Ukraine pin hopes on experience

Ukraine have turned to experience as the 2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship semi-finalists attempt to gain qualification for this year's tournament.

Mixed results
Two-time runners-up Ukraine are in Andorra for qualifying round Group B from today until Thursday, where they also meet Israel and Slovakia. Their recent form has been mixed, with friendly results this month including a 5-5 draw with Hungary and 5-4 defeat by Belarus - their first reverse in 19 fixtures against that team - although they also beat both those sides in the other game in double-headed friendlies. January also saw Ukraine held by Serbia and Poland.

Experience
Coach Gennadiy Lysenchuk has recalled veteran Olexiy Kulday, who missed those most recent friendlies, but is adjusting to life without Serhiy Koridze, the top scorer at the 2001 and 2003 European finals who has now retired from the international game. However, FC Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Vladislav Korneev has been persuaded to play on. Vitaliy Brunko - the leading scorer in the Ukrainian league - has helped FC Energia Lviv eclipse perennial champions Shakhtar this season and will be joined in the attack by one of the stars of the 2005 finals, Serhiy Sytin.

Andorra worries
Andorra, meanwhile, received some bad news on the eve of the tournament. Key man Miguel Blázquez will be suspended for the first two games against Slovakia and Israel, Joan Foix is also banned and No1 goalkeeper Èric Flinch has withdrawn due to pneumonia. Experienced Andorra coach Carles Riba said: "They are all essential players. Blázquez is one of our main attacking players, Foix is an experienced defender who exudes confidence and Èric was playing well. But we're eager for this to start; no one can beat us for enthusiasm. We've sweated blood in the training sessions and we know it's likely we'll lose all three games, but we'll see what happens playing at home."

Hope
He added: "All three opponents play similarly. They are aggressive in defence and fast on the counterattack. To beat Ukraine we will have to have the best match in our history and they would have to play their worst. If we beat Slovakia and Israel we would then have our chances for the last game. You never know what could happen."

Slovakia impress
In fact, Andorra are second seeds in this group, and have gained at least one victory in all their European campaigns to date. Indeed, in 2001 they beat Finland and Latvia only to be pipped by Ukraine, who also ended their hopes in 2003. They defeated Slovakia 6-4 in 1999, though they gained revenge four years later and last time around lost to Ukraine before holding Belarus and overcoming Romania 7-1. They warmed up last month by losing 5-1 to the Czech Republic but then gained a win and draw at home to Hungary, who finished second in their qualifying group behind Russia.

Israeli return
Israel also returned to action in January after more than two years away from the international arena, and the heavy defeats by 2007 finals hosts Portugal were predictable against one of the world's leading futsal forces. Still, they only narrowly lost to France and Belgium in their last qualifying campaign and in the past have achieved competitive wins against Romania, Greece and Finland.