Courtesy: UEFA.com


Patient Gercak dealt winning hand

Thursday 28 January 2010

by Paul Saffer from Debrecen

Libor Gercak went to the 2007 UEFA European Futsal Championship as first-choice Czech Republic goalkeeper, only to be injured out of the Porto finals in the opening 8-4 defeat by Romania. On Monday he returned as the surprise selection in the 2010 quarter-final with Italy, and ended up saving three times in his side's victorious penalty shoot-out.

Selection
Tomas Meller had started both the Czech Republic's group games in Hungary but coach Tomas Neumann gave Gercak the nod in a tie his side were expected by many to lose. The 34-year-old worked hard to ensure it was 3-3 after 40 minutes then stopped Italy's first three penalties as his side went on to win the shoot-out 3-1 and earn a semi-final on Thursday against Spain, the best Czech run since 2003.

Luck
"I was lucky, which as a goalkeeper you need," Gercak told uefa.com. "I was at the 2007 finals in Portugal, and was injured in the first game. Now I am happy I was able to play." And even happier about the penalty saves. "It's not my speciality, it's a lot about luck," he added. "But I also play football and in that I am quite good at saving penalties, but it's mainly luck."

'No envy'
Being a second-string keeper can be a frustrating experience, but Gercak had no problems with being Meller's understudy. "There was no envy," the Nejzbach Vysoke Myto keeper said. "Tomas was in better form during recent games. But we are one team, so there was no problem. I am happy to be in the squad and have been for three years, that is what is really important to me. I got the chance and had to prove I deserved the chance."

Spirit
It has been a rollercoaster campaign for the Czechs, who needed two last-minute goals to beat Croatia to qualify, lost their opening finals game 6-1 to Azerbaijan then recovered from 4-0 down to beat Hungary 6-5 and progress from the group stage. The Czech players put that down to the squad's tightknit nature. "We all get on really well," said Gercak. "We are a team, no one plays for himself. I enjoyed it when I was able to play, but also enjoyed it when Tomas was in goal." And now for defending champions Spain. "Of course it is a great opportunity to play them and we are looking forward to it."





Courtesy: UEFA.com


Portugal up to speed for Azerbaijan task

Thursday 28 January 2010

Match preview by Paul Saffer & Pavle Gognidze from Debrecen

Azerbaijan first raised eyebrows when they held Portugal 3-3 in their opening UEFA European Futsal Championship qualifier last March in Viana Castelo. Now the pair are matched again in this evening's semi-finals in Debrecen with one to reach the decider for the first time.

Hitting form
In fact, Portugal, who were fourth on home soil in 2007, needed a last-minute Joel Queirós equaliser to draw with Azerbaijan, who were to qualify for the first time. Once in Hungary, Azerbaijan strolled through the group stage with two wins and on Monday ousted twice runners-up Ukraine on penalties. Meanwhile Portugal drew 5-5 with Belarus and lost 6-1 to Spain in Group D, scraping through on goal difference, but hit form in the quarter-finals by defeating Serbia 5-1.

Final aim
"The first two matches were warm-up games," Portugal coach Orlando Duarte said. "We were a little bit lucky in the first stages, now it is down to how well we can perform. We have not booked our flight home until 31 January and we want to go home having reached the final."

Azeri 'class'
Duarte, who used Bebé in goal against Serbia rather than the experienced João Benedito "from a psychological point of view", has naturally been impressed by Azerbaijan but hopes to target their charismatic pivot. "Before we met them in qualifying, no one knew a thing about this team but they have proved their class," Duarte said. "Serjão is obviously a great player with a lot of power but we have to take advantage of his lack of mobility and get it right."

Alves doubt
Having only named a squad of 12 rather than 14 players, Azerbaijan coach Alecio has tended to stick to a small core of that dozen on the pitch in their three games over in Budapest. One of those, Alves, is a doubt against Portugal but Rizvan Farzaliyev is confident some of his lesser-used colleagues are capable of stepping up. "Rajab Farajzadeh, Namig Mammadkarimov and Sergey Chuykov are all ready to play but this is a coaching decision when to play who," Farzaliyev said. "Maybe Mammadkarimov will come out and have a great match in the final – this is totally possible."

