Oleksandr Kosenko: "The new format of selection for the World Cup with an elite round is quite interesting, it creates more opportunities for participants"

23.10.2019 21:20

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Futsal head coach of Ukraine Oleksandr Kosenko spoke about preparing his team for the matches of the main round of the 2020 World Cup selection.

The Blue and Yellows finished their training camp in Brovary and went to Skopje, where they will play the matches of the main round of the World Cup on October 24-27. The rivals are the hosts from Northern Macedonia, as well as the teams from Slovenia and Kosovo.

In an interview Futsal Association of Ukraine YouTube channel Oleksandr Kosenko spoke about the goals of the Ukrainian national team and described our opponents.

"Players came from clubs in different tones. It is important for us to bring them to the same denominator in the physical and psychological components. I am glad that all the guys came in a good mood, because almost all of them won the day before in their clubs. The main thing now is to keep this mood and transfer it to the World Cup qualifiers.

We invited everyone we wanted. Only Mykola Belotserkovets could not come for family reasons.

The new format of qualifying for the World Cup with an elite round is quite interesting, it creates more opportunities for teams. I think that now all rivals are on equal terms, so it will be very difficult. We will draw conclusions about the format after the end of the qualifying matches.

As for our rivals in the group of the main round of selection, Slovenia does not need to be represented. This team has long played with one team, with a formed backbone. Compared to the last European Championship, the Slovenes have almost the same team - skillful, fighting, solid.

The national team of Northern Macedonia is the host. Playing in the home stands will be an additional motivation for her. Balkan teams are usually tall, large, able to defend, so it is not easy to pass their defense.

Kosovo is somewhat different from other Balkan teams. Kosovars are more technical, but smaller, know how to work with the ball, fast.

Now each opponent must be taken seriously, disassemble his games. Everyone has materials, videos, statistics. That's why we are preparing, adjusting.

The day before we sorted out the matches friendly tournament in Ivano-Frankivsk. We looked at who played and how he acted in certain situations. Now, during theoretical classes with the guys, we focus on both the good moments and the mistakes. I would like to see fewer and fewer mistakes with each game.

We will have to fight for one of the six passes for the 2020 World Cup. You will need to make every effort to get there, because the World Cup is the top for any athlete. You will need to give even a little more than you have. The competition in the selection is incredible, in all levels of opportunity, there can be no coincidences. Therefore it is necessary to prepare seriously and to overcome difficulties. We will make every effort not to disappoint the fans of the national team of Ukraine, "said Oleksandr Kosenko.

Formerly a mentor published the composition of the national team at the match of the main round of selection.

World Cup 2020. The main selection round. European area. Group 2

1 round

24.10 18.30     Ukraine - Kosovo

24.10 21.00 Northern Macedonia - Slovenia

2 round

25.10 18.30 Northern Macedonia - Kosovo

25.10 21.00 Slovenia - Ukraine

3 round

27.10 18.30     Ukraine - North Macedonia

27.10 21.00 Kosovo - Slovenia

The first and second teams of each of the eight groups of the main round of selection will make it to the elite round.

At the next stage, the 16 national teams will be divided into four quartets on November 7 this year, the winners of which will go directly to the World Cup. The fights of the elite round will take place on January 28 - February 2, 2020. The teams that take second place in the groups will advance to the playoffs, where two more World Cup tickets will be drawn. Butt matches are scheduled for April 9 and 12, 2020.

Thus, six European selection teams will join Lithuania, which will host the World Forum on September 12 - October 4, 2020.

We will also add that AFC (Asia) will be able to send five teams to the 2020 World Cup, CAF (Africa) - three, CONCACAF (North and Central America) - four, CONMEBOL (South America) - four, OFC (Oceania) - one. A total of 24 teams will take part in the world championship.