Courtesy: UEFA.com


More finalists the merrier, say coaches

Saturday 30 January 2010

The expansion of the UEFA European Futsal Championship finals from eight to 12 teams has brought a thumbs-up from the coaches at the tournament in Hungary. Alongside established contenders such as Spain and Italy, two sides qualified for the finals for the first time – Belarus and an Azerbaijan team who reached the semi-finals – while Belgium and Slovenia returned to the fray after seven-year absences. uefa.com spoke to some of the coaches about the new format.


Alecio, Azerbaijan
Of course it is a good idea. In the past we have always seen the traditionally strong teams, like Ukraine and Italy, qualify and reach the semi-finals, but now we have sides like Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic getting through, which shows what a good idea it was.


José Venancio López, Spain
We know that futsal in Europe is getting better and better. I think it is a step forward to have evolved from eight to 12 teams. I believe it is going to be beneficial to the game. We have gained four matches, basically the quarter-finals, under the new format and we have seen futsal at its highest level. This will benefit European futsal. It is a great initiative.


Gennadiy Lysenchuk, Ukraine
It was a very good decision to change format and extend the tournament to 12 teams. I spoke with Belarus and Azerbaijan, who are debutants here, and they have had extra money for preparation and much more attention in their countries, all of which helps futsal.


Aca Kovacevic, Serbia
The system is more exciting than it was, because there are only two games between the group stage and the quarter-finals and then the knockout ties are one-off matches so there can always be surprises. Favourites are not such big favourites in a one-off game.


Roberto Menichelli, Italy
On the one hand it promotes and stimulates futsal, on the other it has let in teams that have never played in a European Championship so one-sided results could happen. I think, however, that having 12 teams in the European Championship will help to further promote the sport.


Orlando Duarte, Portugal
The quality of futsal has improved in recent years and organisations like UEFA and FIFA are aware of this. A sign of this progress is the expansion from eight teams to 12 in this European Championship.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Top scorers share adidas Golden Boot

Saturday 30 January 2010

by Paul Saffer from Debrecen

Spain captain Javi Rodríguez and Portugal's Joel Queirós both struck in the final to share the adidas Golden Boot award for the top scorer with Azerbaijan's Biro Jade and Saad Assis of Italy on five goals. The adidas Golden Boot is the official award for the leading marksman of the UEFA European Futsal Championship.

Prize shared
Since Assis's side were eliminated in the quarter-finals and Biro Jade, who netted for Azerbaijan against Portugal in the semis, missed the third-place play-off defeat by the Czech Republic through suspension, neither man appeared on the last day of the championship. That allowed 35-year-old Javi Rodríguez, one of a clutch of players on four goals before the final, to join Assis and Biro Jade in first place with a clever back-heel, his 99th international strike.

Joel honours
Later in the showpiece match, Joel also found the target to move onto five goals, although he could not prevent Spain beating Portugal 4-2. In addition, Joel's effort made him the ten goal joint-top scorer for the tournament including qualifying, level with Italy's Clayton Baptistella who registered four times in Hungary.


2010 UEFA European Futsal Championship top scorers
Player Team Goals
Saad Assis Italy 5
Biro Jade Azerbaijan 5
Javi Rodríguez Spain 5
Joel Queirós Portugal 5
Clayton Baptistella Italy 4
Cardinal Portugal 4
Ortiz Spain 4





Courtesy: UEFA.com


Czech Republic turn tables for third place

Saturday 30 January 2010

Match report by Paul Saffer from Fönix Arena

The Czech Republic claimed third place in the UEFA European Futsal Championship with an entertaining victory against Azerbaijan in Debrecen.

Debutants pipped
Having shared third position in 2003, the Czech Republic took it outright after scoring early but then having to overcome a half-time deficit to defeat a side who beat them 6-1 in the group stage nine days ago. Still, Azerbaijan's finals run was the best showing by debutants since the inaugural 1996 European futsal tournament.

Early goal
Azerbaijan began with only ten men as Alves had a knee injury and five-goal top scorer Biro Jade was suspended and the Czech Republic struck after 27 seconds, goalkeeper Libor Gercak's long throw finding Martín Dlouhy on the left to cross for Michal Belej to turn the ball in. It was already proving an open game and in the eighth minute Vitaliy Borisov broke down the left and his strike from a narrow angle went in through the legs of Gercak.

Serjão strikes
At the other end 42-year-old goalkeeper Andrey Tveryankin superbly denied Lukas Resetar, while Gercak made a double save from Namig Mammadkarimov, who hit the post with his third try. However, crowd favourite Serjão outdid Gercak late in the half with a solo run and powerful shot to edge Azerbaijan ahead.

Czech comeback
Serjão started the second half by rattling the crossbar from a tight angle, but soon Zdenek Slama equalised, advancing from deep and shooting from distance. The Czechs moved ahead when Martín Dlouhy's effort was deflected in by Rizvan Farzaliyev and Jiri Novotny turned in Jan Janovsky's cross. Rajab Farajzadeh pulled one back with less than three minutes left but as Azerbaijan pushed for an equasliser with Thiago as flying goalkeeper, Marek Kopecky rolled the ball into an empty net from defence.





