park will have been a seminal moment.
He has become the darling of his country, who face England in their first-ever Euros quarter-final on Saturday.