Brawn versus Brain

The superb facilities at the English Institute of Sport at Bath University, hosted the second Futsal International friendly between England and Belgium.

With a rather sullen atmosphere and only a handful of spectators the national anthems reverberated around the arena. However, right from the kick-off it was clear that this time England had come to compete. There seemed to be a real belief amongst the players. Wood showed tenacity and the Belgians were contained well for long periods.

It was only a piece of sublime skill that enabled Bachar to open the score line after eight minutes. Papanicolaou soon added another, however, Canham, scoring the first goal for Team England in the series brought respectability to a side that was now feeling confident.

It was to be short lived and the Belgian coach, having rested many of the more experienced players decided enough was enough and with only three and half minutes remaining of the first half made some changes. It is an intriguing truism how cream always raises to the top, and within three minutes Belgium were 6:1 ahead.

Graham Smith, guardian of English pride and goalmouth, was reinstated after the break and with that, confidence restored. Notwithstanding, the team seems to lack a general Futsal know-how, relying on a strategy that is Futsal deficient and merely consists of defensive formations. Shouts from the bench of ?get into space? betray an underlying absence of the tactical beauty of the game, without which progress will be seriously hindered.

Smith governing from the rear gave his side a new self-awareness and for 15 minutes England played well defensively, with Canham adding to both his and England?s tally.

The moment of the match came in the seventeenth minute when that man Bachar, wearing number 4, fired in a long range free kick which left both teams speechless. Clumsy challenges from both Perkins and Callen, obviously not suited to the intrinsic physicality and nature of Futsal, enabled the Belgians to take advantage with the dead ball.

The resulting 10:3 was a fair reflection of the difference between these sides and indicates once again that Futsal requires a set of skills rather different to those of its elder sister, and that brain is victor over brawn.

by Adrian Wilson