On June 4 at TIPOS Arena in Bratislava, Ukraine's futsal team played its first European Championship final in history. The opponent — Azerbaijan — already knew this taste: two years ago, the team became champion for the first time, defeating Romania 1:0. Now — for the second consecutive time.
How the final looked
In the 7th minute, Mirmehdi Rzaev put the Azerbaijanis ahead from a set piece — a shot into the far corner left no chance for the goalkeeper. Ukraine pressed, but couldn't find the goal. In added time, when the coaching staff went all-in and replaced the goalkeeper with an outfield player, Isa Atayev settled the matter — the ball into an empty net, 2:0.
Tactically, Azerbaijan decided the match through discipline: it didn't allow Ukraine to open up in attack the way it had managed to do in previous tournament games.
A path that didn't exist before
Head coach Oleksandr Bondar's team went through the tournament unbeaten until the final. In the group stage — a 4:0 rout of Belgium, a 3:2 victory over Turkey, and a 1:1 draw with the then-defending champion Serbia, which gave first place in the group. In the playoffs — Portugal 3:1, Georgia 4:0 (hat-trick by Mykhailo Hrytsyna), and a 5:1 rout of Hungary in the semifinals: Ivanov scored a brace and was named the best player of the match.
This path is special also because Hungary is last year's world vice-champion. A victory over them in the semifinals is no formality.
"Ukraine's futsal team reached the European Championship final for the first time in history"
Ukrainian Futsal Association, official statement before the final
What stands behind the number "silver"
Futsal is not futsal and not football. It's a separate sport with its own rules, where Azerbaijan in two years has turned into a dominant force. They won Euro-2022, Euro-2026 — and they do it with the same attacking pattern: a quick set piece at the start, a rigid defense at the end.
For Ukraine, a silver medal is the first in principle. Before this tournament, the coaching staff's minimum objective was formulated as "reach the Round of 16." The team exceeded it by three rounds.
What's next
Azerbaijan confirmed its status as Europe's best futsal team. The question is not whether Ukraine can catch up to its opponent — but whether Bondar will keep this squad together until the next championship: if the team's core remains together, the debut final may turn out to be not a ceiling, but a starting point.
