Courtesy: UEFA.com


Italy and Russia play for Group C spoils

Russia require a draw against Italy in Split on Sunday to finish top of Group C ahead of their already-qualified opponents and ensure they will not have to switch to Zagreb for their quarter-final.

Saturday 4 February 2012

by Dmitrijs Slotin, Francesco Corda and Wayne Harrison from Split

Already assured of their quarter-final places, Italy and Russia meet on Sunday for the first time in over three years to determine who will finish top of UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 Group C.

While the Azzurri began the section with a 3-1 defeat of an emerging Turkey side making their debut at this level, Sergei Skorovich's team cruised to a 5-0 triumph over the same opposition on Friday. The 1999 winners' margin of victory means a draw will ensure Russia remain in Split for a quarter-final against Portugal or Serbia on Tuesday, with 2003 champions Italy uprooting to Zagreb.

A Said Assis goal 14 seconds from time secured Italy a 2-1 success in the teams' last encounter − the third-place play-off at the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup − 11 months after Russia had also been defeated in the EURO semi-finals in Portugal. Two years earlier, the Azzurri had succumbed 4-2 in the last four of the continental finals in the Czech Republic.

Unsurprisingly, Konstantin Maevski describes Italy as "big rivals". "It will be an exciting game and it is difficult to predict the winner," the PFC CSKA Moksva man, who played in those three matches, told UEFA.com.

Maevski, who registered a hat-trick in his side's opening win, added: "It seemed Italy were a bit too cautious against Turkey, a bit reluctant to go forward and not give away any breaks. That was why they had more shots on goal, to minimise the risk, while we passed the ball around more."

Having fallen behind to Turkey, Italy were dug out of a hole by two goals from Luca Ippoliti, before Gabriel Lima sealed the points late on. With Roberto Menichelli's charges having done all the pressing in that match, Ippoliti knows a different approach is required on Sunday.

"We will need to pay more attention both on a mental and physical level because they run a lot and are a very organised and very strong team," said the 32-year-old, part of the squad which lifted the European title in 2003. "We'll need will and concentration − for us it's a final."

Menichelli is also preparing for a "different" test. "I don't think Russia are a team that will station themselves within ten metres of their goal," he said. "It will be a more open game; maybe this will also suit our style of play."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Serbia want more 'great things' against Portugal

Serbia captain Bojan Pavicevic is eyeing another "first-class surprise" against Portugal on Sunday as the two confirmed Group D qualifiers play for top spot and the right to remain in Zagreb.

Saturday 4 February 2012

by Paul Saffer & Elvir Islamovic from Zagreb

When they trailed for much of their opening UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 Group D game against Azerbaijan, Serbia feared they would go into Sunday's encounter with Portugal requiring victory; after coming back to win 9-8 on Friday, both opponents in Zagreb are already assured of progress.

Portugal won 4-1 in their 2010 semi-final rematch with Azerbaijan, who are now out following the extraordinary fixture against Serbia. Captain Bojan Pavicevic, whose goal with less than four minutes left gave Serbia a lead they never relinquished, is now turning his attention to avenging a 5-1 2010 quarter-final loss to Portugal, knowing victory to clinch top spot in the pool would bring a useful advantage.

"The [Azerbaijan] match was the final for us," Pavicevic told UEFA.com. "It was our crucial match. We won it and now we can play against Portugal without too much pressure. Yes, they are the favourites, but we showed we can cause a surprise and we will play without any pressure. We have pulled off a few first-class surprises in recent times, for example against Spain and Russia, so we think we are capable of doing it against Portugal, too.

"Possibly, we will change our tactics for the match but in any case we will do our best. We already have achieved a great success, but it would be brilliant to be first in the group and avoid travelling to Split. We are one of the youngest teams and it's really nice to see how things are going after changes of generations in the national team. We are doing great things."

Russia or Italy await these teams in the last eight, but the focus remains on Sunday's game for Portugal coach Jorge Braz. "We still have a major goal ahead of us and that is to beat Serbia," he said. "We are fully focused on coming away from that game with a win. It is a very important game as we want to finish top of our group and consolidate our quality as a team.

"Serbia have completely different characteristics when compared with Azerbaijan. They often go for individual plays and they are physically very strong, something that we will need to repel with our organisation. That is the most important thing: to make sure we maintain our organisation like we did against Azerbaijan."




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