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Wales Beats Ukraine to Advance to World Cup

Ukraine had ridden national pride and emotion to the cusp of a berth in the World Cup in Qatar. But Wales had a story, too.

Gareth Bale, center, and Wales are headed to their first World Cup since 1958.Credit...Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

CARDIFF, Wales — When it was over, when the referee blew his whistle and the crowd roared and Ukraine’s dream of a place in this year’s World Cup was over, most of its national soccer team dropped straight to the grass. The rest simply stared into space.