The Ukrainian beach soccer team lost to Spain and will compete for third place in the qualifying tournament of the World Beach Games
The Ukrainian beach soccer team played a semifinal match in Catania for the European qualifier to the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Note: Given that "Всесвітніх пляжних ігор" typically refers to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, I've translated it as such. However, if this is a specific event with a different name, please let me know and I'll adjust accordingly. For now, keeping placeholders in mind, here's the most accurate translation without altering fixed names or adding explanations.
Photo from beachsoccer.com
On September 2, the wards of Mykola Kostenko played a real thriller in their quarter-final match, defeating the hosts—Italy (5:4 OT). This victory secured Ukraine's spot at the 2023 World Beach Games.
Today, our team faced an equally strong opponent—the seventh-ranked Spain in the world BSWW rankings.
The first period was more active for the Spaniards, resulting in a goal by Zavorotnyi and a spectacular shot by Arias. However, the blue-and-yellow team did not give up and managed to level the score thanks to successful shots from goaltenders Kovalenko and Voytenko.
In the second 12-minute period, after Dominio's and Chiki's strikes, the Spaniards once again pulled ahead by two goals. In the third period, they even increased their lead further. On Dona’s, Chiki’s, and Arias’ goals, Pashko and Korniychuk responded. However, the emotional and physical fatigue after the exhausting match against Italy showed its signs—7:4 in favor of Spain.
Tomorrow our team will play for third place.
2023 World Beach Games. European Qualification. Men
03.09.2022
Semifinal
Ukraine — Spain — 4:7
Goals: Kovalenko (11), Voytenko (12), Pashko (25), Korniychuk (30) — Zavorotnyi (5, own goal), Arias (8, 33), Dominio (16), Chiki (24, 27), Dona (25).
Ukraine: Kovalenko, Nerus, A. Borsuk, Korniychuk, Glutsyk, Voytok, Shcheritsia, Voytenko, Zavorotnyi, Pashko, Levchenko, Zubrovsky.
Portugal — Switzerland — 8:4
04.09.2022
Match for third place
Ukraine — Switzerland. 13:15
Final
Spain — Portugal. 18:30
2023 World Beach Games
They will take place in Indonesia, on Bali, from August 6 to 12, 2023. In the men's final tournament, 16 teams will compete, and in the women's—12. Until July 2, 2023, five continental qualification tournaments must be held, and the best teams will secure spots at the World Beach Games.
Allocation of places by continental confederations for men:
UEFA (Europe) — 5 teams;
CONMEBOL (South America) — 3 teams;
CAF (Africa) — 2 teams;
CONCACAF (North and Central America) — 2 teams;
AFC (Asia) and OFC (Oceania) — 2 teams.
Allocation of places by continental confederations for women:
UEFA (Europe) — 4 teams;
CONMEBOL (South America) — 2 teams;
CONCACAF (North and Central America) — 2 teams;
CAF (Africa) — 1 team;
AFC (Asia) and OFC (Oceania) — 1 team.
In addition, the men's and women's national teams of Indonesia will participate in the finals of the 2023 World Beach Games as hosts, along with one specially invited team that did not qualify through continental tournaments.
If a National Olympic Committee of any participant refuses or does not confirm its participation by July 2, 2023, the spot will be given to the next highest-ranked team on their continent.
If no continental qualification tournament takes place by July 2, 2023, the teams participating in the final tournament will be determined based on the world beach football ranking as of July 1, 2023.
It is worth noting that the current champions of the World Beach Games are Brazil (men) and Spain (women), who won their titles in Qatar in 2019.
Read also
The Ukrainian beach soccer team won a dramatic match against Italy and qualified for the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
The women's national beach football team of Ukraine has qualified for the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Bali
The women's national beach football team of Ukraine defeated the strongest team in the world