Courtesy: UEFA.com


Belgium out to upset revamped Azzurri

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Match preview by Paul Saffer from Debrecen

While hosts Italy were winning the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship, Belgium were exiting with just a single point. Since then Belgium have not played in the finals but they return today with a Group B fixture against an Azzurri side aiming to reclaim the trophy in Hungary.

Long journey
Italy were runners-up in 2007 and reached the semi-finals two years before that, Belgium qualifying on neither occasion. However, Benny Meurs, who took over as Belgium coach following the 2003 finals, has been moulding a young and talented team and is hoping to upset Italy and fellow Group B rivals Ukraine in Debrecen. "This has not just been a month or a few months in preparation but almost seven years; it's the first time we've qualified in seven years so we are very glad we are here," Meurs said.

Underdogs
With Salhi Saad and Jonathan Neukermans suspended for the opening game, Meurs knows that Belgium are clear underdogs. "For a small futsal country to have an opening game against one of the top teams in the world, it's an amazing story," he said. "If you ask me if we have a chance of winning, I'd say normally no, on paper we don't have a chance, but it's sport and the whole team is ready and it's very exciting to be starting the tournament."

Bertoni absence
The Azzurri were dealt a blow at the weekend with an injury to 2003 veteran Edgar Bertoni. Coach Roberto Menichelli, who stepped up to replace the long-serving Alessandro Nuccorini last year, said: "The absence of Bertoni is important; he is a talisman. It is a problem for us, but I have a group of very united and strong players, in terms of character as well as ability. We will be able to make up for Edgar's absence; I'm sure of this."

Italian renewal
Menichelli has introduced several young players into the Italy set-up recently, not least Cristian Rizzo, who will become the first 18-year-old to play in a Futsal EURO finals game if he is used. "The Italian team has been undergoing a process of technical renewal for the last ten months and this European Championship represents a stage of this journey," Menichelli said. "The game with Belgium is a very difficult one. The Belgian federation has done a good job to get the national team back in the European Championship. I give them credit for this."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Hungary wise to Azeri futsal prowess

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Match preview by Jim Wirth from Budapest

Hungary coach Mihály Kozma knows from experience not to underestimate Azerbaijani opposition with the UEFA European Futsal Championship hosts determined not to freeze on opening night at the Papp László Arena.

Bitter experience
The two nations met in a qualifier for the 2001 finals, prior to Azerbaijan's influx of Brazilian-born talent, with Hungary's Gábor Nagy and Azerbaijan's Rizvan Farzallyev and Namig Mammadkarimov featuring in a 2-2 draw. The 53-year-old Hungary coach Kozma, however, has more recent experience, having taken on Azeri champions Araz Naxçivan, who now feature nine members of the national team's finals squad, in the Elite Round of the 2008/09 UEFA Futsal Cup with his former club ACS Odorheiu Secuiesc. The Romanian side lost the match on 11 November 2008 by a 6-4 scoreline, and Kozma is well aware that it would be a big mistake to underestimate first-time finalists Azerbaijan. "I don't think Azerbaijan are dark horses because I saw their champions in the Futsal Cup; we played them when I was a coach in Romania," he said.

Heroes in waiting
Hungary, however, should not be overawed by the occasion, though a big crowd is expected for the opening Group A fixture. "We want to win our matches; show me a coach who doesn't," he said. "Azerbaijan are a good team but our players have to do their best, regardless of the pressure of having a full house. These players should be idols in Hungary; I want futsal to be a more popular sport here, so the EURO is a great opportunity for us. I have been to several EUROs and I can say that this is the best arena I have seen and the infrastructure is very good, in Budapest and also in Debrecen. I am very proud to be here."

Absent friends
His Azerbaijan counterpart Alecio, a Brazilan like so many of his players, has had his share of problems in the run-up to the game. Rather than name a 14-man squad, he has come to Budapest with just 12 players, and one of them – forward Rajab Farajzada – is serving a one-match suspension for the meeting with the hosts. He batted off the reasons behind the absent players by saying: "We have some general problems, but we will do our best with the players we have."

Universal language
With no fewer than five naturalised Brazilians in his squad, there was concern that language problems might also undermine the Azeris, but Alecio was adamant that this was not an issue. "Our team is mainly Russian speaking," he said. "Most of the players learned the language while playing in Russia. Language is not a big deal for us, but in terms of the language of futsal, Brazilian players love to attack; that's their purpose. The players understand each other well enough."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Futsal finals get going in Hungary

Tuesday 19 January 2010

by Paul Saffer from Debrecen

It has the same name, but the sixth edition of the UEFA European Futsal Championship will have a different complexion when it kicks off today in Hungary having been expanded to 12 teams two cities.

Expanded finals
Since the inaugural 1999 championship eight sides have played in the final tournament, but an extra four nations have gained entry this time, split into four groups of three. To accommodate the expanded competition, matches will be split between Budapest and Debrecen, rather than being played in one city as in the past.

