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: Spain

Spain are the dominant futsal power in the continent and will be aiming for their third straight UEFA European Futsal Championship. It was in 1979/80 that the first league championship was introduced in Spain under the former Federación de Fútbol Sala, a cup competition following in 1983. The national league soon split into two divisions after the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Sala (LNFS) was founded in 1989, 16 clubs in the División de Honor and 47 in the División de Plata divided into three groups. Interviú Madrid have been the dominant club with 16 titles, including eight since the start of the LNFS, and ten cups, not to mention a record three UEFA Futsal Cups.

The national team, meanwhile, have vied with Brazil for the title of world's best for more than a decade. Under Javier Lozano, who took over in 1992, they won the UEFA European Futsal Championship in 1996, 2001 and 2005 and two FIFA Futsal World Cups in 2000 and 2004, breaking Brazil's stranglehold on the trophy. And when José Venancio López succeeded Lozano on the eve of the 2007 European Championship, they retained their title and only lost the 2008 World Cup final to hosts Brazil on penalties. They have not been beaten over 40 minutes in a competitive game since losing 3-1 to Italy in the 2005 European group stage, and still ended up as champions.

How they qualified
Spain have never lost a qualifier and on home territory in Badajoz in Group 2 were not about to start. Moldova were beaten 7-0, Álvaro and Kike both scoring twice, and it was the same 7-0 scoreline against Kazakhstan, Fernandao doubling up. To make sure of a finals place, Spain defeated Slovakia 4-0, Fernandao again striking twice with Kike and Dani Salgado on target.

Key players
Spain are blessed with an outstanding array of futsal talent. Goalkeeper Luis Amado is considered the best in his position in the world, with more than 100 caps, Juanjo providing back-up. Javi Rodríguez and Kike have both won three European titles and two World Cups, and the likes of Jordi Torras and Borja have ensured Spain have survived the retirement of stalwarts including Daniel and Andreu. Fernandao and Álvaro showed form in qualifying.

Tournament record
2007: Winners
2005: Winners
2003: Semi-finals
2001: Winners
1999: Runners-up (hosts)
1996: Winners (hosts)

Other honours
2000, 2004: FIFA Futsal World Cup winners



Coach Profile: José Venancio López

Date of birth: 27 June 1964

Playing career: Leioa Bilbao

Coaching career: Leioa Bilbao, FS Bilbao, Castro Urdiales Cantabria, Spain (assistant), Caja Segovia FS, Autos Lobelle de Santiago FS, Spain

José Venancio López was born on 27 June 1964 and played in Spain's top futsal division with hometown club Leioa Bilbao in the mid-1980s. In 1988/89 he stepped up as coach but suffered relegation in 1990. Venancio López left in 1991/92 and two seasons later took over at FS Bilbao before a spell with Castro Urdiales Cantabria, a period in which he also served on the Spanish national team technical staff. But it was when he took over at Caja Segovia in 1998/99 that he made his name, winning the domestic treble of league, Spanish Cup and Super Cup in 1998/99. He followed that up the year after by winning an unofficial European title as well as retaining the Spanish Cup and Super Cup. He then took the team to Moscow for an intercontinental competition and claimed the unofficial world crown, and won another Super Cup before leaving in 2002.

The following year he was appointed by Guatemala, but in 2004/05 returned to Spain with Autos Lobelle de Santiago FS as both coach and sporting director. In January 2006 his team beat Interviú Madrid on penalties to win the Spanish Cup and his record at the club earned him the role of Spain coach in September 2007, retaining his Lobelle role for the rest of the season. Two months after taking the national-team role, he helped his side successfully defend the UEFA European Futsal Championship title. Next up was the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup, and Spain lost the final on penalties to Brazil but Venancio López has proved a worthy successor to the great Javier Lozano, who he once assisted.


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