EUROPE DOMINATES SEMI FINALS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FUTSAL CUP

Slovenia, Croatia, France and hosts Libya will contest the semi finals in Tripoli today

by Damon Shaw from Tripoli

It may be hosted in Africa, but it is the European teams who are standing out in the 1st Mediterranean Futsal Cup as Croatia, Slovenia and France join hosts Libya in the final four to be played on Monday 8th November in the 23 Alfateh Hall, Tripoli.

Can Libya stave off the European charge to claim the title of Mediterranean Futsal Champions on home soil or will it go to one the three remaining UEFA teams? It’s all to play for and both Slovenia and Croatia are confident they have what it takes to go on and win, while Libya are here with the only goal of becoming champions, a sentiment echoed by longstanding goalkeeper and captain, Alsharif. “It has become our habit [in all competitions] that we are looking to be champions, and we are prepared and ready to win.”

Slovenian star Rok Mordej thinks that his team can go all the way, and with the way they have been playing here in Tripoli not many would disagree. “I think we have a very good team but in the semi we will face Croatia they are very good. When we play well we can win the tournament.”

Their opponents in the semi final are also confident of progressing and Dario Marinovic, Croatia’s top goal scorer with six goals so far came out and said, “We can win (the tournament)” after their quarter final victory over Morocco. That semi final will be hotly contested with both sides playing some excellent futsal and neither conceding many goals. It will prove a hard game to call and both teams have the chance to set up a dream final with Libya or France.

The French, who find themselves in the last four, thanks to leading goalscorer Alexandre Teixeira have exceeding expectations by reaching the semis and they won’t feel any pressure at this stage. Teixeira has 11 goals to his name already and looks like the favourite to claim the golden shoe award with two games still to play. With all the pressure on the hosts, this semi final is a potential banana skin for Libya.

Not many would say so, as the favourites amongst the teams now competing for their highest possible finish (the competition has a full ranking format) are predicting a Libya Croatia final.

Star player of defeated quarter finalists, Lebanon, Khaled Takaji, has firsthand experience of playing against both Libya and Croatia and thinks either team could win it, but thinks Croatia will edge it.

“Croatia and Libya (are my two favourites), but I think Croatia will win it out of the two as they are more disciplined and they have more of a system,” he explained.

The semi finals take place on Monday and they promise to be an excellent show of futsal here in the Mediterranean.

Live score updates can be found on facebook and twitter by searching MedFutsalCup. All the results, match reports and other information can be found on the official website of the Mediterranean Futsal Cup – www.Futsalplanet.com.


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