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UEFA.comGolden Boot leaders face waitThursday 28 January 2010by
Paul Saffer from Debrecen
Azerbaijan's Biro Jade joined Saad Assis of Italy at the head of the race for the adidas Golden Boot award, the official award for the top scorer of the UEFA European Futsal Championship in Hungary, but both face a nervous wait to see if they will share the prize.
Joint leadBiro Jade was on target in his side's semi-final against Portugal to equal the five-goal tally reached by Saad Assis, whose side fell in the last eight. However, not only did Azerbaijan lose on penalties, but Biro Jade was booked and will miss the third-place play-off against the Czech Republic through suspension.
Chasing packThree players who will line up in Saturday's final are just one goal off the lead; Cardinal struck against Azerbaijan to move level with team-mate Joel Queirós while Spain captain Javi Rodríguez found the target also take his total up to four. Spain trio Juanra, Ortiz and Jordi Torras, Portugal captain Arnaldo and Azerbaijan's Thiago are among those on three. Italy's Gabriel Baptistella, on four for the finals, is the top scorer for the tournament including qualifying, one ahead of Thiago and Joel.
2010 UEFA European Futsal Championship top scorersPlayer Team Goals
Saad Assis* Italy 5
Biro Jade** Azerbaijan 5
Gabriel Baptistella* Italy 4
Cardinal Portugal 4
Joel Queirós Portugal 4
Javi Rodríguez Spain 4
*Team eliminated from tournament
**Suspended for third-place play-off
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UEFA.comPortugal v Spain: player by playerSaturday 30 January 2010by
David Baño &
Nuno Tavares from Debrecen
Two Iberian neighbours meet in Saturday's UEFA European Futsal Championship final in Debrecen and Spain player Kike and Portugal captain Arnaldo present uefa.com with their player-by-player guide to the squads.
Arnaldo on Portugal1 João Benedito (goalkeeper, Sporting Clube de Portugal, 31)
Very consistent and a great motivator for the rest of the team.
2 Evandro (winger, Sporting Clube de Portugal, 28)
The warrior. He always gives everything he's got to help his team-mates.
3 Leitão (forward, Lobelle De Santiago FS, 29)
One of the best forwards you can find in futsal. The team has full confidence in him.
4 Pedro Costa (winger, SL Benfica, 31)
He's the brain of the team. A very intelligent player.
5 Joel Queirós (forward, SL Benfica, 27)
Born to score. He often decides games for us.
6 Arnaldo (winger, SL Benfica, 30)
No comment.
7 Cardinal (forward, Sporting Clube de Portugal, 24)
His goalscoring skills are just amazing.
8 Israel (winger, FS Zamora, 27)
Has the ability to think about the game while he's on the pitch and is often picked as flying goalkeeper for that.
9 Gonçalo Alves (defender, SL Benfica, 32)
He's the gladiator of our defence. That says it all.
10 Paulinho (winger, CF Os Belenenses, 26)
He's very, very quick and excellent on the ball.
11 João Matos (defender, Sporting Clube de Portugal, 22)
He's a born fighter. Has loads of courage and personality.
12 Bebé (goalkeeper, SL Benfica, 26)
Impressive reflexes and a goalkeeper we can trust.
13 Pedro Cary (winger, CF Os Belenenses, 25)
He's the perfect example of what a team player should be.
14 André Sousa (goalkeeper, Instituto D. João V, 23)
As good playing with his feet as he is defending his goal.
Kike on Spain1 Luis Amado (goalkeeper, Interviú Madrid, 33)
The best goalkeeper in the world.
2 Ortiz (defender, Interviú Madrid, 29)
He has tactical vision, I hope he will be my successor.
3 Javi Eseverri (winger, MRA Navarra FS, 32)
A phenomenon, probably the best guy in the group.
4 Jordi Torras (winger, Interviú Madrid, 29)
An impressive left foot and hugely skilful.
5 Fernandao (forward, FC Barcelona, 29)
A natural pivot, our reference point up front.
6 Álvaro (winger, ElPozo Murcia FS, 32)
Class and elegance in futsal personified.
7 Javi Rodríguez (winger, FC Barcelona, 35)
He has character and fighting spirit, a great captain.
8 Kike (defender, ElPozo Murcia FS, 31)
No comment
9 Juanra (defender, Interviú Madrid, 27)
Has a powerful shot: he is the future.
10 Borja (winger, Interviú Madrid, 25)
Has speed, is great in a one-on-one situation and a specialist in getting behind the defence.
11 Lin (winger, Caja Segovia FS, 22)
Has plenty of ability and is never afraid: he gives the squad youth.
12 Juanjo (goalkeeper, ElPozo Murcia FS, 24)
Luis Amado's eventual successor, he will be an amazing goalkeeper.
13 Cristian (goalkeeper, FC Barcelona, 27)
A goalkeeper with a great future.
14 Daniel (winger/forward, Interviú Madrid, 33)
Always the smartest person in the team.
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UEFA.comCary crazy about final chanceSaturday 30 January 2010by
Nuno Tavares from Debrecen
Pedro Cary has found his debut UEFA European Futsal Championship "crazy" experience but the Portugal midfielder knows all about the perils that lie in wait in Saturday's final against Spain.
PotentialAfter scraping through from the group stage on goal difference, Orlando Duarte's men raised the bar in the knockout phase, beating Serbia and Azerbaijan to reach their first final against Spain – who beat them 6-1 in their second pool match last Sunday. Cary, 25, made his major tournament bow in the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup but while Portugal exited early in Brazil, here in Hungary they have gradually realised their potential.
