The Ukrainian U-19 futsal team defeated the current European champion, the Spanish team, in a friendly match.

Within the preparation for the final tournament of Euro-2023 (U-19) in futsal, the Ukrainian youth national team conducted their first friendly match against Spanish counterparts.

The Ukrainian U-19 futsal team defeated the current European champion, the Spanish team, in a friendly match.

Photo from rfef.es

Recently, the blue-and-yellow team arrived in Spain for a training camp ahead of the final stage of the European Championship, which starts on September 3rd in Poreč, Croatia. During this camp, two friendly matches against the current continental champions are planned, and today the first one took place.

The game was intense; twice the Spaniards were ahead, but a decisive second half brought our boys a much-desired victory over a strong opponent—5:4. In the Ukrainian team's lineup, goals were scored by Vladyslav Tkachenko (two), Andriy Yelishev, Maxim Malynovskyi, and Igor Peltsyk.

The second friendly match between the teams will take place on August 25th (kickoff at 12.30 PM Kyiv time).

Junior U-19 Friendly Match in Futsal

Spain — Ukraine — 4:5 (1:2)

Goals: D. Martinez (5), H. Martinez (27), Kano (35), Moreno (39) — Tkachenko (3, 30), Yelishev (17), Malynovskyi (34), Peltsyk (35, double penalty).

Spain: Nicolas — Vincente, Ramos, Moreno, Tapia; Espiniera, Lopez, Salas, H. Martinez, Panades, Garcia, D. Martinez, Roda, Kano, Soler, Santa-Cruz.

Ukraine: Dyachenko — Ribitskyi, Malynovskyi, Tytyurai, Skychyk; Prykhodko, Drozhdov, Fedik, Snitarenko, Yelishev, Tkachenko, Peltsyk, Tatumiak, Rafalskyi, Beilimov.

Warned: Moreno (15), Kano (36) — Skychyk (3), Yelishev (27), Fedik (29).

Sent off: Salas (34) — Skychyk (31).

The blue-and-yellow team is preparing for the Euro-2023 (U-19), which will take place from September 3rd to 10th in Poreč. The host Croatia, along with six other winners of the main round, make up the eight participating teams divided into two groups of four each; the top two from each group advance to the semifinals. According to the draw results, Ukraine's junior national team was placed in Group B, where they will play against Finland, Slovenia, and Italy.

U-19 Euro 2023 Futsal Final Tournament

Group A: Croatia, Portugal, Spain, France.

Group B: Ukraine, Finland, Slovenia, Italy.

Schedule

03.09.2023

Finland — Slovenia (14.00)

Ukraine — Italy (16.30)

Portugal — Spain (19.00)

Croatia — France (21.30)

04.09.2023

Slovenia — Ukraine (14.00)

Italy — Finland (16.30)

France — Portugal (19.00)

Spain — Croatia (21.30)

06.09.2023

Ukraine — Finland (14.00)

Slovenia — Italy (16.30)

Spain — France (19.00)

Croatia — Portugal (21.30)

08.09.2023

Semifinal 1 (18.30 or 21.30)

Semifinal 2 (18.30 or 21.30)

10.09.2023

Final (21.30)

Match times are in Kyiv time.

As a reminder, in March the junior national team of Ukraine in futsal qualified for the final tournament of the continental championship for the third consecutive year. In Group 2 of the main round of qualification for Euro-2023 (U-19), which was held in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia, Igor Moskvin's wards confidently defeated Montenegro (12:1) and Romania (7:3), but lost to Serbia (4:2) in the decisive match, securing first place in the group.

U-19 Euro 2023 Futsal Main Round Qualification. Group 2

22.03.2023

Ukraine — Montenegro — 12:1

Romania — Serbia — 1:6

23.03.2023

Romania — Ukraine — 3:7

Serbia — Montenegro — 3:1

25.03.2023

Serbia — Ukraine — 2:4 

Montenegro — Romania — 2:7 

Final Standings

 

G

W

D

L

Pts

Diff

1. Ukraine

3

3

0

0

9

+17

2. Serbia

3

2

0

1

6

+5

3. Romania

3

1

0

2

3

-4

4. Montenegro

3

0

0

3

0

-18

The inaugural European Championship for juniors in futsal took place in 2019 in Rijeka, and the second edition was held in Hain in 2022—both times (20192022) Spain's team emerged as champions. The second championship was initially planned for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ukrainian national team participated in both final tournaments. In 2019, Vitaliy Odegov's wards secured third place in their group, and in 2022 they reached the semifinals.