Courtesy: UEFA.com


Perfect finish for Spain and Javi Rodríguez

Saturday 30 January 2010

Match review by David Baño & Paul Saffer from Debrecen

Spain coach José Venancio López said "the challenge is to carry on winning" after his side secured a third straight UEFA European Futsal Championship title with a 4-2 defeat of Portugal in Debrecen. Captain Javi Rodríguez, who like team-mates Daniel, Kike and Luis Amado now has four European titles, told uefa.com he was delighted to bow out with a victory and a fine back-heeled strike after 14 years, 169 games and 99 goals for Spain. Portugal's Orlando Duarte admitted that "Spain were better".

José Venancio López, Spain coach
I am delighted because we are European champions again. We have seen a spectacular match today, and I must congratulate the Portugal team as I believe futsal was the winner in this final. We maintained a very high standard during the tournament through constant hard work. We deserved this victory. We have very skilful players, and I'm very proud to be their coach. This team has something special and even though some players will retire, their spirit will always remain with us. We haven't lost a match [over 40 minutes] since December 2005 – that's another record for us. In the 51 matches I've been in charge [since 2007], we've won 46 and drawn five. Our challenge is to carry on winning.

Javi Rodríguez, Spain captain
I am thrilled because it has been a great way to end my Spain career. It has been a dream for me to be part of this team, but it is my decision to end my international career as I believe it is time to give other, younger players a chance. They now have two years to get ready for the next big tournament. I am delighted to have scored today, especially as it was a very nice goal – I knew I had [Portugal player] Israel behind me, I also knew he is not too quick to react, so I tried it and it worked. But most important was the victory and the fact we are European champions again. I am leaving the team now but I will never leave the friends I have made. I will stay in touch with them and I hope I have passed my experience on to the young ones.

Orlando Duarte, Portugal coach
The truth is, Spain were better than us. They did not commit the mistakes we did. We gave them the first and the third goals, We improved in the second half but Spain were simply better and we need to change something in Portuguese futsal. We keep making mistakes. However, we believe we have taken a step forward in this European Championship – the players reached a final for the first time and this kind of experience will be important in future competitions. We were fourth in 2007, now we are second. But it is important to play the best and win.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Spain claim third straight futsal title

Saturday 30 January 2010

Match report by Paul Saffer from Fönix Arena

Spain secured their third UEFA European Futsal Championship in a row, and a fifth title in seven editions, despite a late scare against Portugal in Debrecen.

Landmark success
The holders had netted 23 times in their four games en route to the final, including a 6-1 defeat of Portugal, and once Ortiz and captain Javi Rodríguez had scored before half-time, another success seemed a certainty. Lin increased the lead with four minutes left, but Gonçalo Alves and Joel Queirós gave Portugal hope in their maiden final until Daniel clinched victory with 22 seconds to go. Javi Rodríguez and Daniel end their competitive international careers with four European titles, a tally also achieved by Kike and goalkeeper Luis Amado.

Opportunist opener
It had taken Spain more than 14 minutes for their rhythmic passing to unlock Portugal last Sunday, by which stage Orlando Duarte's side had scored. This time Spain made their breakthrough in opportunist fashion in the ninth minute, Ortiz intercepting a Pedro Costa pass and striking past Bébé, who has replaced João Benedito in the Portugal goal since the group phase.

Javi Rodríguez strikes
Bébé was able to parry an Álvaro drive as the holders continued to press, but was beaten again by a moment of improvisation from the Spain captain. Álvaro played the ball forward to Javi Rodríguez who, facing away from goal and with Bébé and Israel behind him, surprised them both with a back-heel that rolled in for his 99th international goal. Spain remained on top for the rest of the half and Bébé did well to deny Álvaro, Jordi Torras and Kike.

Bébé busy
Bébé was again in action after the break to keep out Torras and Daniel, while Portugal opportunities were rare, although Arnaldo fed Cardinal who forced Amado into a save. Cardinal again tested Amado but any Portuguese possession, let alone glimpses of goal, was usually fleeting.

Portugal chance
When Cardinal was robbed by Ortiz, the Spain player fed Álvaro to rattle the post, yet next it was Portugal's turn to have a golden chance. On the touchline, Leitão's lob surprised Amado but hit the inside of the post. Pedro Costa was first to the rebound though somehow the prone Amado clawed the shot off the line and to safety.

Late drama
Spain did not sit back despite this scare, and Kike's volley resulted in another Bébé stop. However, the goalkeeper could not deny Lin in the 36th minute, his shot being too powerful. It seemed the match was over, yet Gonçalo produced a fine strike from wide to pull one back and then Joel scrambled in another with less than two minutes to go to set up an unexpected grandstand finish. However, with Portugal committed to attack, Daniel ended his top-level international career by confirming the victory – his 16th Futsal EURO finals goal leaving him outright second on the all-time list. Javi Rodríguez and Joel's strikes were their fifth of the finals, meaning they share the adidas Golden Boot with Italy's Saad Assis and Azerbaijan's Biro Jade as joint top scorers.

*The final crowd of 4,845 means that the aggregate attendance of 58,851 is a new record for a UEFA European Futsal Championship.



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