Luis Cortes: "We want to score as many points as possible in the final matches and finish third in our group"

01.09.2022 10:00

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The head coach of the national women's team of Ukraine, Luis Cortes, told how the training camp of the blue-yellow team is going on the eve of the final qualifying matches of the 2023 World Cup. with the Faroe Islands and Spain.

— Luis, how was the beginning of the training camp before the final matches of the World Cup 2023 selection with the national teams of the Faroe Islands and Spain? How was the trip to the Faroes and the location of the team on the islands?

— It was nice to meet all the players after our last gathering in Poland. However, it was not an easy trip because there are not many flights to the Faroe Islands. We had to split the group in two: some players and staff flew from Copenhagen, the others from Paris. In addition, for those who traveled from Ukraine, the bus trip was too long, and the soccer players arrived very tired. But we were lucky because the flight to the Faroe Islands was good. There was no wind and everything was quite calm.

— What is the plan of preparation of the national team of Ukraine for the match with the local team?

— We understand that the team had to go through a long journey, but we are here to work and try to prepare as best as possible for the upcoming matches. Our preparation program includes five training sessions before the game against the Faroes, as well as some theoretical sessions with video clips so that the girls can understand how we have to play and what we want to see from each player in this game.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

— You called 23 players to the training camp, but there are no new names on the list. Did you not think to review potential newcomers in these matches, considering that the final games of the World Cup-2023 selection no longer have tournament significance for Ukraine?

— My duty as the coach of the national team is to call players who can show themselves as best as possible here and now. And I believe that the best players are the ones I called for this gathering. Obviously, it's very difficult to choose only 23 female footballers, because there are players who deserve to be on the list. I am convinced that there will be personnel changes during the next calls.

We understand that we no longer have a chance to qualify for the World Cup, but we must continue to prepare the team and try to win as many matches as possible.

— When you met the girls last time, they were all playing in foreign championships due to the onset of full-scale Russian military aggression. Currently, half of the team has returned to Ukraine and is ready to start the new season here. Do you see a positive in this?

— Of course, it's great that football is returning, and the new championship of Ukraine will start soon. The main thing is that all risks related to the safety of the competition are taken into account. The return of players means that the league will be stronger and more competitive. It is also important that these footballers gained new experience of performing abroad, and this can help them improve the level of football in Ukraine.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

— What do you think about the restoration of football in Ukraine under martial law?

— It is good that UAF is doing everything possible to return football to Ukraine. Football is a very powerful tool for changing the situation in society, and in these circumstances it can help show the world that, despite the war, life in Ukraine continues, that Ukrainians are looking to the future.

— How would you characterize our opponents in the upcoming matches — the teams of the Faroe Islands and Spain? What are the goals of the Ukrainian national team in these matches? The priority will be the result or the development of game connections for further achievements?

— We want to score as many points as possible in the final matches and finish third in our group. But, of course, we also think about the future. We want to be the best team every day and we work on it. We know we have room for improvement and we are working on that, but also on strengthening our strengths.

Matches with opponents of different levels are waiting for us. On the one hand, the game against the Faroe Islands, who still haven't scored a single point in the group stage. But today they are a better team than a year ago, when the Ukrainian national team played against them. They are a well-organized team that defends with a large number of players near their penalty area. We will have to play very quickly and accurately in order to create chances and be able to score.

On the other hand, we have Spain, a team I know very well because I coached most of their players. Spain are an attacking team that will look to keep possession for long periods of time, create many chances and take advantage of their individual qualities. But we know what we can do to make things difficult for the Spanish. I am convinced that if we stick to the established plan, we will have every opportunity to achieve a positive result. It will not be easy, but nothing is impossible.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The squad of the women's national team of Ukraine

Goalkeepers: Kateryna Samson, Daryna Bondarchuk (both - Vorskla-Kharkiv-2), Iryna Sanina (Kolos, Kovalivka).

Defenders: Lyubov Shmatko (Fomget, Turkey), Anna Petryk (Breidablik, Iceland), Olga Basanska (Khayasa, Armenia), Kateryna Korsun, Iryna Podolska (both - Vorskla-Kharkiv-2), Darya Kravets (Como, Italy), Tetyana Romanenko (Saint-Etienne, France).

Midfielders: Yuliya Shevchuk, Darya Apanashchenko (both - Fomget, Turkey), Tetyana Kytayeva (Skra, Poland), Natia Pantsulaya (Vorskla-Kharkiv-2), Tamila Khimich (ETO, Hungary), Viktoriya Hiryn (Ladomyr Volodymyr Volynskyi), Nicole Kozlova (Koge, Denmark), Yana Malakhova (Pradejon, Spain).

Forwards: Nadiya Kunina (Austria Wien, Austria), Inna Hlushchenko (Reims, France), Olga Ovdiychuk (Fomget, Turkey), Roksolana Kravchuk, Yana Kalinina (both from Vorskla-Kharkiv-2).

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

2023 Women's World Cup. Qualifying tournament

European area. Group B

16.09.2021/0/10 Faroe Islands - Spain - XNUMX:XNUMX

17.09.2021/0/2 Hungary - Scotland - XNUMX: XNUMX

21.09.2021/7/1 Scotland - Faroe Islands - XNUMX: XNUMX

21.09.2021/0/7 Hungary - Spain - XNUMX: XNUMX

21.10.2021. Ukraine - Faroe Islands - 4: 0

22.10.2021/2/1 Scotland - Hungary - XNUMX: XNUMX

26.10.2021. Ukraine - Spain - 0: 6

26.10.2021/1/7 Faroe Islands - Hungary - XNUMX: XNUMX

25.11.2021/12/0 Spain - Faroe Islands - XNUMX: XNUMX

26.11.2021 Scotland - Ukraine - 1: 1

30.11.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX Hungary - Ukraine - 4: 2

30.11.2021/8/0 Spain - Scotland - XNUMX: XNUMX

08.04.2022/7/0 Hungary - Faroe Islands - XNUMX: XNUMX

12.04.2022/0/2 Scotland - Spain - XNUMX: XNUMX

24.06.2022. Ukraine - Scotland - 0: 4

28.06.2022. Ukraine - Hungary - 2: 0

Standings

02.09.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX Faroe Islands - Ukraine

02.09.2022 Spain - Hungary

06.09.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX Spain - Ukraine

06.09.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX Faroe Islands - Scotland

Playoffs: October 3-11, 2022.

Intercontinental playoffs: November 7-15, 2022, February 13-25, 2023, and April 3-11, 2023.

Final tournament (Australia, New Zealand): July 10 - August 20, 2023.

Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament. European area

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Group Round

Europe has 2023 direct tickets to the 11 World Cup, another team will take part in the intercontinental playoffs. 

Nine group winners will go directly to the 2023 World Cup. The second teams of the groups will continue to fight in the next stage.

Playoffs

The nine teams that take second place in the groups will advance to the playoffs, which will consist of two stages.

The top three among the second teams will have the opportunity to play directly in the second stage of the playoffs. The remaining six participants will compete for three passes in single-match confrontations in the first stage. The three winners of the first round and the three teams that advanced directly to the second stage will determine the three winners of the UEFA playoffs in one-match duels.

The two winners of the second-ranked UEFA playoffs (criteria applied to the results of the group stage plus the playoffs of the second round) will receive two automatic places at the 2023 World Cup, while the third winner will continue his journey in the intercontinental playoffs.