Courtesy: UEFA.com


Slick Russia too good for Turkey

Russia started their bid to reach a fourth final with a polished display which means they and Italy qualify from Group C at Turkey's expense.

Friday 3 February 2012

Turkey 0-5 Russia

by Wayne Harrison from Spaladium Arena

Russia are through to the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 quarter-finals after a comfortable victory that eliminated Turkey in Group C, a result which also confirms Italy's place in the last eight.

Two down inside eight minutes through two Konstantin Maevski goals, Turkey found the going tough against the 1999 champions. Aleksandr Fukin and Cirilo made it four earlier in the second half and Maevski completed a hat-trick for a side who can now look forward to facing the Azzurri on Sunday, when a draw will ensure they stay in Split for the quarter-finals 48 hours later as section winners.

Russia may have been one of the last teams to get their campaign under way but they wasted little time in stamping their authority on proceedings, Maevski scoring the quickest goal of the tournament so far with a low shot after 59 seconds. Sergei Skorovich's team were monopolising possession and, after Fukin curled an effort wide, it was 2-0 when Maevski's cross deflected off Aziz past the helpless Mahmut Akbas.

Sharp and inventive, Russia knocked the ball about at will, pinning Turkey inside their own half. There was brief respite when Sergei Zuev stopped Cem Keskin's strike with a foot, following it up with an even better save from Kenan Koseoglu.

The traffic was only really going one way: towards the Turkey goal. Russia's confidence was summed up before the interval with a bicycle kick from Sergei Abramov which Mahmut plucked out of the air. The onslaught continued after the break, with Fukin, having outfoxed Sami Buyuktopac by dropping the shoulder, firing under Mahmut. Eighteen seconds later Pula found MFK Dinamo Moskva colleague Cirilo to make it four.

Maevski − picked out by Dmitri Prudnikov − slotted in number five. Turkey's misery was compounded when Mahmut hobbled off injured but their run from the preliminary round to their first finals was a superb achievement.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Serbia knock out Azerbaijan in Zagreb classic

Azerbaijan took the lead four times but Serbia went ahead when it mattered to go through with Portugal after an extraordinary evening in Group D.

Friday 3 February 2012

Azerbaijan 8-9 Serbia

by Paul Saffer from Arena Zagreb

Serbia are into the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 quarter-finals on a quite extraordinary evening in Zagreb.

Azerbaijan took the lead four times and then came back from 7-5 down before the 2010 semi-finalists' campaign was ended in the highest scoring match in Futsal EURO finals history. Serbia are through with Portugal, who they meet on Sunday to determine who finishes first in Group D.

The tone was set when Felipe scored the fastest Futsal EURO finals goal after just eight seconds. He was then twice denied by Serbia goalkeeper Miodrag Aksentijevic before his corner went to Rizvan Farzaliyev, who beat the opposing No1 at the second attempt.

It was a nightmare start for Serbia, the last of the 12 finalists to kick off, yet within three minutes they were level. Aleksandar Zivanovic's cross to the far post was turned in by Vidan Bojovic, who then scored into an empty net following Vladimir Milosavac's ball.

In the build-up Azerbaijan keeper Andrey Tveryankin, the oldest player in any UEFA finals, had committed a foul which earned a second yellow card, yet his team, down to four men, restored their lead through a brilliant Felipe chip. The extra player did count when Slobodan Rajcevic equalised, but back-to-five Azerbaijan soon made it 4-3 when Jadder Dantas touched in a corner. Replacement Azerbaijan goalkeeper Marat Salyanski ensured his team remained ahead at the break and Aksentijevic was even busier.

Rajcevic hit the post almost immediately in the second half, and there was not long to wait for more goals. Mladen Kocic levelled with a brilliant solo effort and although Dantas pounced to make it 5-4 within 21 seconds, less than a minute later Vladimir Lazic was free in front of goal to cancel out another Azerbaijan advantage.

Serjão came close to giving them another one but on the break Bojan Pavicevic played in Kocic to put Serbia in front for the first time and Bojovic swiftly completed a hat-trick. With Alves on as flying goalkeeper, Dantas then had his third, and then Serjão's cross was converted by Thiago. The last five minutes were mayhem, Pavicevic volleying in a corner by Bojovic, who walked the ball into a vacant net before then scoring an own goal. Still, Azerbaijan came close but their finals are over.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Five-star Russia please Skorovich

Sergei Skorovich was a satisfied man after his Russia team opened their UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 campaign with a 5-0 victory against Turkey that secured their progress from Group C.

Friday 3 February 2012

by Wayne Harrison & Dmitrijs Slotin from Split

Sergei Skorovich, Russia coach
It was important to start well and we did just that. The good work the team has done in recent weeks bore fruit. We thought we would dominate against Turkey, apply pressure and enjoy most of the possession – it happened the way we expected.

