Courtesy: UEFA.com


uefa.com's guide to futsal

Thursday 23 April 2009

by Paul Saffer from Ekaterinburg

Professional futsal is still a young game compared to its eleven-a-side parent; the tactics are evolving all the time.

Speed
Speed is a theme in futsal, as with such a small pitch, no one has long to dwell on the ball. Equally players have to move fast if they are to find space to receive passes, not least as the ball tends to stay on the ground. Futsal is widely played in Brazil by children before they concentrate on football, and the likes of Ronaldinho and Deco attribute much of their world-class technique to their grounding in the small-sided game. "I play futsal and it has helped a lot," Deco told uefa.com. "I played from the age of nine until I was 16 when I had to stop to go on with my football career. It improves my speed and dribbling skills."

Fast moves
Goals generally come from swift moves, often involving lightning exchanges of passes, as the goal is small and a defence given time to regroup at the top level will usually be able to keep opponents at bay. The majority of goals at the very highest level are scored inside the area. Fouls can also be costly because of the danger of giving away a free-kick without the protection of a wall for offending more than five times in a half.

Tactics
Coaches are able to make as many substitutions as they like, with higher-tempo teams, like Russian sides, tending to swap players more, even all four outfielders at once. Teams may utilise a single tactical system, be it a pressing game or a more defensive counterattacking strategy, but the astute use of player rotation can allow a coach several formations depending on the match. There is also the traditional ending to a tight game when a coach whose team is losing narrowly can take off his goalkeeper and use a fifth outfield player.

Formations
Formations are more fluid than in football, especially with the success in recent years of the '4-0' system which has grown in popularity due to its use by the exceptional Spanish national side. Also widely used is the 3-1, which relies on a 'pivot' forward to hold the ball after being cleared by the defence, 2-2 – where the players stay close together at all times – or the winger-utilising 1-2-1. It is a boon for teams to be able to switch to several different formations in varying match situations.

Defending
Over the last few years a zonal marking system has been superseded by man-to-man tactics, which was applauded by FIFA's technical experts in 2004 as a more dynamic ploy. As in most sports, though, the most important factor is the individual technique and ability of players, hence the popularity of Brazilians in the European leagues. Futsal is also being promoted in nations where it has not yet taken off, such as England and France, as a useful tool for honing football skills.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Russian rivalry played out on European stage

Friday 24 April 2009

Match preview by Paul Saffer from Ekaterinburg

For the seventh time this season, MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg take on MFK Dinamo Moskva on Friday. Only rather than a Russian domestic affair, this match is for a place in the UEFA Futsal Cup final.

Rivals
Dinamo have been the dominant Russian futsal power in recent years, and reached three straight European finals before lifting the trophy in Murcia in 2007. However, last year on home territory they lost in the last four to ElPozo Murcia FS, and Ekaterinburg were to win the final on their UEFA Futsal Cup bow. This season Ekaterinburg have started to gain a domestic edge over Dinamo, the Russian champions for the last six years, as in their four league encounters Viz have won three and drawn the other, including two September victories at the Ekaterinburg Palace of Sport, venue for these finals.

Rudnev return
That accounts for their nine-point league lead, but Dinamo gained revenge at the start of this month in the two-legged Russian Cup final, drawing 2-2 in Ekaterinburg with a last-gasp goal by former Viz player Vladislav Shayakhmetov, and winning 5-2 in Moscow. Yuri Rudnev was back at the Dinamo helm for those matches, having left the club in January only to be reappointed in March, not long after their home 6-1 loss and 1-1 draw against Viz.

Psychological factors
"We know each other well, we know each other's weak and strong points," Rudnev said. "That's why I think psychological factors will be decisive, rather than skill. The most important thing will be team's mental approach. The team who are stronger and has more luck on the day will win." Opposite number Sergei Skorovich concurred: "We all – the players, the coaches, the clubs – benefit from such a rivalry against a very strong team. Now the fate has prepared another decisive meeting with Dinamo. I would agree that psychology will come to the foreground. But I believe this match will be about small details."

Home support
Skorovich is without 21-year-old Dmitry Prudnikov, a broken ankle robbing Ekaterinburg of an important talent. But Skorovich said the holders "will not make a tragedy" out of Prudnikov's absence, especially with the backing of an expected capacity crowd of around 4,600. "The team are prepared for such great support because it would not be the first time we have played in front of a packed stadium," Skorovich said. "They love and support our team [in Ekaterinburg] and there are sell-outs in the league too, so the players are used to it."

Cirilo fit
Rudnev is also without an injured Russian international, Sergei Ivanov, while Brazilian-born Cirilo only returned from a knee problem in Sunday's 4-3 league loss at MFK Norilsky Nickel. "The latest scan confirmed he will be able to play," Rudnev said. "He is highly motivated. I would not say he is 100 per cent ready. But considering the prestige of the tournament and his commitment I am sure we will see the usual Cirilo on the pitch."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Fans set to flock as futsal finals begin

Friday 24 April 2009

by Paul Saffer from Ekaterinburg

A capacity crowd at the Ekaterinburg Palace of Sport is expected as the UEFA Futsal Cup finals get under way today in Russia.

Cold snap
For the third time, the continental club competition is decided by a one-venue four team event, with the semi-finals on Friday and the games for first and third place on Sunday. Holders MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg are defending the trophy on home territory and their fans are expected to produce attendances close to the 4,600 capacity, despite an unseasonable cold snap that has produced flurries of snow in the Ural city and frozen parts of the Iset river, next to which the Palace of Sport lies.

