Spain look almost certain to travel to Brazil to defend the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year after a 9-1 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first leg of their European play-off but Ukraine will only have a 3-1 lead to defend in Hungary.

Kike hat-trick

The world and European champions never looked in trouble in Toledo after Kike gave them a fifth-minute lead. Borja added to the scoreline three minutes later and before the break Marcelo and Andreu had found the target. Kike struck twice more in the opening nine minutes of the second half and Ortiz made it seven before Vladimir Vladisavljević pulled one back. However, Álvaro and Javi Álvaro then struck to make the return on 12 April all but a formality.

Ukraine ahead

Hungary will have higher hopes in Gyongyos three days later as they kept Ukraine in their sights in Lviv. Ukraine, without the suspended Fedir Pylypiv and Serhiy Cheporniuk, began positively, and although Sergiy Zadorozhniy hit the post, Yevgen Rogachov turned in a Dmytro Silchenko pass on 16 minutes. Zsolt Gyurcsányi combined well with János Madarász to equalise early in the second half for the next UEFA European Futsal Championship hosts but Valeriy Zamyatin's free-kick deflected in off Pál Baranyai and a minute from the end Silchenko found Ildar Makayev on the break for what could prove a vital Ukraine goal. In the first of the six play-offs on Sunday, Russia won 5-1 in Belarus. On Wednesday the other three first legs are played; the Czech Republic welcome Romania, Slovenia face Portugal and Italy meet Croatia.