Higher goals
Farzaliyev added that their expectations have changed for Azerbaijan's first campaign in any UEFA national-team final tournament. "We had a goal to get into the knockouts, now I think we have a chance to make the final," he said. "We know how the Portuguese play and what they can do. We played Portugal before and they're a good team. Anything can happen."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Czechs aim to break Spain stranglehold

Thursday 28 January 2010

Match preview by David Baño & Paul Saffer from Debrecen

Spain's record against the Czech Republic is typically formidable – played ten, won ten – and Tomas Neumann's side will have a hard task putting that right in tonight's UEFA European Futsal Championship semi-final in Debrecen.

Contrasting runs
Reigning champions Spain stormed through the group stage with 15 goals in their two wins and although they only beat Russia on penalties in the last eight, they had the better of the scoreless 40 minutes. In contrast the Czech Republic lost their opener 6-1 to Azerbaijan and had to come back from four behind to pip hosts Hungary 6-5. However, in the quarter-finals they pulled off an upset by ousting Italy on spot-kicks after a 3-3 draw to make this stage for the first time since 2003.

Czech surprise
"The Czech Republic making the semi-finals was a great surprise," Spain coach José Venancio López told uefa.com. "They play without the ball a lot and they defend very well. They have reached the semi-finals thanks to a competitive mentality and their winning character, which they showed first against Hungary when they were 4-0 down and then against Italy when they were 2-1 down at half-time. On both occasions they were able to turn it around. They managed to stay focused and they never stopped looking for victory, especially when they have made use of the flying goalkeeper with two and a half minutes left to play against Italy."

'Winning mentality'
However, Venancio López's side are going for a third straight title and have so far shown little sign of faltering. "We are going to try to maintain the winning mentality we have shown so far," the coach said. "It is true my team are mentally very strong. We know we have to keep very focused for the semi-final. We will prepare in the best possible way."

Spain strength
These teams have never met in the European Championship but Spain have won 4-1 and 4-0 in the last two FIFA Futsal World Cups, and the Czech Republic are not helped by the absence of the suspended Marek Kopecky. Coach Tomas Neumann said: "In my view Spain are even better than Italy. So it will be really hard. They are the best team in Europe, maybe in the world, so it will not be easy but we will do our best."

Support
However, they could be helped at the Fönix Arena by a turnout of fans from home. "We have already heard some people saying they will come," Neumann said. "There has been a lot of reaction back in the Czech Republic, and that is the main reason our fans are coming. And Czech television is buying the rights to show the match live."





Courtesy: UEFA.com


Passion for futsal drives Biro Jade

Thursday 28 January 2010

by Nuno Tavares from Debrecen

Azerbaijan defender Biro Jade turned 36 on Monday. His week could end with his nation winning a first UEFA final tournament.

Memorable week
Biro Jade has been at the centre of Azerbaijan's sudden emergence in the UEFA European Futsal Championship, scoring twice to earn their first qualification and three more goals in their two group-stage wins. He also registered in the 3-3 quarter-final draw with Ukraine, then converted in the 4-2 shoot-out success. This evening they meet Portugal in Debrecen for a place in the final; it has been a memorable week for the tireless Araz Naxçivan player.

'Special present'
"The fact we reached the semi-finals was a very special present to me," Biro Jade told uefa.com. "We are all very happy and this achievement will allow Azerbaijani futsal to take a huge step forward. I am very happy to be given the chance to participate in such an occasion. Before we came to Hungary we were well aware of just how strong we were and I have no problem saying that our main goal was to reach the semi-finals. Maybe our results have been a surprise for some, but not for us."

Passion
Having also helped perennial Azerbaijani champions Araz into April's UEFA Futsal Cup finals, it has been a busy season for Biro Jade, who has possibly spent more time on the pitch than any other outfield player in Hungary. "I don't have huge secrets about the fact I am one of the most used players in the team at the age of 36," he said. "I really like to train but above all I love futsal. I'm still not thinking about ending my career. As long I have the strength and my colleagues think I can be of use I will carry on."

Portugal challenge
He and his team-mates are more than familiar with Portugal having drawn 3-3 with the 2007 semi-finalists in their opening qualifier, Biro Jade among the scorers. "Portugal have a great team and they usually do well at European Championships," he said. "They have a team that always delivers when they really need to win."

Araz spine
But Azerbaijan have been doing that in the last 12 months, as have Araz – who supply ten of the 12-strong squad in Hungary, not to mention coach Alecio. "We only have two players from another club and that accelerates the cohesion process," Biro Jade said. "One and a half years ago nobody knew Azerbaijan played futsal and now they know. The hardest thing is not reaching this level but staying there once you do."



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