Image credit: uefa.com/futsaleuro
MINSK, 24 January (BelTA) – The Belarusian national team started its campaign in the final stage of the 13th UEFA Futsal Euro with a defeat, BelTA has learned.
On 23 January, in the opening match of preliminary Group C in Ljubljana, Aleksandr Chernik’s squad lost to the Belgian team with a score of 0-4.
Belarus conceded early, as Omar Rahou scored from close range in the 4th minute. Aleksandr Chernik’s team responded with sustained pressure but failed to find the net. The Belgians struck again midway through the second half through Rahou’s second goal. He then sealed his hat-trick late on before Steven Dillien put the result beyond doubt.
In the second match of this quartet on 24 January, Slovenia will play against Spain. In the second round, he Bearusians will face the Spanish team on 26 January and will conclude the group stage with a match against Slovenia on 29 January. The Belarusian national team is making its second appearance among the European best squads. In 2010, at the Futsal Euro in Hungary, Valery Dosko’s team failed to advance, finishing behind eventual champion Spain and silver medalist Portugal.
Matches of the first round have already taken place in two other groups. In Riga, in the first match of Group A, France and Croatia drew 2-2, and then the Latvian team thrashed Georgia with a clean sheet victory of 4-0. In Kaunas in Group B, debutant Armenia unexpectedly secured a hard-fought victory over Ukraine, 2-1. Lithuania drew with the Czech Republic 3-3.
Teams from Group D will play their opening matches in the Slovenian capital on 24 January: Poland vs. Hungary, Portugal vs. Italy. The top two teams from each group will advance to the playoff stage. The quarterfinals are scheduled for 31 January and 1 February, the semifinals are set for 4 February, and the bronze medal match and the championship final will be held on 7 February in the Slovenian capital.
Four years ago in the Netherlands, the Portuguese team won its second continental championship gold, defeating Russia 4-2 in the decisive match. In the bronze medal game, Spain outplayed Ukraine 4-1. The Spanish national team has become European champion seven times, Italy and Portugal have two titles each, and Russia has one.
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