Mykola Kostenko: "The match with Italy can be decisive for Ukraine in the group stage of the European Games"

16.05.2023 16:11

Mykola Kostenko, head coach of the Ukrainian beach soccer team, commented on the results of the draw group stage of the III European Games.

At the European Games in Poland, in the group round, the Ukrainian beach soccer team will compete in Quartet B along with Switzerland, Italy and Moldova. Mykola Kostenko, the coach of the blue and yellow team, gave an assessment to our opponents in the group.

"As you know, the draw took place in such a way that the teams were distributed in pairs for four baskets. Poland and Switzerland were in the first, and we came across the Swiss. They won the 2022 EuroLeague and finished third at the 2021 World Cup, so this is an experienced and very powerful team. But one should not forget that Poland is the host of the competition. This is an ambitious national team that always carefully prepares for major tournaments, and it has all the conditions for this. So here it cannot be said unequivocally that we were unlucky with the draw. Switzerland, of course, is one of the favorites of the competition, but it would not be easy with the Poles either. It will be nice to play with one of the best teams in the world.

As for the basket with Italy and Spain, I have a subjective opinion that the Spaniards are always better prepared at the beginning of the season. Probably, Spain is the stronger team in this pair, and it would be a little more difficult with them. But in no case will we underestimate Italy. This is a national team with the best climatic conditions for training. Currently, it is going through changes in the composition, but there are also stars there. In other words, one of the top teams in Europe.

And the last basket is with Moldova and Azerbaijan. These are national teams of approximately the same level, maybe even the Azerbaijanis are more experienced, because they played in the A division of the Euroleague. Now, we know, they are intensively preparing for the European Games. Moldova is a middle class, but these competitions give such teams additional motivation for preparation and a successful performance. 

If you take our group as a whole, it's a very interesting foursome. If the organizers of the tournament do not change anything in the calendar, then we will play the first match against Italy. And for us it will be almost a decisive match at the group stage. It is necessary to adapt to it as best as possibleMykola Kostenko said.

We would like to remind you that both men's and women's beach soccer tournaments at the 2023 European Games will be held from June 27 to July 1 in Tarnow, Poland.

According to the regulations of the competition, the men's national teams will play in a one-round tournament at the group stage, based on the results of which the two best teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. The losers will compete for the 5th-8th places.