Rostyslav Semenchenko: "It's crucial to start the Euro qualifiers strong. We're glad to secure two away victories"
Ukraine national futsal team player Rostyslav Semenchenko shared his thoughts on the team’s start in the UEFA Futsal EURO 2026 main qualifying round, as reported by the official AFU website.
— The Ukrainian team began the qualifiers with two away wins. How would you rate such a start?
— Of course, it's crucial to start the Euro qualifiers strong because, as they say, how you start sets the tone. We’re happy to have secured two away victories. It builds confidence for the upcoming matches.
— The match against Romania was tougher than the game against Cyprus. Were you prepared for everything the Romanian team could throw at you?
— Yes, the match was a bit more challenging, but we analyzed and prepared well for the opponent. So, there wasn’t anything extraordinary or unexpected.
— Romania had incredible support in the arena. Was it difficult to handle the pressure from the stands?
— On the contrary, it was awesome. Playing in a packed arena is fantastic. The crowd buzzing and cheering for the home team only adds to the motivation. That’s why we play futsal.
— The coaches emphasized the importance of a strong start during theoretical preparation. Do you think you achieved that?
— Yes, I believe we entered the game well. We stayed focused defensively and created dangerous opportunities in attack, which led to two goals.
— Are you satisfied with your performance in these matches?
— Individually, you always want more from yourself, but the team result comes first. When the team wins, that’s what matters most.
— How do you assess the team’s chances of qualifying directly for the European Championship?
— Everything is in our hands. I won’t make any predictions. It all depends on us. We’ll go out on the court and prove ourselves game by game.
UEFA Futsal EURO 2026 Qualifiers. Main Round. Group 1
12.12.2024
Romania — Germany — 6:0
13.12.2024
Cyprus — Ukraine — 0:7
17.12.2024
Romania — Ukraine — 0:2
18.12.2024
Germany — Cyprus — 2:1
Standings
|
|
M |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
P |
|
1. Ukraine |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
9—0 |
6 |
|
2. Romania |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6—2 |
3 |
|
3. Germany |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2—7 |
3 |
|
4. Cyprus |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1—9 |
0 |
January 31, 2025
Romania vs. Cyprus
Germany vs. Ukraine
February 4, 2025
Ukraine vs. Germany
February 5, 2025
Cyprus vs. Romania
April 11, 2025
Germany vs. Romania
Ukraine vs. Cyprus
April 15, 2025
Ukraine vs. Romania
Cyprus vs. Germany
Futsal EURO 2026 Main Round Draw
Group 1: Ukraine, Romania, Germany, Cyprus.
Group 2: Finland, Italy, Belarus, Malta.
Group 3: Poland, Slovakia, Moldova, Turkiye.
Group 4: Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, Norway.
Group 5: Croatia, Azerbaijan, Sweden, Greece.
Group 6: Kazakhstan, Armenia, Denmark, Albania.
Group 7: Portugal, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Andorra.
Group 8: Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, England, Switzerland.
Group 9: Serbia, Czechia, Belgium, Austria.
Group 10: France, Georgia, Kosovo, Bulgaria.
Futsal EURO 2026 Qualification Format
The qualification process consists of three stages: the preliminary round (mini-tournaments), the main round (home and away group matches), and the playoffs (home and away).
Latvia and Lithuania, the tournament hosts, receive automatic spots for EURO 2026. Some teams begin in the preliminary round, while others enter directly into the main round.
Main Round (December 9, 2024 – April 16, 2025)
A total of 40 teams (the 34 best teams according to the December ranking and the 6 best teams from the preliminary round) will be divided into 10 groups of four teams each. Every team will play against others in their group both at home and away. The 10 group winners will join Latvia and Lithuania in the final stage, while the 8 best second-place teams will advance to the playoffs.
For the draw, teams were placed into four pots of 10 teams based on their coefficients as of April 18, 2024. Ukraine was placed in Group 1, where they will face Romania, Germany, and Cyprus.
Playoffs (September 15-24, 2025)
The 8 second-place teams will be split into four pairs. After home and away matches, the final four spots in the final stage will be determined.
Final Tournament (January 18 – February 8, 2026, exact dates to be announced)
16 teams will be divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarterfinals.