Louis Cortés: "I am satisfied with the result in the Faroes, but not with the realization. We need to be much more effective in attack."
Head coach of the Ukrainian national women's team Luis Cortes commented on the victory over the Faroe Islands team (3:0) in a World Cup 2023 qualification match, which secured third place for Ukraine in the group with one round to go before the end of the qualifying cycle: — This was a difficult match because the Faroe Islands is a team that is used to defending and giving little space to the opponent.
Photo by Pavel Kubanov
The head coach of the Ukrainian women's national team, Luis Cortes, commented on the victory over the Faroe Islands team (3-0) in a World Cup 2023 qualification match that secured Ukraine third place in the group with one round to go before the end of the qualifying cycle:
— This was a difficult match because the Faroe Islands is a team used to defending, giving little space to opponents. However, we started very well, found spaces effectively and scored twice by the 15th minute. After these goals, we continued pressing but our final actions in attacks could have been better.
In the second half, after substitutions, we increased the pressure level and managed to score again, but only once from a set piece. We can play better. However, I am happy that the girls did not give any chance to the opponents near their own goal.
— Did Nadia Kunicina's early goals prove crucial against such a closed opponent?
— Yes, this was our idea: start the match at high pace and press to take away any options from opponents. We had moments in the first minutes, and Nadia’s two goals helped the team feel more calm and confident.
— The Ukrainian national team completely dominated the Faroe Islands side in terms of play but only scored three times. What was missing from the players to secure a more convincing victory?
— I am satisfied with the result, but not with the execution. The girls need to work on decision-making in the final third and finishing actions. Because today we had many opportunities, but perhaps tomorrow we will have only three or four, and we must be much more effective.
— Ukraine's wins against Faroe Islands and Hungary respectively allowed the blue-and-yellow team to secure a third place in the group...
— Yes. After losing to Scotland, our goal was to finish qualification on third position, and we achieved it. Of course, this gives us nothing as we did not qualify for the World Cup or will play in the playoffs. But one must admit that Spain and Scotland are very strong teams with higher FIFA rankings and most players in top European leagues. However, qualifying is not over yet. We have another match left, and the team aims to earn points.
— The Spanish national team did not concede any goals throughout the qualification campaign. Do you believe there is a chance for your girls to break this phenomenal streak?
— I am convinced that it is possible. It's difficult, but possible. First of all, we need to focus on recovering well after yesterday’s game. Although we still have a long way to Madrid. After that, we will start preparing for the match.
Playing away against Spain is always a very challenging test, but we know they are not in their best shape right now because some key players suffered injuries. If we stick to our game plan, we definitely have chances.
2023 Women's World Cup Qualification
European Zone. Group B
16.09.2021. Faroe Islands — Spain — 0-10
17.09.2021. Hungary — Scotland — 0-2
21.09.2021. Scotland — Faroe Islands — 7-1
21.09.2021. Hungary — Spain — 0-7
21.10.2021. Ukraine — Faroe Islands — 4-0
22.10.2021. Scotland — Hungary — 2-1
26.10.2021. Ukraine — Spain — 0-6
26.10.2021. Faroe Islands — Hungary — 1-7
25.11.2021. Spain — Faroe Islands — 12-0
26.11.2021 Scotland — Ukraine — 1-1
30.11.2021. Hungary — Ukraine — 4-2
30.11.2021. Spain — Scotland — 8-0
08.04.2022. Hungary — Faroe Islands — 7-0
12.04.2022. Scotland — Spain — 0-2
24.06.2022. Ukraine — Scotland — 0-4
28.06.2022. Ukraine — Hungary — 2-0
02.09.2022. Faroe Islands — Ukraine — 0-3
02.09.2022. Spain — Hungary — 3-0
Standings Table
|
Teams |
M |
W |
D |
L |
G |
Pts |
|
1. Spain |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
48-0 |
21 |
|
2. Scotland |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
16-13 |
13 |
|
3. Ukraine |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
12-15 |
10 |
|
4. Hungary |
8 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
19-19 |
9 |
|
5. Faroe Islands |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
2-50 |
0 |
06.09.2022. Spain — Ukraine
06.09.2022. Faroe Islands — Scotland
Play-offs: 3—11 October 2022.
Intercontinental Play-off: 7—15 November 2022, 13—25 February 2023, 3—11 April 2023.
Final tournament (Australia, New Zealand): 10 July — 20 August 2023.
Women's World Cup 2023 Qualification. European Zone
Group Stage
Europe has eleven direct spots for the Women’s World Cup 2023, another team will participate in the intercontinental play-offs.
The nine group winners will qualify directly to the tournament. The second-placed teams will continue competing at the next stage.
Play-offs
Nine teams that finish in second place in their groups will participate in a play-off, which consists of two stages.
The top three among the second-placed teams will have an opportunity to compete directly at the second stage of the play-offs. Six remaining participants will fight for three spots in one-legged matches on the first stage. Three winners from the first round and three teams that qualified directly to the second stage will battle it out in one-legged matches to determine the UEFA Women's Play-off tournament finalists.
The two play-off finalists with the highest ranking (criteria applied to group stage results plus second-round play-offs) will earn two automatic spots at the World Cup, while the third finalist will proceed to the intercontinental play-offs.
