Ukraine Stumbles in Opening Match of Euro 2026
Ukraine's national futsal team began its Euro 2026 campaign with a defeat, falling 1-2 to Armenia. The match kicked off at 5:00 PM Kyiv time at the Žalgiris Arena in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Lineup and Match Summary
The starting lineup for Ukraine featured:
- Yurii Savenko
- Mykola Mykytiuk
- Daniil Abakshin
- Artem Farenuk
- Ihor Korsun
The substitutes on the bench were:
- Ivan Bielimov
- Oleksandr Sukhov
- Nazar Shved
- Yevhenii Zhuk
- Oleksandr Pediach
- Ihor Cherniavskyi
- Petro Shoturma
- Illia Prykhodko
- Vladislav Pervieiev
The team is managed by head coach Oleksandr Kosenko.
The first half ended in a goalless 0-0 draw. However, Vladislav Pervieiev broke the deadlock for Ukraine in the 25th minute of the second half. Armenia responded swiftly, with Migran Dermenjian equalizing just four minutes later in the 29th minute. Dermenjian struck again in the 38th minute, securing his second goal and the winning score for Armenia, which finished the match 2-1. The European Futsal Championship is a major continental competition, and a strong start is crucial for momentum.
Yellow cards were issued during the match to Petrosov (Armenia) and Khromykh (Ukraine). Ukraine's next fixture is against host nation Lithuania on January 25, 2026, followed by a match against the Czech Republic on January 28, 2026.
Losing the opening match of the European Championship is a significant setback for the Ukrainian squad, as it could impact their overall performance in the tournament.
The team must now regroup and focus on the upcoming matches against Lithuania and the Czech Republic to try and turn their campaign around and improve their chances of advancing from the group stage. These next games will be critical in determining Ukraine's fate at Euro 2026.