The friendly match of the main round qualifier for the 2024 World Cup against Kosovo will be played today in Pristina (kick-off at 18.00 Kyiv time).

Ahead of the game, head coach of our team Oleksandr Kosienko shared his expectations, as reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Handball Association.

— Mr. Kosienko, your national team is preparing for a match against Kosovo. Can you tell us how the team is getting ready?

— We arrived in Pristina on November 5th. For the next three days we worked out once a day and had theoretical sessions.

— What can you say about the court where the match will take place?

— To be honest, I didn't like the floor much. It looks a bit outdated. Sometimes even the ball doesn’t bounce properly off it. There are small dents that have been patched up. Of course, we would prefer faster flooring. However, the court was cleaned after wet conditions, and traces of glue from handball remain. Both teams will be in equal conditions.

— The Football Federation of Kosovo has hung banners supporting our country in the venue. How pleasant is it to train under such an atmosphere?

— All countries where we played after February 24th sincerely support Ukraine. This adds motivation!

— A month ago, our team already played against Kosovo. This time the match will take place on their home turf. It is well known how much sympathy there is for us in the Balkans.

— Playing away is always harder. On the Balkan Peninsula, people strongly support their teams in all sports disciplines. Moreover, I have already mentioned that Kosovo's national team is at a decent level. The Balkan side has indeed made progress compared to our match three years ago. It won't be easy. We need to come out on the court and be fully focused from the start.

— Unfortunately, for the national team all matches are away games now. Would you prefer playing in a full stadium where most people support the opponent rather than an empty one?

— Of course. We play for the fans. It is certainly an advantage for the hosts, while guests receive some pressure from the stands. However, we want to feel the atmosphere and see supporters. We also hope that part of the Ukrainian diaspora will be present in the stands.

— What can you say about newcomer Rostyslav Semenchuk, who reached the semi-finals of the youth Euro this fall and won a silver medal at the student world championship this summer?

— Indeed, Rostyslav played well in the student world championship and drew attention. I hope he will continue to progress and make a step forward from the student and youth teams to the national team. He has shown himself well in these teams, so it was justified to call him up.

— The match against Kosovo will be the last official game for Ukraine's national team this year. Is there an additional motivation to end the qualification matches with a win?

— We want to finish both the first and the last — and any other match throughout the year — with a victory. We will try to please fans with good play and positive results.

Ukraine's Handball National Team Roster

Goalkeepers: Kyrylo Tzipun ("Paz", Poland), Yurii Savenko ("Hurricane").

Field Players: Petro Shoturma, Daniil Abakshin, Artem Farenyuk, Mykola Mikhityuk (all — "Hurricane"), Mykhailo Zvarych, Serhii Maliishko (both — "Energy"), Yevhen Syryi, Igor Chernyavskyi (both — "HIT"), Andrii Melnyk, Rostyslav Semenchuk (both — CLUST), Yaroslav Lebid ("Cosmos", Estonia).

2024 World Cup Qualification. Main Round. Group 11

September 18, 2022

Netherlands — Kosovo — 2:1

October 7, 2022

Ukraine — Kosovo — 3:1

October 11, 2022

Ukraine — Netherlands — 4:2

Tournament Table

November 9, 2022

Kosovo — Ukraine (18.00)

March 3, 2023

Kosovo — Netherlands

March 8, 2023

Netherlands — Ukraine

In the main round, 36 national teams are divided into 12 groups of three teams each, where matches take place home and away. The 12 group winners and four best second-placed teams advance to the elite round. The other eight second-placed teams will participate in a playoff of the main round.

2024 World Cup Qualification. Main Round

Group 1: Spain, Moldova, Cyprus.

Group 2: Georgia, Belgium, Austria.

Group 3: Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia.

Group 4: Portugal, Belarus, Lithuania.

Group 5: Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Montenegro.

Group 6: Azerbaijan, Poland, Greece.

Group 7: Croatia, Hungary, Israel.

Group 8: Finland, Romania, Denmark.

Group 9: Serbia, France, Norway.

Group 10: Italy, North Macedonia, Sweden.

Group 11: Ukraine, Netherlands, Kosovo.

Group 12: Slovakia, Latvia, Germany.

Format

Qualification takes place in five stages: preliminary round (mini-tournaments), main round (groups with home and away matches), playoff of the main round (home and away matches), elite round (groups with home and away matches) and playoff of the elite round (home and away matches).

Playoff of the Main Round

Drawing: March 10, 2023.

Matches: April 10—19, 2023.

Eight teams will be divided into four pairs and matches will take place home and away. Winners advance to the elite round.

Elite Round

Drawing: July 5, 2023.

Matches: will be completed by December 20, 2023.

Twenty national teams will be divided into five groups of four teams each and matches will take place home and away. Five group winners advance to the 2024 World Cup. Four best second-placed teams advance to the playoff of the elite round. If the European association is selected for hosting the final tournament, only two best second-placed teams will advance to the playoff of the elite round.

Playoff of the Elite Round

Drawing: January 25, 2024.

Matches: April 8—17, 2024.

Four teams will be divided into two pairs (if only two teams participate in the playoff, a draw will determine the match order), and matches will take place home and away. Winners advance to the 2024 World Cup.