Ukrainian models who were jailed for a racy photoshoot in Dubai this year have today posed in Kyiv to support their country ahead of tonight’s game against England.
The women have used blue and yellow Ukrainian flags as props to back their team hours before the Euro 2020 quarter-final clash.
Yana Graboshchuk, 27, says she is proud of her team, which beat Sweden in an epic tie that went to extra time in the last round. They also overcame North Macedonia in the group stages.
Yana, a trained lawyer, said: "Our team is our pride, I believe in victory.
"We will watch and support Ukraine."
Yana and three of her friends posed overlooking the River Dnipro and People’s Friendship Arch in Kyiv ahead of the fixture.
The models were dubbed the "Butt Squad" after they and several of their pals held a scandalous naked shoot on a balcony in United Arab Emirates.
The 13 women were held in a "hell" jail in Dubai with American playboy Vitaliy Grechin, 41, who is based in Kyiv. They had flown out together for the stunt in April.
Despite being accused of public indecency, the women were eventually released and ordered to leave the United Arab Emirates.
Soviet-born Grechin was a donor to ex-US president Barack Obama.
Speaking in the days after his release, Grechin said: "When people make a mistake and apologise for it, it has to be taken as that.
"Clearly, there was no intent to offend anybody. Clearly, they were not climbing a mosque naked.
"It’s not porn. Everywhere else in the world it would be considered normal. In magazines it would be considered art…it was a unique shot."
The model also tested positive for Covid-19 during his stay behind bars.
Pundits have his country down as underdogs for the tie with England in Rome tonight.
Although England fans were ordered not to visit Italy as it is on the amber list, some have managed to get there.
The majority of these actually live elsewhere in Europe and so won't have to abide to the UK's strict quarantine rules. Italy is currently on the UK's amber list.
Luke Curner, originally from Folkestone, Kent, was able to avoid isolation as he travelled from Helmstedt, Germany, where he lives with his wife and children.
The 36-year-old bought tickets for the match in 2019 as it falls on his birthday weekend.
He said: "I feel very privileged to be here, I'm usually on the wrong end of these kind of situations."
Jack Francis, 20, from Southampton, travelled to Rome from France and said he feels "lucky" to be able to go.
"It feels very surreal, and hopefully it will be a memorable game which will be talked about for years to come if we go all the way," he added.
And back in England, large cities are starting to fill with passionate fans ready to watch the 8pm kick off.