Hungary opener
Hosts Hungary kick off the tournament at 17.30CET against finals debutants Azerbaijan at the Papp László Arena in Budapest, following an opening ceremony featuring concert pianist Adam György and Séan, the reigning Football Freestyle World Champion. Also in Group A are the Czech Republic, while Group C will also be played in the capital, with 1999 champions Russia facing Slovenia on Wednesday then both meeting Serbia.

Spain defence
The Fõnix Arena in Debrecen is the other venue and the first game at 19.00CET features former champions and 2007 runners-up Italy playing Belgium in Group B, with two-time finalists Ukraine also involved. Then on Wednesday Spain launch the defence of their title against newcomers Belarus in Group D, which also features 2007 semi-finalists Portugal. The top two teams in each section go through to the quarter-finals, held in both venues next Monday and Tuesday. Debrecen will host the semi-finals on 28 January, as well as the final and third-place play-off two days later. Eurosport has extensive coverage of the tournament.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Madarász saving the best for last

Tuesday 19 January 2010

by Jim Wirth from Budapest

Having scored his 100th goal for Hungary on the eve of the final tournament, striker Janós Madarász is sure to retire as a local futsal legend, but he told uefa.com he is keen to go out on a high at the UEFA European Futsal Championship.

Signing off
Now 35, the Duna Takarék ETO FC Gyõr player is a senior player in Mihály Kozma's team, and as the opening game of the finals approaches, he is determined that his last major tournament will be one to remember. "I want to make my presence felt here at this European Championship," he told uefa.com. "I want to demonstrate all the things that I have learned throughout my career. Doing well here would be a very good way to sign off."

Grim memories
What would represent 'doing well' for Hungary? The hosts kick off their finals campaign with a game against a highly-rated Azerbaijan side at the Papp László Arena in Budapest on Tuesday with a game against the Czech Republic to follow. A win or two would earn them a place in the quarter-finals, which would be a vast improvement on their only previous appearance in 2005, where they lost all three of their group stage games.

Close contest
"We have an easier group this time," he said, mindful that the 2005 draw had handed Hungary the near-impossible task of shouldering past European powerhouses Spain, Italy and Portugal. "Our team is stronger than it was then. This time round we have a very evenly matched group. We want to win our two matches and that's all I can say. It doesn't matter that much that we have not played a competitive game since 2008 – we have worked on our mental strength and want to show what we can do."

Age and wisdom
Madarász and fellow thirtysomething Szabolcs Tóth are relishing giving their younger team-mates the benefit of their experience, noting that their junior colleagues are "very good players who want to reach our standard". However, even the wily Madarász appreciated a pep talk from a relative whippersnapper, 27-year-old concert pianist Adam György – set to be a star of the tournament's opening ceremony – who addressed players on the eve of the finals.

Virtuoso address
Having played at New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall, the football-fixated virtuoso had plenty of encouraging words for Hungary as they faced possibly the biggest crowd of their careers. "He talked about his life and told us that there was no target that was unreachable," explained the 116-times capped Madarász. "It was a very positive speech." Had it helped the players to lift their horizons? Who knows. The forward certainly has a big target in mind, though for once he is not too concerned about getting on the scoresheet. "It doesn't matter whether I get any goals," he said. "We want to qualify and do a great job and maybe reach the semi-finals."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Cirilo sets course for a Russian No1

Tuesday 19 January 2010

by Pavle Gognidze from Budapest

The most dangerous weapon in Russia's goalscoring armoury, Brazilian-born Cirilo has pretty much mastered his adopted native language, but needs no lessons in futsal as he bids for "first place" in Hungary.

'We're favourites'
Joint scorer at the last UEFA European Futsal Championship with five goals as Russia finished third, the Sao Paulo-born MFK Dinamo Moskva striker is already looking beyond Sergei Skorovich's side's Group C opener against Slovenia. "For us the only good result is only the first place," he told uefa.com. "We're favorites as much as Spain, Portugal or Italy. Whatever happens, it won't be easy in such company."

Local tongue
A tall, athletic player with a feel for goals, the 29-year-old has been in Russia for seven years, earning four domestic titles with his club, and also getting a good feel for local culture – and the Russian language. "I wouldn't say I am that fluent, but of course this language is very, very complicated," he said. "I feel a bit Russian. I know the words to the national anthem; I can sing it if you like!"

Top-scorer target
Sufficiently comfortable in the language of his adopted homeland to enjoy Russian-language comedy programmes ("I can't tell you I watch so closely that I remember individual comedians, but this is pure truth, I do watch them!"), he speaks the international language of futsal like a native, and is eager to be top scorer at the finals again. "It is very important to set yourself targets like that as a striker," he explained. "But, like I said it is more important to become champions."

'Up for a battle'
A 2006/07 UEFA Futsal Cup winner with Dinamo, he refutes the claim that he is Russia's brightest star at the finals. "To be honest, I think everyone is a true leader on our team," he insisted. All, therefore, will share responsibility in the game against Slovenia, a side Cirilo believes are not to be dismissed lightly. "Absolutely no chance of this," he concluded. "I am up for a battle and we all need to go full steam right from the outset."


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