Courtesy: UEFA.com


Azeri Colossus bestrides Budapest

Monday 25 January 2010

by Pavle Gognidze & Jim Wirth from Budapest

There were plenty of stars in the UEFA European Futsal Championship group stage games in Budapest, but when it comes to capturing the public imagination, one stood above all others: Serjão.

'Big Sergio'
The 30-year-old, Brazilian-born Azerbaijan star has scored twice at the finals: a goal in each game, and has been besieged by autograph-hunters after each of his appearances. Partly because he is a great player, sure, but also because he really doesn't look like a footballer. There is certainly a lot of Serjão (in Portuguese, 'Big Sergio') to love.

Pivotal role
"There are just a few pivots in futsal like Betão from Brazil, Cirilo from Russia and Fernandao from Spain... Oh, I forgot to mention myself!" the cheery Serjão told uefa.com. "Everybody thinks we're lazy and not very fast, but I can always accelerate for 40 metres. Let everybody think I am big and slow; that's alright with me."

Azeri at heart
Bearing the name 'Sergio' on his shirt, apparently because 'ã' letters cannot be found for love or money in Baku, Serjão is loving his time in Hungary. "I am in the best of moods," he said. "This is my first European championship. I was born in Brazil, but emotionally I am with Azerbaijan. I really put my heart into our common cause."

Odd bunch
Finals debutants Azerbaijan, who play Ukraine in the last eight on Monday in Budapest, are certainly an odd-looking bunch: they boast the tournament's oldest player, 42-year-old goalkeeper Andrey Tveryankin, long-haired ethnic Brazilians Thiago and Biro Jade, a smattering of ethnic Russians and a few Azeris too, not least the excellent Rizvan Farzaliyev. Odd-looking but effective, including a club level where most of them, including Serjão , have helped Araz Naxçivan to April's UEFA Futsal Cup finals.

Outside bets
"We played Portugal before out of top teams and drew 3-3," explained Serjão as he looked ahead. "I think this was the real stuff. Yeah, there are favourites but it's all about who does better on the pitch on a given night. Let Italy, Spain and Russia be the favourites while Azerbaijan, who nobody can see or notice, keep going up a gear."

Lingua franca
Their multi-ethnic side have their critics; Azeri journalists were up in arms when they (mistakenly) thought Czech Republic coach Tomáš Neumann had referred to them as 'Brazerbaijan' in a press conference. But that is not an issue for Serjão and friends, whose lingua franca is Russian, given that so many of them have played club futsal in Russia.

Goalscoring sacrifice
Serjão, meanwhile, is even happy to forego further goals if it means getting to the semi-finals and – whisper it – even the final. "I am a pivot so I am meant to score goals, but the main thing for us is not goals," he said. "The most important thing is to win. Let Serjão not score and not make an assist; let anyone score, provided we win!"




Courtesy: UEFA.com


In-form 'Batigol' feels like dancing

Monday 25 January 2010

by Francesco Corda from Debrecen

When Italy striker Clayton Baptistella scores a goal, he likes to celebrate with a trademark dance. The UEFA European Futsal Championship has been the perfect stage to show off his moves.

Free-scoring
The 26-year-old, who shares the nickname 'Batigol' with Gabriel Batistuta, made his Italy bow at the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil after a number of prolific seasons in Serie A, with Vinicius Bácaro out injured. However, it was in qualifying for these finals that he really made his breakthrough, his total of six goals the best in the competition. He has kept it up in Hungary, striking in the 4-0 defeat of Belgium then adding a hat-trick as Italy beat Ukraine 4-2 to finish top of Group B in Debrecen, keeping up his record of registering in every game of Italy's campaign so far and putting him top of the scorers' table.

Celebration
Once the hat-trick was complete, he performed a twinkle-toed shuffle that would not have looked out of place in the half-time entertainment. "I have that dance in my blood," Baptistella told uefa.com. "My team-mates always ask me to do it. It crossed my mind when I scored the third goal, Marcio Forte approached me and told me: 'Now you must do the dance!'"

Assis understanding
All four of the Luparense C5 forward's strikes here have come from outside the box and most in combination with Saad Assis, who Baptistella has also set up for three goals. "Saad and me have developed an understanding," Baptistella said. "I know instinctively what he is going to do, so I always try to help him. It is important for me to have a player like him in the squad, with his characteristics. We hope to keep this telepathy going to the end."

