Courtesy: UEFA.com


Meurs unveils Belgium squad

Sunday 17 January 2010

by Berend Scholten

Belgium coach Benny Meurs has announced his squad for the upcoming UEFA European Futsal Championship in Hungary, with Fabrizio Coppola of Futsal Hasselt a notable absentee due to injury.

Saad doubts
Coppola has been sidelined with a groin complaint and there are also question marks surrounding the fitness of Salhi Saad, who suffered an injury during Belgium's final practice match against Iran. "Salhi Saad is still a doubt and under examination after getting injured against Iran on Friday, but there's a good chance he'll make it to the tournament," Meurs told uefa.com.

'Greater belief'
The Iran game raised a number of other questions too, with Belgium going down 5-0 to the perennial Asian champions, a day after holding them to an impressive 4-4 draw. "Despite the loss, these matches against a world-class team were a good choice," added Meurs. "The team will now travel to the European Championship with greater belief."

Suspended duo
Meurs's charges begin their Group B campaign against Italy on 19 January, before taking on fellow section rivals Ukraine two days later. "It's possible for us to get a draw against Italy or Ukraine and with a little luck get into the quarter-finals," explained Meurs, who will have to make do without the suspended Saad and Jonathan Neukermans in their opener, as Belgium return to the continental showpiece for the first time since 2003.

Belgium squad
Goalkeepers: David Morant (Chase Antwerpen), Jonathan Paggetta (MFC Réal Chatelineau). Players: Mustapha Aabbassi (MFC Réal Chatelineau), Jonathan Neukermans (Baio Futsal Morlanwelz), Jonathan Fossé (Action 21 Charleroi), Yassine Achahbar (Chase Antwerpen), Karim Chaibai (MFC Réal Chatelineau), Lucio (Action 21 Charleroi), Zico (MFC Réal Chatelineau), Salhi Saad (Baio Futsal Morlanwelz), Ahmed Sababti (Chase Antwerpen), André Vanderlei de Oliviera (MFC Réal Chatelineau), Karim Bachar (Chase Antwerpen), Marco Ferrian (Baio Futsal Morlanwelz).



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