Yevhen Varenytsya: “We should have reached the finals of the European Games”

04.07.2019 13:03

The head coach of the Ukrainian beach soccer team Yevhen Varenytsia summed up the results of the performance of the blue and yellows at the ΙΙ European Games in Minsk.

Beach Soccer Team of Ukraine took fourth place at the ΙΙ European Games. In a fierce struggle, our team lost in the semifinals of Portugal (2: 3, extra time), and in the match for third place - Switzerland (4: 5).

The coach of the national team of Ukraine Yevhen Varenytsia was unable to personally manage the wards during the Games in Belarus due to a temporary deterioration in health. His long-time teammate Mykola Kostenko took his place on the coaching bench in Minsk.

"It is very difficult to watch such important matches off-site. Honestly, in the semifinals and the fight for third place I watched only two periods. Then I turned off the TV and went out, the feelings were so strong. I watched the third periods after the matches. I have no claims against Mykola Kostenko - he is a good man! Of course, we contacted by phone, via Viber, developed a plan for each game, "said Yevhen Varenytsia. 

"Both I and the guys are very disappointed with the result, because the minimum task was the bronze medals of the Games. We had to go to the finals, but somewhere, probably, there was a lack of physical condition. We played three very difficult matches in the group stage. We had Spain, Italy, Russia. But our rivals in the semifinals, the Portuguese, the group was easier. In fact, they played two matches, because Romania was a clear outsider. The Portuguese came to meet us a little fresher, and at the end of the match, when our victory was close, we simply did not have the strength.

But with Switzerland in the match for third place, I do not even know - perhaps there were signs of disappointment that they did not make it to the finals. In class - and in all game components - we had to beat this team. It was even clear that the Swiss are a little afraid of us. We played the game, we had much more moments, but optional, we can say, children's mistakes led to defeat, "- said the coach of the blue-yellows.

"As for the composition of our team at the tournament, it should be noted that it was almost optimal. I'm sorry that Yuriy Shcherytsia didn't go, because he could add quality to the game of our national team. Then it would be perfect. Brothers Borsuki and Oleksandr Korniychuk played wonderfully. They significantly strengthened the team. If they trained with the team not for a week, but for at least three, they would look even stronger and we could expect even more from them.

Dmytro Voitenko's injury, which he received in the first match, became a big trouble. Plus with an injury played Oleg Zborovsky, who was injured before the tournament. Therefore, he could not show everything he is capable of, because he played injections. But in general, the team was combative, "said Yevhen Varenytsia. 

We will add that the next tournament, in which the Ukrainian beach soccer team will take part, will be the qualifying round of the 2019 Euroleague. It will take place on July 5-7 in the Portuguese town of Nazareth. Following the results of two stages of qualification in Division A, our team must take a place not lower than the eighth. In this case, the blue and yellows will reach the Euroleague Super Final, which will also take place in Portugal, in the city of Figueira da Foz, September 5-8.