Yevhen Varenytsia: "In my opinion, the team fulfilled its task by five with a minus"

17.05.2019 12:00

Head coach of the Ukrainian beach soccer team Yevhen Varenytsa summed up the results of his team at the World Beach Games selection tournament in American San Diego. 

On May 9-12, the Ukrainian beach soccer team took part in the European qualification for the 2019 World Beach Games. The qualifying tournament was held in Salou, Spain. The semifinalists of the selection went to the final part of the first in the history of the beach sports forum, and the fifth team received the right to play in a head-to-head match with a team from South America.

In the 1/8 finals the Ukrainians conquered Azerbaijan (6:4), but lost to Russia in the quarterfinals (2:7). Thus, the only chance to get a ticket to San Diego was a tournament for fifth-eighth place. And Yevhen Varenytsia's wards took full advantage of this chance. First, the blue and yellows beat Portugal (5:3), and in the decisive match Belarus won (5:2). 

Ukraine's coach Yevhen Varenytsa shared his impressions of the tournament: 

"Of course, you always want something bigger. But, objectively speaking, I think this result is very good. In my opinion, the team fulfilled its task by five with a minus. We really wanted to get a direct pass to the World Beach Games, but it happened. 

Our goalkeeper Andriy Nerush proved to be the best. Zborovsky, Pachev and Makeyev played three hundred percent. Other players also acted with full dedication. Our only failure is a match with Russia, but today it is the second team in the world of beach soccer after the Brazilians.

It was very nice to beat the Belarusians, who have been purposefully preparing for the qualifying tournament for nine months. They held seven meetings and were considered favorites to confront us. But we just had a great match and denied all predictions. Yes, and Portugal was not an easy opponent, but we also deservedly won. I adore this word - "men". All our guys turned out to be them, they played really manly. I saw their eyes, their mood, their charge, they really showed everything they are capable of. And I really liked it. "

The coach of the blue-yellows announced that the opponent of the national team of Ukraine in the butt match for the right to participate in the World Beach Games will be determined in a week. At the same time, the place and time of this match will be known. 

"In my opinion, the most likely rivals are either Paraguay or Argentina. An option from Chile is also possible. Of course, the main favorite there is Brazil, and I have no doubt that it will go to the World Beach Games in the first place. The second strongest team is Paraguay, which Argentina and Chile will try to face. We will meet with the team that will take the third place. Of course, Paraguayans would be the worst option. They currently play many friendly matches with the same Brazil and look very good even against the background of the best national team in the world. It should be much easier with all other potential rivals, "said Yevhen Varenytsia.     

It will be recalled that, in addition to the playoffs for the World Beach Games, the Ukrainian national team will take part in the ΙΙ European Games, which will take place at the end of June in Minsk.