Semi-finals
The first semi-final is at 13.00CET (17.00 local time), when Spanish side Interviú Madrid, champions in 2004 and 2006 aim to move a step close to winning a record third European title, as they take on Kairat Almaty, beaten in the last four in 2006 and 2008. Click here for a preview. Kicking off two hours later is the all-Russian affair between Ekaterinburg and MFK Dinamo Moskva, who won the trophy in 2007 but lost for the first time in four semi-finals to ElPozo Murcia FS a year ago.

Feats
Ekaterinburg are aiming to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy since Playas de Castellón FS won the inaugural editions in 2002 and 2003. But they should be warned: in all the various formats of the competition, only Interviú's fellow two-time winners Castellón in 2003 have lifted the cup in front of their own fans and since the introduction of the current four-team finals, previous hosts Murcia and Dinamo both finished third. If either Dinamo or Viz win the final, it would be the third time in a row that a Russian club has triumphed, and would lift them to within one of Spain's tally of four successes – Belgium's Action 21 Charleroi in 2005 are the only victorious club from another nation.

Streaming and schedule
All matches are live on Eurosport and will be streamed on uefa.com.

Fri 24 Apr Semi-final 1 - 17.00
Kairat Almaty (KAZ) - Interviú Madrid (ESP)

Fri 24 Apr Semi-final 2 - 19.00
MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg (RUS, hosts) v MFK Dinamo Moskva (RUS)

Sun 26 Apr Third-place match - 18.30
Losers SF1 v SF2

Sun 26 Apr Final - 21.00
Winners SF1 v SF2

All kick-off times local, CET +4 hours




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Watch Futsal Cup finals live on uefa.com

Friday 24 April 2009

This week the UEFA Futsal Cup finals take place in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg as the continent's four leading clubs vie for glory and uefa.com will be streaming the matches live. Click here to access the video service.

Free to view
Alongside television coverage provided by Eurosport and other UEFA broadcast partners, uefa.com is streaming games from the Ekaterinburg Palace of Sport. Live match will be available on a free-to-view basis in certain territories in the Americas (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Paraguay, the United States and Uruguay) and Asia (China, Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia), while elsewhere live coverage will be pay-per-view.

Schedule
In Friday's semi-finals, Spanish side Interviú Madrid face Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan (17.00 local time, 13.00CET) and hosts MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg aim to continue the defence of their title against Russian rivals MFK Dinamo Moskva (19.00 local time, 15.00CET). On Sunday the third-place play-off (18.30 local time, 14.30CET) is followed by the final (21.00 local time, 17.00CET).

Premium video
Full subscribers to uefa.com's premium video service (uefa.com/video) will also be able to access extensive delayed coverage including in-match event clips, full match reruns and ten-minute highlights from all four games.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Interviú under no illusions about Kairat challenge

Friday 24 April 2009

Match preview by Paul Saffer from Ekaterinburg

Interviú Madrid are aiming to become the first team to win the UEFA Futsal Cup three times but if they are to reach Sunday's final in Ekaterinburg, they must get past a Kairat Almaty side keen to make up for two losses at the last-four stage.

Contrasting fortunes
European champions in 2004 and 2006, Interviú lost to MFK Dinamo Moskva in the final two years ago, the first time four teams were gathered for a one-venue showpiece. Kairat, who have already secured another Kazakhstan double this season, lost to Interviú in the second qualifying round in 2006. They still made the semi-finals, only to be beaten by Dinamo, and also went down at this stage to MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg a year ago in Moscow.

Kairat quality
Juan Luis Alonso, the former assistant to long-time Interviú coach Jesús Candelas, took charge in the summer, and although he is aware of the club's European pedigree is not underestimating Kairat. "This tournament is very important for us," Alonso said. "We are well aware of the quality of our opponents. We know it won't be easy. They have skilful and experienced players and we will do our best to win."

Focus
Alonso, whose side will sport special shirts displaying the Spanish national flag, is without injured talisman Marquinho, while Vinicius Bacaro – a beaten finalist with ElPozo Murcia FS last season – is still restricted by a knee problem but has travelled. Although Interviú lead the Spanish league, they have drawn three games in a row, conceding 13 goals, and Alonso admits thoughts have been on Ekaterinburg. "I know it should never be an excuse, but it's true that having this tournament in mind has made us lose some concentration in domestic competition and that is why we have been below par," the coach explained.

Friendly win
Kairat have had a fortnight since their league season finished, but warmed up last weekend with a 10-0 friendly win against the Kyrgyzstan national team. Coach João Carlos Barbosa, who knows Interviú well having joined Kairat from Spain's UD Guadalajara FS last summer, said: "We have come here to perform well. We're facing a very strong team. They have won many titles, their players are very talented. We will have to concentrate hard if we want to achieve a result against them."

Brazilian duel
Barbosa, like the majority of his squad, included suspended Pica Pau, hails from Brazil, and that nation also provides an important part of the Interviú team in the shape of 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup winners Gabriel, Schumacher and Betão. "Both teams having many Brazilian players is good for the fans, good for the show and is good for futsal," Barbosa said. "I believe Interviú have an advantage because they have a very competitive domestic championship. Our Brazilian players bring their knowledge of their compatriots at Interviú, but they also bring experience to our team, which is very valuable in a competition such as the UEFA Futsal Cup."









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