'Still here'"Maybe at the start of the tournament we didn't expect to be in the final but after we saw who our opponents were in the quarter-finals and semi-finals we thought that we could be in the decisive game," Cary told uefa.com. "What really counts is that we are still here, but always aware of the difficulties which we'll have to cope with on Saturday. Spain have an excellent team and they proved just that against us in the group stage. I do think their best performance so far was that one."
Semi-final nervesPortugal beat Serbia 5-1 but needed penalties to knock out Azerbaijan. The CF Os Belenenses player said. "We definitely didn't have a great game against Azerbaijan. We experienced problems both in attack and defence but the most important thing is that the team remained united until the final whistle. It was a shame that we had to endure the penalty shoot-out especially because I think that Azerbaijan have a good team but not good enough to force us to go though that."
OpportunityCary, who has scored five goals in 26 games for Portugal, simply loving the time spent in Hungary. "Personally this experience has just been crazy," he said. "I'm learning and evolving as a player every single day, so I have to be very thankful for having been offered such an opportunity."
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UEFA.comPortugal challenge Spain for futsal titleFriday 29 January 2010Match preview by
Paul Saffer &
David Baño from Debrecen
Spain have largely swept through the UEFA European Futsal Championship but standing in their way of a third straight title in Saturday's final in Debrecen is a side they beat 6-1 last Sunday, neighbours Portugal.
Final runsThe holders had already defeated Belarus 9-1 before meeting Portugal, and although they needed penalties to pip Russia after a goalless quarter-final, in the last four they sailed past the Czech Republic 8-1. Portugal began unconvincingly in the group stage as they drew 5-5 with Belarus before losing to Spain. But it has been a different story since as they overcame Serbia 5-1 in Budapest before returning to Debrecen and knocking out Azerbaijan on penalties.
No pushoverJosé Venancio López, whose Spain side's bid for a fifth European title has been based solely in Debrecen, knows Portugal will be no pushover. "The final is going to be totally different to the group stage," he told uefa.com. "They are going to close the game down, to avoid having an open match and allowing Spain so many chances. Portugal are a great team. They play innovative futsal. I'm sure we are going to have a very good final."
Fully fitVenancio López came into the tournament with several players doubtful through injury but they are now hitting a stunning peak. "After the difficulties we had in the build-up to this tournament, when we had many players with minor injuries, we're delighted to have everyone ready for the final," the coach said.
First finalWhile four Spain players – Javi Rodríguez, Daniel, Kike and Luis Amado – are targeting a fourth European title, Portugal are in their first final. They missed out in Porto in 2007 on penalties against Spain, a game Orlando Duarte's side had led 2-0. Portugal were last European side to beat Spain over 40 minutes, a September 2005 friendly also representing their only success against their neighbours in 16 meetings.
'Honour'Duarte said: "We're going to play against, in my opinion, the best team in the world. They're a good example to follow, and it's an honour to be in this final. We respect Spain as the best team in the world but this is a final and obviously we want to win. If necessary we will, speaking figuratively, die on the pitch to achieve it." Looking back at the group game, Portugal player Joaõ Matos added: "That result will influence our team only in the sense that we have to look at the mistakes we made, solve them and be better against Spain. No two matches are the same."
* The final will be refereed by Massimo Cumbo of Italy, Gábor Kovács of host nation Hungary and Stephan Kammerer of Germany, with Finland's Tomi Grönman as timekeeper. Cumbo previously refereed the 2005 final as well as the 2007 match between Spain and Portugal.
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UEFA.comSemi-final runs reward for underdogsFriday 29 January 2010Match preview by
Pavle Gognidze &
Paul Saffer from Debrecen
Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic contest the UEFA European Futsal Championship third-place play-off on Saturday aiming to end what have been memorable campaigns with a bronze medal.
Impressive showings Azerbaijan, beaten in the last four on penalties by Portugal, are playing in a UEFA national-team final tournament for the first time. No one who watched their run, which included group wins against hosts Hungary and the Czech Republic before a spot-kicks elimination of Ukraine, could have failed to be impressed by the brio and personality of Serjão, Thiago, Biro Jade, Andrey Tveryankin and co. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic, who would have had flashbacks to their miserable 2007 campaign when they lost their opener 6-1 to Azerbaijan, came back from four down to pip hosts Hungary 6-5 then shocked Italy on penalties in the semis.
Borisov pleased"The tournament was fantastic," Azerbaijan's Vitaliy Borisov told uefa.com. "It was organised very well and I'll take amazing emotions from it. The arenas are very nice, the supporters turned up and were supporting us well. Taking part for the first time and advancing to the semi-finals is a big success. It is a pity we will only be competing for third place."
Bronze targetAlves is likely to still be out injured and Biro Jade – sharing the lead in the adidas Golden Boot standings with Italy's Saad Assis on five goals – is suspended. However, goalkeeper Tveryankin said: "Before the tournament I said we would be happy with any medal. Now I will say that bronze for Azerbaijan would be a great success."
Czech aimAn 8-1 defeat by Spain ended the Czech Republic's hopes of the title but against Azerbaijan they will have Marek Kopecký back from a ban and captain Martín Dlouhý is determined to reverse last week's scoreline against Alesio's charges. "It will be a very different game from the first one," he said. "It was just the opening of the tournament and some of the lads were really nervous. In the next two games against Hungary and Italy we played really well, they became more confident. This defeat by Spain won't break this confidence."
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