The head coach of Ukraine's futsal team, Oleksandr Kosenko, commented on the victory over Belgium (10:2) at the start of the elite round of qualification for the 2024 World Cup. The words of the blue-and-yellow team’s coach are provided by the press service of the Ukrainian Futsal Association.

"The emotions are indeed positive. The newcomers showed themselves from a good side, played with inspiration, scored goals, so I think this game will benefit them. Starting the selection in this group was important, so it's good that we won. And there’s no room for relaxation; we need to prepare further."

We had two roughly equal halves. Belgium is not a bad team, so the fact that they conceded many goals is due to our players' efforts. But when Belgians are on the ball, they play quite well, which we were prepared for. They play very well going forward but have real issues in defense, and it's good that we took advantage of those problems. However, when I gave instructions in the second half, it was because I didn't want the boys to relax. There’s still a whole cycle ahead, and it's unclear how events will develop further. So we had to play until the end."

Overall, I am satisfied with the game, but there are always mistakes, things to work on. You can't be completely satisfied at 100%, so we'll look at it, try to correct the errors that were ours.

Now we will watch the match between Serbia and Poland and then decide on our tactics for the next game," said Oleksandr Kosenko.

Recall that in the next match of Group B, blue-and-yellow will face Poland in the Hungarian city of Berettyóújfalu. The match will take place on September 20 (kick-off at 19:00 Kyiv time).

World Cup 2024. European Qualification. Elite Round. Group B

September 15, 2023

Belgium — Ukraine — 2:10

Poland — Serbia — 1:2

Table

September 20, 2023

Serbia — Belgium

Ukraine — Poland

October 6, 2023

Poland — Belgium

Serbia — Ukraine

October 11, 2023

Ukraine — Serbia

Belgium — Poland

December 15, 2023

Ukraine — Belgium

Serbia — Poland

December 20, 2023

Belgium — Serbia

Poland — Ukraine

Futsal World Cup 2024. Elite Round Qualification in UEFA Zone

Group A: Kazakhstan, Romania, Azerbaijan, Netherlands.

Group B: Ukraine, Poland, Serbia, Belgium.

Group C: Croatia, Slovakia, France, Germany.

Group D: Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic.

Group E: Portugal, Georgia, Armenia, Finland.

Futsal World Cup 2024. European Qualification

Elite Round

Matches: September 11-20, October 2-11, December 11-20, 2023.

Twenty teams are divided into five groups of four teams each. Matches will take place home and away. Five group winners qualify for the Futsal World Cup 2024. The top four second-placed finishers advance to the elite round play-offs. 

Elite Round Play-Offs

Drawing: January 25, 2024.

Matches: April 8-17, 2024.

Four teams will be paired into two pairs and matches will take place home and away. The winners of the pairs qualify for the Futsal World Cup 2024.

The World Cup will take place in Uzbekistan from September 14 to October 6, 2024.