Oleksandr Kosenko: "UEFA has offered to decide the fate of the match with Denmark on the court"

26.01.2021 16:00

Photo of UAF press service

The head coach of the Ukrainian national futsal team Oleksandr Kosenko commented on the cancellation of the match with Denmark and spoke about the preparations for the game with Albania in the Euro-2022 qualifiers.

Days were canceled Euro-2022 futsal match Ukraine-Denmark, which was to take place on January 27 in Zaporizhia. The reason for this was the expansion of the list of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic in Denmark. Due to this, the country's authorities did not allow their national team to leave for Ukraine.

Nevertheless, our team has started a training camp in Zaporizhia and is preparing for the match of the group stage of the Euro-2022 qualifiers against the national team of Albania, which will take place in Tirana on January 31. The head coach of the blue-and-yellows Oleksandr Kosenko told about the preparation of the team in a comment to the official website of the UAF.

- How did you react to the cancellation of the match with Denmark?

- Nothing depends on us in this situation. So we are just preparing for the match with Albania.

- When will UEFA decide on the match with the Danes? What are the options?

- Today, UEFA offered to decide the fate of the match with Denmark on the field and not count the defeat yet. We are currently considering options for how this game can be played, but it will definitely not take place in January. It is still unknown how everything will be resolved.

- Did the cancellation of the match with Denmark affect the team's training schedule?

- Yes, it was slightly adjusted. On Wednesday, January 27, we will hold a sparring match with the team of Zaporizhzhya clubs.

- Or all who got calls to the ranks of the national team performers are healthy? Why Igor Korsun from "Prodexim" didn't get to structure?

- Yes, everyone came to the location of the national team. As for Korsun, he underwent surgery. We hope that it will recover in the near future.

- What do you already know about the Albanian national team?

- Let's look at the recording of her match with Croatia in the first round. We must responsibly prepare for all rivals. Albania is a good mid-level Balkan team. There are technical players who work well with the ball. Recently, Prodexim played with the northern Macedonian "Shkupi" Champions League - The opponent consisted of five players of the Albanian national team.

Futsal Euro-2022

Calendar of matches of the group stage of qualification in group 1

27.01.2021          Ukraine - Denmark (canceled)

27.01.2021 Croatia - Albania

30.01.2021 Denmark - Croatia

31.01.2021 Albania - Ukraine

03.03.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX Croatia - Ukraine

03.03.2021 Albania - Denmark

07.03.2021          Ukraine - Croatia

March 07.03.2021, XNUMX Denmark - Albania

07.04.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX Denmark - Ukraine

07.04.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX Albania - Croatia

10.04.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX Croatia - Denmark

11.04.2021          Ukraine - Albania

In the group round, 32 teams (16 participants in the elite round of the 2020 World Cup qualifiers, nine winners of the qualifying round groups and seven winners of the butt matches) are divided into eight groups of four teams. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the teams at this stage will play against opponents at home and away, holding two matches against each opponent in the group. Eight group winners and six top runners-up will join the Netherlands in the final stage. The two runners-up, who did not make it directly to the final tournament, will play in the playoffs. 

Play-offs: November 14-17, 2021.

Final tournament draw: the end of 2021.

Final tournament: January 9 - February 6, 2022 (Amsterdam and Groningen, the Netherlands).