NUMBER ONE IN EUROPE

Azerbaijan's national futsal team has once again proven itself the strongest in Europe. At the continental championship held in Slovakia, the national team demonstrated its dominance by triumphing over all opponents and securing the championship title for the second time in its history.

A challenging path to victory

At the European Championship in Bratislava, Azerbaijan competed in Group F. The team finished the group stage with a perfect score of nine points. Their opening match was a narrow 1–0 victory over Austria. This was followed by a decisive 3–0 win against Italy. In the third round, in a tense and crucial match against France, Elshad Guliyev's team won 3–2. These results not only guaranteed Azerbaijan's progression to the knockout stage as group winners but also confirmed their status as one of the tournament favourites.

The playoff phase demanded even greater mental and physical resilience from the team. In the round of 16, Azerbaijan secured a 3–2 victory over Kazakhstan, thereby advancing to the next stage of the tournament. The team then achieved a notable 5–2 victory over the Czech Republic.

The semi-final against Serbia proved to be a sporting highlight. The regular timeframe concluded with a 1–1 draw, necessitating a penalty shootout to determine the winner. The Azerbaijani futsal players emerged victorious with a score of 3–1, thereby securing their progression to the final.

The decisive match took place on 4 June at the Tipos Arena, where Azerbaijan faced Ukraine. The Azerbaijani team secured a 2–0 victory without conceding any tactical or technical initiative to their opponents. Goals from Marmakhdi Rzayev and Isa Atayev secured the national team's gold medals and another continental championship title.

Azerbaijan's futsal team has once again proven its dominance on the European stage by securing a 2–0 victory in the European Championship final. This triumph solidifies its position as a leading contender in European futsal, marking a significant achievement as two-time European champions. Under the leadership of head coach Elshad Guliyev, the team initially achieved this success in 2022, then went on to become world champions in 2025, and have now once again celebrated victory at the European championship.

"We can replicate this result."

In his interview with Region Plus, Elshad Guliyev, head coach of Azerbaijan's futsal team, commented on their success: "We must acknowledge that there was a certain degree of pressure exerted upon us. However, from the outset of the preparation phase, my coaching staff and I instilled confidence in the players that we were capable of assuming responsibility. We consistently communicated to them the potential for renewed success. I believe it was this belief and confidence in our own abilities that helped us reach our goal and become European champions once more."

The Azerbaijan Futsal Federation also played a significant role in this achievement. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Ministry of Youth and Sport. Our objective is to establish futsal teams across all age categories. Our objectives are threefold: to nurture new players, to ensure continuity, and to maintain our achievements. It is a great honour to be ranked number one worldwide today. However, if we become complacent with current results, we risk losing opportunities in the future. Therefore, our main task is to preserve our current standing by preparing a new generation of players and continuing systematic work on futsal development."

It is important to note that the Azerbaijan Futsal Federation has quickly gained recognition for futsal as an independent sport and secured government support for it. This has enabled the team to thrive, with all necessary conditions met, both materially and morally.

Till the victorious end

The team led by Elshad Guliyev displayed commendable performance in both offensive and defensive strategies, demonstrating resilience and determination until the final whistle. A detailed analysis of each opponent's style and timely tactical adjustments during matches were crucial factors in their victories.

In many games, particularly against Serbia and France, the team displayed great character, fought until the last moment, and found ways out of difficult situations. Key leaders Marmakhdi Rzayev and Isa Atayev demonstrated leadership at critical moments. The "golden generation", which became European champions in 2022 and world champions in 2025, is accustomed to the pressure of major tournaments. This experience enabled players to maintain composure and make sound decisions in high-pressure matches.

Following their victory in Slovakia, President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the national team on their success in becoming European champions. In a social media post, the head of state described the team's achievements as a significant milestone in the history of Azerbaijani sport, highlighting their European championship titles in 2022 and 2025, and their recent European championship victory. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva also offered her congratulations, wishing them continued success.

The celebratory reception for the champions in Baku and the victory parade, organised with active fan support, clearly demonstrated both the great interest in this sport and the pride felt by Azerbaijani society at this achievement.

The historic victory of the Azerbaijan futsal team has further consolidated the domestic sporting community's position on the global stage. The status of two-time European and world champions will inevitably change how opponents view our team. The future mass development of futsal, along with its growing popularity among children and youth, promises to ensure long-term international leadership for Azerbaijan's futsal school.