We failed to take some of our chances but, overall, I'm satisfied with the lads, we played well up front. When we were 2-0 up late in the first half they tried to play more precise and created some clear-cut chances. All the lads played well, although I can probably highlight [Konstantin] Maevski, who scored three goals.

Cirilo, Russia pivot
The impression that we had it easy is deceptive. There are no weak teams at the European Championship. We were a bit nervous before the start but we got everything under control on court. We watched Turkey's first game and saw they're a solid team.

Sergei Abramov, Russia forward
We had some tough moments but there were few problems all in all. I don't care who we play in the last eight, be it Portugal or Azerbaijan. We're ready to face anyone.

Ömer Kaner, Turkey coach
Congratulations to Italy and Russia, two good teams. We've learned a lot from these two games. I'm happy and proud of my players because we've shown a lot of people what we can do. Russia and Italy will go to the end [of the tournament] because they're really strong. Russia have played together a long time, longer than Italy, who have a young side.

The first half was OK but in the second we conceded three quick goals and that was us beaten. It's not easy, of course: we were playing Russia. To pay more attention isn't easy, so I'm not sad − I'm happy. I'm very proud of the players, I hope they've learned a lot.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Serbia, Azerbaijan cannot believe their eyes

"No one has ever seen anything like this at a Futsal EURO," said Serbia coach Aca Kovacevic after the 9-8 win that took his side through past Azerbaijan, players of both sides left stunned.

Saturday 4 February 2012

by Paul Saffer, Elvir Islamovic & Nuno Tavares from Arena Zagreb

Aca Kovacevic, Serbia coach
No one has ever seen anything like this at a Futsal EURO, I saw some amazing things: the early goal set the tone. We were lucky to win but we deserved it, and we have achieved our goal, this a great success for Serbian futsal. For our small county and base of players it is a huge success to qualify for three consecutive EUROs and reach two straight quarter-finals.

I am very satisfied with the win but not with the performance. Both teams didn't defend today and that was good for the public, it was the highest scoring game in final tournament history. Both teams knew before the game that it would decide who would go into the quarter-finals, we conceded an early goal in the first ten seconds, then there were many goals on both sides. We knew before the game that Azerbaijan have very good a flying goalkeeper and in our last training session we trained for that situation. They scored two goals like that, but in the end we survived.

Bojan Pavicevic, Serbia captain
It was catastrophic start. That early goal we conceded decided the character of the match. After we made a few changes, we came from two goals behind. Once I had calmed down a bit we were the better team and deserved to win. After we turned the match in our favour we had some bad moments and they had a few excellent minutes with a flying goalkeeper, but the goal I scored [to make it 8-7] was probably decisive. If some of our players had been at their best, we wouldn't have had any problems winning.

It is historical match for us. It's not only a record, with the most goals in a EURO finals match, but it was absolutely the most thrilling. Some people called us from Serbia after the match and they told us that some of them were on the verge of a heart attack.

Vidan Bojovic, Serbia quadruple goalscorer
I am delighted, what can I say? I have never played in a match like this, definitely not. Although we had some tough moments in the match, everything ended fantastically for me and my team. I am really proud of myself and my team-mates. This was my best ever game for the national team. It was a shocking match. For everyone. But, we showed great character and won, which was our goal. We can continue winning, we can be the sensation of the tournament, because you never know with us.

Alecio, Azerbaijan coach
It was a bad game for us. We were not interested on relying on any other results, we didn't want a draw either. We conceded stupid goals and the players didn't concentrate. I didn't recognise them, they were not my players and I am very sorry.

There are many factors to blame [for not repeating the 2010 semi-final run], for example Serjão didn't do as well as he could, and all of the players were better in Hungary than here. I don't know what other factors it could be. Physical? Psychological? I don't know. But there are many things to blame, not just the players.

They helped us very much, the Croatian crowd. They were great and I am sorry to them that we lost but we gave them a good game, it was very interesting. I thank them for being so great.

Thiago, Azerbaijan defender
It's very hard to find words for a match like this one, especially when you score eight goals and you still manage to lose. There's no explanation for the easy way we conceded nine goals. We lost a golden opportunity to win and keep our campaign alive until Sunday. I think the best word to describe what our team is feeling is a deep sadness.

Tonight maybe we were not humble enough after scoring two early goals. We should have continued to play like we were doing until that moment: waiting for our opponent to make a mistake and score on the counterattack. It was a very sad farewell to the competition.

Felipe, Azerbaijan defender
I still can't believe we scored eight goals and we are out of the tournament. It is just too hard to accept something like that. Everyone in the team is very sad and some of the players cried at the end of the match. We came here with the objective of, at least, reaching the quarter-finals but in futsal sometimes things happen that you're not expecting.

We're out and now we will have to find a way to put all the sadness and frustration behind us in order to focus on the future, namely the [FIFA Futsal] World Cup qualifiers that lie ahead. We aim to reach the first World Cup in the history of Azerbaijan.




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