'We want to remind the world that there is still a war going on' - Euro 2024 more than just a football tournament for Ukraine

Sudakov is a key member of the Ukrainian national team that has become a symbol of hope for an entire people, a group of young men that have defied the odds to qualify for a major international tournament despite not being able to play a single group game on home soil.

"It has, of course, been difficult from a psychological point of view," Sudakov says, "but we feel the support of our fans no matter where we play. Our people are everywhere."

And they made their presence felt and their voices heard whether Ukraine were playing in Trnava, Wroclaw, Prague or Leverkusen, as the constant support carried Serhiy Rebrov's squad all the way to Euro 2024 via the play-offs.

It was the people back home, though, that Sudakov was most concerned about. There were times while on international duty that the midfielder would wake up to texts from his wife saying that she and his daughter Milana were hiding in the bathroom with sirens wailing outside warning of another Russian attack.

In such circumstances, it is impossible not to wonder how on earth he managed to stay focused on football.

"Firstly, I am a professional," Sudakov explains, "Secondly, playing in the Euros is something that I have dreamed about since my childhood. Thirdly, my future - and that of my family - depends on this tournament."

Sudakov is acutely aware that a strong showing in Germany will almost certainly secure a move to one of Europe's top leagues. The interest is already there in an intelligent and technically-gifted midfielder who has already helped Shakhtar Donetsk win back-to-back Ukrainian titles, as well finishing as top scorer at last year's European Under-21 Championship in Romania and Georgia.

It was his performances in last season's Champions League that prompted Napoli to offer €40 million (£34m/$42m) for Sudakov's services during the January transfer window. The 21-year-old scored in Shakhtar's group-stage loss to Barcelona at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys before turning in a man of the match-winning display in their 1-0 victory over the Catalans in the return clash.

Hardly surprising, then, that Shakhtar rejected Napoli's bid, given they are supremely confident of securing a far bigger fee this summer, with top Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool reportedly interested in their most prized possession.

Sudakov makes no secret of his affection for the English game. He had a Manchester United shirt with Cristiano Ronaldo's name and number on the back when he was a child, while his current role model is Manchester City's Phil Foden.

"Just an incredible footballer," Sudakov enthuses. "His quality of play with the ball and his winning mentality inspire me."

Then, there's the fact that his good friend and international team-mate, Mykhailo Mudryk, is presently plying his trade at Chelsea. A mooted summer switch to Stamford Bridge, thus, seems perfectly feasible.

"We dream about it, for sure," Sudakov says. "We're very close and it would be pretty great to play in the same club team as Mykahilo too. I also think that the English Premier League would suit me in terms of style.

"I don't want to think too far ahead but I know that I'm ready to play in a big European League. I proved it in Ukraine. I proved it at the Under-21 level. And I proved it in the Champions League. The one goal left is to prove it at the Euros."

For Sudakov, though, the tournament is about much more than achieving personal goals. For the people of Ukraine, it represents a chance to dream, to briefly escape from the brutal reality of war; for the players, an opportunity to show that world that their nation is not only still struggling, but still fighting.

"Before the play-off final against Iceland in March, there was some nervousness in the dressing room," he reveals. "But we knew that we simply had to qualify for the Euros because we were playing not only for ourselves and our families - but for our country and our soldiers as well.

"Now we have this opportunity to remind the world that there is a war still going on in our country, that Russia has invaded us and caused so much suffering, suffering that will continue during this tournament..."

"Honestly," Sudakov says, once again desperately searching for the right words to convey what he's feeling, "it's just impossible to explain what this tournament means to us."