Courtesy: www.uefa.com

PORTUGAL PROGRESS WITH REPEAT

Portugal cruised into the finals of the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship by putting seven goals past Poland for the second time in a year.

Repeat result
After a 7-2 victory last in Chorzow last week, the Portuguese achieved a repeat result in Lisbon for a 14-4 aggregate victory. Arnaldo led the way with a hat-trick for the home side.

Arnaldo opener
Arnaldo started the ball rolling with a goal in the second minute, although the visitors stunned those in the Pavilhão do Restelo by battling back to take a 2-1 lead on the night. First, Andrzej Szlapa found the net in the sixth minute before Krzysztof Jasinski added a second two minutes later.

Normal service resumed
However, normal service was resumed in the 14th minute when André equalised from the penalty spot. In front of 5,000 fans, the Portuguese then ran riot in the second half with Arnaldo completing his treble and further goals from Gonçalo, Joel Queirós and André again.


CZECHS QUALIFY AFTER TOUGH CONTEST

The Czech Republic have become the first European nation to qualify for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship.

Exciting side
A 4-4 draw against plucky Bosnia-Herzegovina in Brno today ensured an 11-9 aggregate success in the play-off and a place at the finals next year in Chinese Taipei. The Czechs are one of the most exciting sides in European Futsal having finished third at the UEFA European Futsal Championship earlier this year.

Tremendous display
After going down 7-5 at home last week, the Bosnia-Herzegovnians's chances of progressing had seemed to have slipped, especially as they were without key player Ramiz Ramic because of suspension. However, they put on a tremendous display to give the Czechs a run for their money.

Tight contest
Indeed the tie was all-square after just five minutes thanks to goals from Ferik Dizdarevic and Alen Lalic. However, the hosts battled back through efforts from Roman Mareš and Daniel Rajnoch to have a two-goal advantage at half-time. Muamer Orucevic cut the aggregate gap again two minutes after the interval but a minute later, Mareš found the net again. Rajnoch added a fourth for the Czechs in the 36th minute but Dalibor Duvnjak found an equaliser on the night a minute before time.

'Strong team'
Czech coach Michal Stríz said: "I didn´t expect such a tough game, as the visitors were not able to play Ramic, who was involved in all their goals in the first game. But they proved to be very strong team even without him. We were pretty nervous and the chance to play in Chinese Taipei was like a boulder in front of us however, we managed to roll it away."


AZZURRI BREEZE INTO FINALS

European champions Italy have comfortably qualified for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship after a 7-0 win against Hungary in Montesilvano.

Debut goal
The victory gave the Azzurri an 11-0 aggregate success and a place at the finals in Chinese Taipei next year. After a 4-0 win in Budapest last week, Alessandro Nuccorini's team scored just one goal during a balanced first half. It was a notable strike though, with Assad Fabiano celebrating his debut with a goal in the 13th minute.

Coach delighted
It was a completely different story after the break with Italy adding six more goals through Carlo Montovanelli, Fernando Grana, Edgar Bertoni, Fabiano, Daniel De Nichile and Adriano Foglia. Nuccorini said: "I want to congratulate Hungary because they made our life difficult in the first half of both matches. I'm really happy for Fabiano. He can be an important player for us in the future."

High hopes
The coach, who led the team to the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship earlier this year, added: "In the World Cup we don't want just to qualify from the first group stage. This team has no limits." Hungary coach Mihaly Kozma said: "I wish Italy all the best in the World Cup. My players gave their best but we could not do much more than this against such a strong team."


KORIDZE HELPS UKRAINE TO VICTORY

Ukraine are looking forward to the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship after seeing off the challenge of Belarus in their play-off tie.

Good support
The 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship runners-up recorded a 3-2 win against Belarus at a packed Druzhba Sports Palace in Donetsk tonight, to clinch a 7-2 aggregate success. The home side, who were missing some key players to suspension and injury, took their time to get going but their place in the finals was never really in doubt.

Koridze on target
The match began at a slow tempo but the home crowd went wild in the 14th minute when the prolific striker Serhiy Koridze neatly finished after superbly controlling a tricky pass from Fedir Pylypiv. Two minutes later, the lead was extended when Maxym Pavlenko surged clear after winning possession and fired into the net. A minute before the interval, Serhiy Sytin and Vitaliy Brunko combined to provide Pylypiv with his side's third.

Popov brilliance
The Belarussians showed plenty of spirit in the second period and had a number of excellent chances that tested the in-form Ukraine goalkeeper Olexiy Popov. The vistors managed to pull two goals back though, through Vitali Bichankou and Sergei Kouznetsov.

Mixed reaction
Turning his thoughts to the finals in Chinese Taipei, Ukraine coach Gennady Lysenchuk said: "We fulfilled our task and I am pleased with that. The score is not important today. Belarus are a very good team and their [qualifying round] win over the Netherlands proved that." His opposite number Valeriy Dosko praised the victors. "I am quite sure Ukraine will perform well in the finals. We started well and had some good chances to take the lead but Popov played a great game."


SPAIN MARCH ON TO CHINESE TAIPEI

Reigning champions Spain made sure of the chance to defend their crown by securing a spot at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship in Chinese Taipei.

More glory wanted
Javier Lozano's men achieved a 4-1 victory against Slovenia at the Pabellón Multiuso in Cáceres, matching the first-leg result last week. The Spanish will now lead the European charge at the finals, when they will hope to emulate the 2-1 final success against Brazil in 2000.

Bright start
The home side began well with Kike blasting wide twice within seconds of the kick-off. Slovenia were concentrating their attacks down the left flank with Primoz Zorc posing the most problems for the home side. Denis Ibrisimovic fired a free-kick against the woodwork on but Spain took the lead through Andreu in the eighth minute.

Own goal
Spain doubled their lead in the 12th minute when winger Javi Limones converted at the second attempt during a frantic goalmouth scramble. The locals were given a comfortable cushion just seconds later when the ball rebounded off Nenad Kurtic and into his own net to make it 3-0.

Victory complete
Slovenia piled on the pressure at the start of the second half as Spain took their foot off the pedal. Senudin Dzafic rifled a low drive inside the post to make it 3-1 and was then unlucky to see a later effort bounce back off the post. However, Spain sealed the contest with Andreu tapping for his second eight minutes from time after a Julio shot was well saved by Marko Pungartnik.