Courtesy: UEFA.com

Note: due to the fact that this report has been written before the end of the past season, some indications will result as wrong

Team Profile: Czech Republic

The former Czechoslovakia were among the earliest nations to play futsal competitively, and in recent years their successor nation to the west have risen to the highest European level. Czechoslovakia's first international was an 8-2 defeat by Belgium in 1983, but they were never a top-class force.

The Czech Republic, however, began life in October 1992 by winning an international tournament against Russia, Poland and Latvia, and indeed were victorious in their first six matches. However, it was not until Michal Stríž became coach that they qualified for a major event, the 2001 UEFA European Futsal Championship, and in Russia they drew 3-3 with the Netherlands before losing to Italy and the hosts. Two years later they reached the semi-finals, losing 5-1 to Ukraine and qualified for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Cup. As European hosts in 2005 they missed out on the last four but they also qualified in 2007 and for the 2008 World Cup.

How they qualified
For the second European Championship running, it all came down to a qualifying decider against Croatia for the Czech Republic. They trailed Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 and 4-2 during their Group 3 opener in Ostrava, and needed late Lukáš Rešetár and Marek Kopecký goals for a 4-4 draw. Martín Dlouhý and Rešetár struck in a 2-0 defeat of Latvia, but a win was now needed against Croatia, who the Czech Republic beat 5-1 in Split to make the 2007 finals. It was 1-1 with a minute to go when Croatia's Tihomir Novak rolled the ball into an empty net. It seemed over, but in the dying seconds Dlouhý struck twice, either side of Novak being sent off for a foul on Marek Kopecký, for an incredible 3-2 victory.

Key players
The hero of that decisive qualifier, Martin Dlouhý, captains the side and is the all-time most-capped player and record scorer. Marek Kopecký showed good form in the recent Grand Prix in Brazil, claiming six goals to help the Czech Republic to the semi-finals, while brothers Roman Mareš and Michal Mareš remain important to the team as do Lukáš Rešetár and Tomáš Sluka.

Tournament record
2007: Group stage
2005: Group stage
2003: Semi-finals
2001: Group stage
1999: Did not qualify
1996: Did not qualify


Coach Profile: Tomáš Neumann

Date of birth: 22 September 1970

Playing career: FK Viktoria Žižkov

Coaching career: FK Viktoria Žižkov, Czech Republic Under-21, Czech Republic

Tomáš Neumann, born on 22 September 1970, was one of the most popular futsal players in the Czech Republic before becoming a respected coach. A former AC Sparta Praha football trainee before his switch to futsal, he played for FK Viktoria Žižkov from 1991 to 2000, winning the league title in 1996 and 1999. Neumann was Czech player of the year in 1993, 1995 and 1997, capping that a couple of years later when he was named Czech futsal player of the century. The top Czech league goalscorer in 1994, 1995 and 1996, he struck 288 goals in 195 domestic games, and 26 in 46 international caps.

Neumann retired from playing to step up to become Viktoria coach in 2000, and two years later was appointed to the helm of the Czech Under-21 team. In 2005 he succeeded senior coach Michal Stríž after the UEFA European Futsal Championship and at his first attempt guided his country to the 2007 European finals, a tournament he never graced as a player, and the next year they went to the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup.



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