A statue and a silhouette
Under blue skies on a beautiful summer day in Kyiv, Ukraine, during the UEFA EURO 2012, a man took some time to have a kickabout in front of the Rofina Monument.
Little did the man know that as he was playing keepy-up, he was helping create a stunning image in front of the statue, also known as the Motherland Monument. The acrobatic footballer’s silhouette almost appears to be a statue himself, contrasted with the outline of Rodina Monument only a few metres away.
The 62-metre tall sculpture, which is part of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Kyiv was built in 1981 and is a popular attraction in Ukraine’s capital. Kyiv played host to three EURO 2012 group stage matches, a quarter-final and the final, where Spain defeated Italy 4-0 to defend their European title.
As Europe’s best footballing nations are in the midst of qualifying for EURO 2016 in France, one need only to look back at this image to be reminded of beauty and simplicity engrained in the game.