Courtesy UEFA.comRussia qualify on final dayFriday, 30 January 2004 Reigning Futsal world champions Russia bounced back from their shock failure to qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Championship finals in November 2004 by winning into next year's UEFA European Futsal Championship in the Czech Republic.
Tough challengeRussia faced a tough Group 5 challenge from hosts Serbia and Montenegro in Zrejanin, and only a 5-2 victory when the two teams met on the final day too the global title-holders into the continental finals.
Comfortable winsThe home nation were on free-scoring form from the start, opening by beating Georgia 9-2, Miloš Mišcevic claiming a hat-trick. Russia were also comfortable winners, Azerbaijan seen off 5-0. Viatcheslav Moskalenko and Konstantin Maevski each scored twice.
Azerbaijan edged outThose two players, and six others, were among the Russia scorers the next day as Georgia lost 11-2. Pavel Tchistopolov, Vladislav Chtchoutchko and Denis Abyshev eached claimed two. Serbia and Montenegro were pushed all the way by Azerbaijan, though. Mišcevic put the hosts up in the second minute but Namig Mammadkarimov immediately levelled. However, Mišcevic's tenth-minute goal proved to be the winner, but his team were to be denied in the final game.
