Courtesy: UEFA.com


Interviú face title challenge

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Interviú Madrid commence their UEFA Futsal Cup defence in Elite round Group C on Thursday but reaching the finals will not be straightforward. Their last opponents will be ambitious Czech hosts FK Era-Pack Chrudim and Ukrainian side FC Time Lviv also stand in their way, along with KMN Puntar of Slovenia.

FK Era-Pack Chrudim
The dominant side in the Czech Republic have won all ten of their fixtures this term, beating 1. FC Nejzbach Vysoké Mýto 10-1 on Friday. Chrudim have been pipped to the finals by Kairat Almaty in the last two seasons but are hoping for better having moved this mini-tourmament from their usual home to the 10,000-seater ČEZ Arena in Pardubice. Alongside Czech stalwarts like goalkeeper Tomas Meller, striker Radek Mikan, the talented Lukas Resetar and experienced brothers Roman and Michal Mares, they have added Brazilian pair Cacau and Pica Pau from Kairat along with their compatriot Max. Coach Ota Stejskal said: "I hoped for spectacular opponents before the draw, but [Interviú] are perhaps too much so! There is no better side in world futsal, but it doesn't mean that we will give up. We have a stronger squad than last year and also a higher aim."

Main round: FK Nikars Riga 10-1, FK Nautara Kaunas 8-1, Hurtap Leczyca 5-3 (Group 2 winners)

Key players: Lukas Resetar, Roman Mares, Pica Pau, Cacau


Interviú Madrid
Interviú, who became the first three-time UEFA Futsal Cup winners in Ekaterinburg in April, reappointed the coach that masterminded the 2004 and 2006 triumphs, Jesús Candelas, at the end of October, and are top in Spain having come from three goals behind to draw 3-3 at fellow European entrants ElPozo Murcia FS on Saturday. However, playmaker Gabriel believes there is room for improvement, saying: "We're adapting well to the new coach but we realise we're still a long way off the level we would like to be at."

Main round: Bye

Key players: Luis Amado (goalkeeper), Borja, Jordi Torras.


FC Time Lviv
Time won their first Ukrainian title last season to earn a European debut and have proved it is no fluke as they have 25 points from nine games this season, level with former UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finalists FC Shakhtar Donetsk. However, their league campign has been on hiatus due to the swine flu epidemic and coach Stanislav Goncharenko said: "The pause in the league will help us calm down and prepare for the Elite round. It's almost like we're in the incubator. Our players are forbidden to visit public places, so they're a bit dejected. Our only victim Vitalii Skoryi is currently quarantined. Interviú Madrid from Europe's best futsal league are the strongest opposition. Era-Pack Chrudim have also signed three Brazilians. Puntar are probably less stable, but such 'dark horses' are always capable of producing a surprise."

Main round: MVFC Berettyóújfalu 6-0, Luparense Calcio A5 3-3, SC Tornado Chisinau 11-1 (Group 1 runners-up)

Key players: Maxym Pavlenko, Valeriy Legchanov, Denys Ovsyanykov


KMN Puntar
Puntar have won two of the last three Slovenian titles but are struggling a little this season with only 15 points from nine games, losing their last two matches to KMN Svea Lesna Litija and KMN Oplast Koberid. However, the motivation of facing Europe's best has allowed them to put their domestic concerns to one side. Captain Igor Kragelj said: "I am proud to play at this stage and against the champions. It is an honour. We will do our best to show good performances and represent Slovenian futsal."

Main round: Viten Orsha 3-0, Montenegro Stars Budva 7-0, SL Benfica 2-4 (Group 4 runners-up)

Key players: Kristjan Cujec, Igor Kragelj, Gaj Rosic, Benjamin Melink




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Araz aim to outdo Kairat in Baku

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Kairat Almaty have reached the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals three times in the last four years, but their revamped side will not have life easy in Elite round Group D against ambitious Azerbaijani hosts Araz Naxçivan in Baku, under the command of a former coach of the Kazakhstan representatives. Stalwarts Athina '90 Athens and surprise package FK Nikars Riga are also involved.

Araz Naxçivan
Dominant in Azeri futsal since switching from football, Araz and now under the command of Alecio, who led Kairat to the 2007/08 semi-finals and has also coached the Azerbaijan national team to the UEFA European Futsal Championship. Araz have won all eight of their league fixtures this season, including a 5-4 defeat of main rivals Neftçi Bakı earlier this month. Vitaliy Borisov, signed from Russia's MFK Dina Moskva, said: "We are capable of playing any European club. The Elite round tournament will be held in Baku which makes our hopes of finishing on top more realistic. The fans must help us in achieving our aims."

Main round: AC Omonia 4-1, KMF Kolubara Lazarevac 4-0, MNK Potpićan 98 4-4 (Group 5 winners).

Key players: Vitaliy Borisov, Santos, Namig Mammadkarimov


Kairat Almaty
A victory against deposed champions MFK Dinamo Moskva in April gave Kairat third place last season but they have revamped this term with the departure of key Brazilians, including captain Cacau, and the signing of 12 new players. Among them are more Brazilians including 20-year-old goalkeeper Marcinho along with FIFA Futsal World Cup winners Anderson and Kelson, who claimed the UEFA Futsal Cup with both Action 21 Charleroi and Dinamo. Coach João Carlos Barbosa, whose team have started well in a new championship also involving two clubs from Kyrgyzstan and warmed up with two wins and a defeat in friendlies against Russia's MFK Norilsk Nikel, said: "Our aim this season is to build a new team and to secure our position in the domestic league and Europe."

Main round: Bye

Key players: Kelson, Anderson


Athina '90 Athens
It took seven attempts for Athina to get through a round of European competition and the Greek league leaders, who have scored 46 goals and conceded five in their four wins so far, are relishing the opportunity. Coach Apostolos Beltsidis said: "All our opponents have technically gifted players, they excel in fast play and apply smart tactics. It will be a challenge, although I must admit we were hoping for a draw that would pair us with the most powerful sides of Europe, as it would be a valuable learning experience for my players. However, we will see what we can get out of this adventure and try to improve in the process."

Main round: Action 21 Charleroi 2-4, Skövde AIK 11-2, Golden Futsal Team 3-3 (Group 3 runners-up)

Key players: Oratios Iliadis, Gentian Begaj


FK Nikars Riga
The only survivors from the 23-team Preliminary round, Aleksandrs Dibrivnijs's side sprung a Main round surprise by pipping Poland's Hurtap Łęczyca to qualification. Dibrivnijs, whose side have four wins out of four in Latvia this season, said: "There is a big gap in class between the teams. We can not compare the Latvian league and Elite round because in the latter we will compete against Europe's top sides. We know about their level and these clubs will aim to qualify for the semi-finals, but our team has hit our stride."

Preliminary round: JK Sillamäe Kalev 6-4, Futsal Panthers Köln 7-3, KMF Leotar Trebinje 9-5 (Group C winners)

Main round: FK Era-Pack Chrudim 1-10, Hurtap Leczyca 4-3, FK Nautara Kanuas 3-2 (Group 2 runners-up)

Key players: Dmitrijs Dobrovoļskis (goalkeeper), Aleksejs Baranovs, Vadims Atamaņukovs







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