Courtesy: UEFA.com


Spain's Torras takes Golden Boot lead

Torras is the five-goal leader of the race for the adidas Golden Boot after his hat-trick in Spain's 8-3 quarter-final defeat of Romania, overtaking Vidan Bojoviæ of eliminated Serbia.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

by Paul Saffer from Zagreb

Spain's Torras leads the race for the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 adidas Golden Boot following the quarter-finals thanks to his hat-trick against Romania.

The 31-year-old, aiming to make it four titles in four EURO finals, already had two goals and was perhaps the player of the group stage before his treble to secure an 8-3 victory over the Romanians in Zagreb on Monday. Those strikes took his career finals tally to 11, joint fifth in the all-time standings, and the No4 will look to add more against Italy in Thursday's semi-final in the Croatian capital.

Torras is one goal ahead of Serbia's Vidan Bojovic, who dropped into the Silver Boot place after being unable to increase his haul of four – all scored in the 9-8 group win against Azerbaijan – as his team were eliminated 2-1 by Russia. Konstantin Maevski did not score or make a goal in that match for the victors, who now meet Croatia, but is in the Bronze Boot position having struck three and got two assists in the group stage.

Aleksandr Fukin's equaliser for Russia against Serbia in Split makes him one of seven players on three goals and no assists. Four of those remain in the competition with two games each in prospect, as the semi-final losers go into a third-place play-off before the final on Saturday.

Leaders
1: Torras (Spain) 5 goals, 1 assist
2: Vidan Bojovic* (Serbia) 4 goals, 1 assist
3: Konstantin Maevski (Russia) 3 goals, 2 assists

Players left in competition with 3 goals, 0 assists from 3 games:
Aicardo (Spain), Aleksandr Fukin (Russia), Dario Marinovic (Croatia), Rafael Usín (Spain, 1 yellow card)

*team eliminated

-> Full statistics

Criteria
1) Higher number of assists:
• Player delivering the intentional pass, cross, header or shot leading to a goal
• Player shooting and ball rebounding from woodwork, goalkeeper or defender and entering the goal
• Player passing, shooting or crossing and leading to an own goal
• Only one assist per goal can be awarded
• No assist for player winning a penalty or free-kick
2) Higher ratio of converted double (ten-metre) penalties
3) Higher ratio of converted (six-metre) penalties
4) Higher number of goals scored in fewer matches
5) Fair play record (red, yellow cards)

Past final tournament top scorers
2010: Saad Assis (Italy), Biro Jade (Azerbaijan), Javi Rodríguez (Spain), Joel Queirós (Portugal) 5
2007: Cirilo (Russia), Daniel (Spain), Predrag Rajiæ (Serbia) 5
2005: Nando Grana (Italy) 6
2003: Serhiy Koridze (Ukraine) 7
2001: Serhiy Koridze (Ukraine) 7
1999: Konstantin Eremenko (Russia) 11
1996: Konstantin Eremenko (Russia) 8



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Croatia seek more 'great success' against Russia

Wednesday 8 February 2012

In their first semi-final, hosts Croatia face former winners Russia in front of a likely record crowd – a tie coach Mato Stankovic likens to "Real Madrid playing Dinamo Zagreb".

by Wayne Harrison, Elvir Islamovic & Dmitri Mamykin from Zagreb

Croatia coach Mato Stankovic has described his team's UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 semi-final against Russia as being "like Real Madrid playing Dinamo Zagreb" as he readies the hosts for the biggest match in their history following the switch from Split.

Having welcomed the Spanish Liga leaders to Zagreb in September – Madrid won 1-0 at the Stadion Maksimir on UEFA Champions League matchday one – the people of the Croatian capital are hoping for a different outcome when their futsal players take on one of the world's premier nations.

Though he is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his charges at the Arena Zagreb in front of what could be the first 10,000-plus crowd in the tournament's history, Stankovic is heartened by Croatia's last meeting with the 1999 European champions and Group C winners.

It was only last month in a Novigrad friendly that Croatia drew 1-1 with Sergei Skorovich's men, a performance Stankovic ranks as "the best match since I took charge" in August 2010. "Russia are always in the world's top bracket," he said. "Their style of play is excellent. Their match against Serbia [2-1 in the quarter-finals on Tuesday] didn't show their real strength."

The hosts' feat in reaching the knockout stage for the first time is front-page news in Croatia, something Stankovic and his players are taking time to get their heads around. "We are not used to such media focus, but I'm glad it has come to this and that we have achieved it as a result of our great success. We have had some fantastic results – we are among the four best teams in Europe."

Stankovic will make a late fitness check on Dario Marinovic – Croatia's three-goal leading scorer at the finals – who felt pain in his back early in Monday's penalty shoot-out triumph over Ukraine in the last eight. "It's not good," said Marinovic. "If the match was today [Wednesday] I wouldn't play, but with the help of the physio I will do my best to be ready."

