Alas, it did not happen and no one should hold grudges against Wales for doing so for the first time in 64 years.

Having said that, surely no one outside Russia will take pleasure from the absence of Ukraine in Qatar later this year.

In the prevailing circumstances, it would have been wonderful to see the currently battered and beleaguered nation among those striving to lift what arguably is sport’s most prestigious trophy.

If nothing else, it would get right up Vladimir Putin’s Presidential nose to see the country his murdering militia are trying to destroy take the field, watched by billions in a sporting conflict from which Russia has rightly been booted out.

Just as that emotional victory in the Eurovision Song Contest boosted Ukrainian morale when it was most needed.

I am by no means alone in now suggesting that FIFA can redeem some of its past aberrations by giving Ukraine’s gallant footballers a wild card, enabling them to compete in Qatar.

To hell with protocol, regulations and tradition. 

The Kremlin apart, most of the world would be delighted to welcome the presence of Ukraine, who looked the better team against Wales and failed to qualify by a fluky own goal.

A few days earlier, Ukraine won the right to face Wales in a playoff - delayed because of Putin’s invasion - by defeating Scotland at Hamden Park, an astonishing performance which not only raised the spirits back home but even had Scotland’s own most famous football personalities wanting them to win.

No one can accuse Graeme Souness of lacking patriotism; the former Scotland and Liverpool captain is renowned for the love of his homeland just as he was for his ferocious tackling.

But he too believes Ukraine should be invited to play in Qatar and even admitted he would not have been unhappy to see them beat Scotland, which of course they did, rather handsomely.

Now an acerbic and outspoken TV pundit, this is what Souness had to say on the pitch before the game, claiming that whatever happened, FIFA should ensure Ukraine feature in the tournament, which would be one in the eye for the Russian Government.

He told Sky Sports: "It's the strangest emotion I've ever had about a football match. I have mixed emotions.

"Football is so important to us but what's happening in Ukraine right now transcends football. It's life and death.

"We're witnessing pictures I've never seen in my life before.

"It's only four hours flying time from where we're standing.

"We have to support Ukraine, get behind them as much as we can.

"FIFA should say, it doesn't matter what happens tonight.

"This team should be going to the World Cup. 

"Make a group of five somewhere. 

"Ukraine should be going to the World Cup simply to keep Ukraine at the forefront of everyone's mind.

"We will get immune to the pictures we see on television. 

"We have to make sure that the people in the Kremlin understand the world does not accept what they're doing. 

"Football has a part to play.

"I don’t just want Ukraine to qualify, I want them to win it.

"How far do you have to bury your head in the sand not to realise the situation the world’s in? 

"Will it be when someone presses the button on a nuclear weapon?

"My emotions when I think about it deeply are that it’s more important than football to send a message that Russia’s behaviour is unacceptable -  the world has to unite and tell them that."

There is no doubt that sport is playing a significant part in Ukraine’s defiant defence against the Russian invasion.

There is a chance of more glory for Ukraine, this time in the boxing ring remarkably as the nation has produced three world heavyweight champions - the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali and now the reigning multi belt titleholder Oleksandr Usyk. 

He took these from Anthony Joshua and is set to defend them against Britain’s 2012 Olympic champion in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in July.

As it happens, Usyk is probably the best fighter on the planet at the moment following the humbling of Mexico’s Canelo Álvarez - by a Russian!

Boxing is certainly fighting Ukraine’s corner with two other heavyweight champions, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, both taking up arms along with former outstanding Olympic lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, now a pro.

Sadly, another of Ukraine’s outstanding boxers, 30-year-old amateur lightweight champion Oleg Prudky, was one of the 52 Ukrainian stars in battle dress to be killed, in action, along with two club footballers.

Top tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky, who famously once beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon, flew back from an overseas tour to enlist and fight on the front line.

"I know how to use a gun," he says.

A similar comment came from Yurok Vernydub, 56, the football manager whose club Sheriff Tiraspol sensationally defeated Real Madrid in a Champions League match last autumn. 

When his son called him about the Russian invasion, he immediately flew home.

"I knew then that I would return to Ukraine to fight," he said.

Former Arsenal defender Oleh Luzhnyi who has won the FA Cup and Premier League with the Gunners, and has aspirations to coach in England, is now part of Ukraine's territorial defence force and biathlete Dmytro Pidruchny, a three-time Olympian, has abandoned his season and has joined the National Guard.

"Sport is war minus the shooting," George Orwell wrote in 1945.

Ukraine may be punching above its weight thanks to so many of its courageous sports stars now taking up shooting, but it is still very much in with a chance. 

And it should be in the World Cup.