Huge game awaits Wrexham Foresters star on Saturday

Wrexham Foresters player-manager Kirstie Kural is off to a flyer representing England at the UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO 2027 qualifiers in Lithuania.

Kural has scored three goals in two matches so far, with England topping four-team qualifying Group B after a win and a draw.

On Saturday, England play Serbia in their final group game, a huge occasion with a place in October’s elite round on the line.

In their first match on Wednesday, Endland drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kural scoring from a stunning free kick to secure a point.

Then on Thursday, Kirstie struck twice in a 4-0 victory over hosts Lithuania, Kelly Walklett and Sophie Harvey also on target.

The 36-year-old Kural is joined in the England squad by six Bolton Futsal Club team-mates, including Laura Tobin and Becky Foster, who also play alongside the No6 for Central Wales North Ladies Football League leaders Wrexham Foresters.

Kirstie has scored a ridiculous 51 goals in 13 games for the Foresters so far this season, making her by some distance North Wales women’s football’s leading scorer.

While her football history includes stints with Manchester City, Connah’s Quay Nomads and Northop Hall, she has been playing futsal for around 10 years, her ex-clubs including Wrexham.

UEFA Women’s Futsal Group B

Mar 18: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 England 1 (Kirstie Kural)
Mar 19: Lithuania 0 England 4 (Kerry Walklett, Kirstie Kural 2, Sophie Harvey)
Mar 21: England v Serbia

UEFA WOMEN’S FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Qualifying for UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO 2027 began this week with the main round running until Saturday, March 21.

There are three stages in qualifying for the first edition since the switch from a biennial four-team final tournament to an eight-nation event held every four years: main round, elite round and play-off. While hosts Croatia qualify automatically for the finals, the remaining 23 entrants take part in qualifying.

The top 11 entrants in the UEFA Women’s National Futsal Team Coefficient Rankings start qualifying in October’s elite round while the remaining 12 sides are involved in the main round, including EURO debutants England, France and Norway. The winners of each single-venue mini-tournament and the two best runners-up qualify for the elite round.

The winners of each elite round group and the two best runners-up qualify directly along with hosts Croatia for UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO 2027 at Arena Gradski Vrt in Osijek from 14 to 21 March next year. The remaining two elite round runners-up play off in November for the remaining place.

Next year’s finals will be the fourth since the tournament began in 2019.

Spain is the most successful team after winning the first three editions.