Debutant Armenia qualified this Sunday for the quarter-finals of the European Futsal Championship, after beating the Czech Republic (5-4) in the opening of the second round of the main phase, while Ukraine and France triumphed for the first time. At the Zalgirio Arena, in Kaunas, Lithuania, the Armenians secured first place in Group B and progress to the knockout stage with a tangential success over the Czechs, after surprising the Ukrainians in the opening round. Pavel Drozd put the Czech Republic ahead (two minutes), but Vladimir Sanosyan (three), Nikita Khromykh (seven) and Tomas Koudelka (19), the latter in his own goal, reversed the score for Armenia. The Czechs used two brothers of Portuguese nationality, João Mikus, from Portimonense, and Francisco Mikus, who reduced the distance in the restart (24th minute), shortly before the expulsion of Jiri Zapotocky (27th). Nikita Khromykh and Arsen Petrosov (both in the 31st minute) increased the Armenian lead to 5-2, with David Drozd (38 and 40) completing the result in what was the match with the most goals at Euro 2026, without avoiding the Czech Republic's first defeat in the competition. Armenia leads Group B with six points, compared to three for Ukraine, which moved up to second place, last to reach the quarter-finals. The Ukrainians dominated co-hosts and newcomers Lithuania (4-1), showing the credentials that had led them to fourth place in the last European Championship, in 2022, in the Netherlands, and to the bronze medal in the 2024 World Cup, in Uzbekistan. Ihor Cherniavskyi (seven minutes), Vladyslav Pervieiev (13), Ihor Korsun (23) and Danyil Abakshyn (33) scored the Ukrainians' goals, while Vladimir Derendiajev (36) scored the only goal for the Lithuanians, fourth and last placed, with one point, along with the Czech Republic, third. As for Group A, there are still no teams qualified for the next phase, but it is now led by France, fourth in the 2024 World Cup and whose first victory in the European Championships was sealed against co-hosts and debutant Latvia (5-0). At Arena Riga, captain Souheil Mouhoudine (24th and 32nd minute), Sid Belhaj (30th), Abdessamad Mohammed (36th) and Mamadou Touré (40th) opened the scoring after the break in favor of the Gauls, with Miks Babris, from Famalicão, starting for the Latvians. France has four points, compared to three from Latvia, second, and two from Croatia, third, who drew with “red bottom” Georgia (2-2) and repeated the result achieved in their debut against the French. Duje Kustura (16 minutes) and Vitor Lima (23) rectified Antonio Sekulić's (six) own goal, but Vakhtang Kekelia (35) equalized for the Georgians in the second half, with Franko Jelovcić and Giorgi Ghavtadze missing penalties in each area.