Quarter-final
Baptistella's next target is the quarter-final against the Czech Republic on Monday. "The true European Championship begins now; these are the games in which you cannot make mistakes," he said. "The game against the Czech Republic is a one-off; we won't be allowed to fail."

For the list of group stage top scorers click here.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Ukraine blow hot and cold for Tveryankin

Monday 25 January 2010

Match preview by Pavle Gognidze & Jim Wirth from Budapest

Azerbaijan goalkeeper Andrey Tveryankin is "in two minds" about quarter-final opponents Ukraine, saying "If we want to make a name for ourselves and if we have any ambition, we have to beat them."

Mixed reports
The tournament's oldest player at 42, Tveryankin told uefa.com he had not been entirely convinced by the Group B runners-up. "I am in two minds about them," he said. "I know they are a good team, but they played two completely different matches. Against Belgium they were confident and dynamic but I don't know what happened against Italy.

Azeri ambition
Final tournament debutants Azerbaijan have come to the UEFA European Futsal Championship with no reputation, but they are rapidly becoming a side to fear after winning Group A, and now Tveryankin says: "If we want to make a name for ourselves and if we have any ambition, we have to beat them. Psychology will be key, while skill will take the backseat."

'How far can we go?'
Alecio's side includes players born in both Brazil and Russia, but Tveryankin insists that they are 100 per cent Azeri at heart. "Everyone says we're just the naturalised Brazilians, but these people play under the Azeri flag, which makes them Azerbaijani," he said, adding: "How far can we go? Only this game will show that."

Unknown quantity
The sides have never met before, but as most of their opponents have found at the tournament, previous meetings with Azerbaijan have very little bearing in games against Alecio's multi-ethnic side. They may have brought only 12 players to the tournament – rather than the standard 14 – but with no disciplinary or injury issues, that has yet to be even a minor issue.

Travel sickness
Runners-up in Group B, Gennadiy Lysenchuk's side are not looking forward to switching from Debrecen to Budapest, the coach saying: "We have got used to things in Debrecen and don't want to change." Having switched off-colour goalkeeper Vladyslav Lysenko for Volodymyr Kardash midway through the 4-2 loss to Italy, he is yet to decide which custodian will start against Azerbaijan.

Cheporniuk plan
Player Serhiy Cheporniuk, meanwhile, admitted that the success of Alecio's side had caught him cold. "Honestly, I didn't expect the tournament debutants to do so well. It's crucial not to concede first or the Brazilians will be like ducks to water, keeping the ball and making fast counterattacks, which is their strong suit. They will want possession from the start, but we will try and stop them."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Champions meet in futsal quarter-finals

Monday 25 January 2010

by Paul Saffer from Debrecen

The knockout path to Saturday's UEFA European Futsal Championship final in Hungary has been set following the conclusion of the group stage, with a last-eight tie between Spain and Russia the highlight.

Eight progress
Two teams from each of the four groups of three have qualified for the quarter-finals, with hosts Hungary, Belgium, Slovenia and Belarus travelling home. The four group winners – Azerbaijan, Italy, Serbia and holders Spain – have the advantage of staying in the venue where they have played their matches so far, while runners-up the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Russia and Portugal must travel between the two finals venues.

Monday ties
On Monday, 2007 beaten finalists Italy continue to chase a first title in seven years at Debrecen's Fönix Arena against the Czech Republic, fresh from their extraordinary 6-5 elimination of Hungary. That evening at the Papp László Arena in Budapest, Azerbaijan continue their so-far spectacular finals debut against two-time runners-up Ukraine.

Tuesday action
Spain, who scored 15 goals in their two Group D triumphs, resume their bid for a third straight title on Tuesday in Debrecen against another of the pre-tournament favourites, 1999 champions Russia, beaten to first place in Group C by Serbia. That duo have met in three European finals, Spain winning in 1996 and 2005, with Russia prevailing in 2001. In Budapest, Serbia take on Portugal, who pipped Belarus on goal difference in Group D to go through.

Final stages
Play will then switch solely to Debrecen, with the semi-finals on Thursday including a potential rematch of the 2007 decider between Spain and Italy as well as a possible Russia versus Ukraine encounter. The final and third-place play-off are on Saturday.


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