Courtesy: UEFA.com


Jakab stakes all on Romania finals repeat

Tuesday 17 March 2009

by Paul-Daniel Zaharia from Bucharest

Romania were the revelation of the 2007 UEFA European Futsal Championship but, as they begin their campaign to reach next January's finals in Hungary, coach Zoltán Jakab believes the sport's future in his country rests with how they do this week.

Finals run
Romania started the 2007 edition in the preliminary round and went all the way to the finals, discovering they had qualified on the bus back from their mini-tournament in Slovenia. Once in Porto, Romania beat the Czech Republic 8-4 before losing to Russia and Spain.

Pivotal
This time Jakab's side welcome two-time runners-up Ukraine, the Netherlands and Andorra to Tirgu-Mures between Thursday and Sunday for perhaps the toughest of all seven qualifying groups, with only the winners and four best second-placed teams to reach the expanded 12-sided finals. "I would say these matches are vital for the whole of Romanian futsal," Jakab told uefa.com. "I'm worried that, should we not qualify, sponsors will quit and this would create huge problems."

Experience
There is room for optimism. Last year Romania were pipped to the FIFA Futsal World Cup only on away goals by the Czech Republic, and Jakab has a stable squad including Florin Matei, Robert Lupu, Cosmin Gherman, Gabriel Molomfãlean, László Klein and Ion Alioani, who have played for the coach ever since he took over late 2003. "It is time, now they have reached full maturity and gained international experience, to confirm that by qualifying once again for the final tournament," said Jakab. "They should be, and they really are, more committed than ever, because for some of them it is their last chance to play at a major tournament."

Preparations
Jakab has been putting his side through their paces recently, in the last three months winning 3-1 and 3-2 in Finland, losing 4-1 and 4-2 in Portugal before beating Serbia 4-3 at home and drawing 6-6 away. They have built up to qualifying with a one-week training camp and the coach is ready for the challenge. "For me, Ukraine are favourites," the coach said. "They have played at almost all the final tournaments and are a force. The first match against the Netherlands will be crucial; if we beat them and also, as we should, Andorra, there will be less pressure on the last game because the runners-up could also qualify. But while we admit Ukraine are favourites, this does not mean that we are aiming only for second place. We have the advantage of playing in front of our fans, after all."







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com