Skorovich, meanwhile, singled out goalkeeper Ivo Jukic, who saved three spot kicks against Ukraine in Split, and Jakov Grcic for special praise, but believes Group A winners Croatia's "biggest strength is their team spirit". The Russia coach added: "I know Mato Stankovic very well and he has been able to build a great team around himself. The players are ready to fight for their country.

"I am looking forward to the semi-final because I have no doubt the arena will be packed with 15,000 fans. We are not afraid because we have enough experience of playing in such conditions and I hope the spectators will really enjoy the futsal."



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Spain-Italy rivalry set for new chapter

Spain and Italy's futsal rivalry is renewed in Thursday's second semi-final and Azzurri captain Marcio Forte is "convinced that our path doesn't end" against the defending champions.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

by Paul Saffer, Francesco Corda & Gonzalo Aguado from Zagreb

At UEFA Futsal EURO 2010 something almost unique occurred: Spain did not play Italy. That is put right this time around in Thursday's second semi-final in Zagreb.

Italy's quarter-final exit two years ago meant they did not face their great rivals in a major championship for the first time since 2001. Spain had defeated the Azzurri to win both EURO 2007 and the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Cup and prevailed in a dramatic 2008 global semi-final; by contrast Italy were the last team to beat La Furia Roja competitively over 40 minutes, in the EURO 2005 group stage. Two years previously they were also the most recent side to deny them the continental title with a last-four victory on their way to a home triumph.

While Group B winners Spain have had a flawless run to this stage, never scoring less than four, Italy were held by Russia before showing their quality in the 3-1 quarter-final success against Portugal. Captain Marcio Forte, who dedicated Tuesday's win to ill former ASD Montesilvano C/5 team-mate Alexandre Ghiotti, told UEFA.com: "I am absolutely convinced that our path doesn't end here – I've got the final in mind and want to try to qualify.

"Maybe few people believe in us. I'm sorry for them but the squad believes and I'm sure we will have a great performance against Spain. For sure, we will have half of the chances we had against Portugal, therefore we have to take advantage of the best ones."

Such efficiency will be needed by the Group C runners-up as Spain remain unbeaten over 40 minutes since José Venancio López became coach in 2007. He has huge respect for the Azzurri, however. "Against Portugal, Italy were far superior and they deserved to go through," he said.

"The great thing about Italy, apart from their quality, is their mentality. They really know how to compete well and they don’t have to play an exceptional game in order to win – that’s the most dangerous thing about them."

Spanish stalwart Kike sat out the second half against Ukraine in the group stage but will be fit on Thursday, with only Álvaro remaining sidelined with a calf injury. "We have to stay faithful to our style and do what we know best," Venancio López added. "We must maintain that style even though we are facing a semi-final against Italy."



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Jarni salutes Croatia's futsal 'miracle'

"We can consider this as a miracle," tournament ambassador Robert Jarni told UEFA.com about Croatia's run to the semi-finals and he is dreaming of another one today against Russia.

Thursday 9 February 2012

by Elvir Islamovic & Paul Saffer from Zagreb

Tonight Croatia play their first UEFA European Futsal Championship semi-final against Russia and few among the likely plus-10,000 crowd – a tournament first – will be cheering on the hosts more than Robert Jarni.

The 1998 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist is the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 tournament ambassador, an appropriate choice as Jarni went on to play the small-sided sport for Croatia after retiring from football. On Monday he was the co-commentator on national television station HRT 2 for Croatia's quarter-final with Ukraine in Split, and as the game went on Jarni's audible excitement grew, culminating with him rushing from his position to celebrate with the team after their penalty shoot-out victory.

"It was so thrilling," Jarni told UEFA.com. "I couldn't control my emotions. There were moments when I completely forgot I was the commentator on TV, I was reacting and screaming, I was gripped by the the emotions. I was feeling in the commentary position like I was on the pitch, playing with our guys. But, you know, it's even more difficult to be up there and watching than to be down there and playing."

Croatia had not contested a major championship since 2001 before this event and had never made it past the group stage. "We can consider this as a miracle," the former HNK Hajduk Split, Real Betis Balompié and Real Madrid CF left-back said. "For me, just getting to the quarter-finals was a fantastic result and we have gone a step further. We are among the best teams in Europe and that's brilliant. In recent times we have not had great results in futsal, but now great success is coming and it's a question how much we can learn from this."

However, the side coached by Mato Stankovic – under whom Jarni played for perennial national futsal champions MNK Split – now face former continental champions and a true world force in Russia. "The Croatia players will try to create another miracle, they will give their best to try to reach the final," the 43-year-old said. "But it will be so difficult, as Russia are probably the second strongest team in Europe and they have extremely high-quality players. But, we have achieved our goal, we actually did much more than was expected from us, so we go into the match without pressure."

Jarni, who says of the tournament that "everything is perfect", believes futsal is here to stay as a major sport in Croatia. "People were sceptical about futsal at first," he said. "But after the first games they were amazed, they were delighted about what they saw. They couldn't believe that futsal can be so attractive and great to watch. I heard that thousands of people also watched the matches in Zagreb, although Croatia were playing in Split. That was the best promotion that futsal can have right now."




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