TEAM USSR REACH NATIONAL FINALS

North London's representative at the FA National Futsal finals will be Team USSR.

The five-a-side outfit qualified for the tournament after going unbeaten to win the North London regional league.

Team USSR were impressive during the competition, which attracted teams from across the region. Many of their players have experience of playing Futsal abroad and their knowledge proved invaluable.

Olexsandr Sally, coach of Team USSR, will be looking for his side to claim national glory at the finals and win a place in Europe.

He said: "Futsal is a passion, not just a game. Whilst there is no doubt we have some talented individuals, our strengths lie in the belief we have as a team. We play for each other and we play to win.

"The National Finals in Sheffield will give us a new stage on which to participate. We hope we can live up to expectations."

The Futsal finals are being staged at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport on June 18-20, with the winner representing England in the 2005 UEFA Futsal Cup.

Team USSR are one of 16 teams to qualify for the finals following the completion of regional tournaments across the country.

Other qualifiers are from Birmingham, Bath, the Wirral, Suffolk, Derby, Sheffield, Pendle, Hull, Manchester, Gloucestershire, Grimsby, Oxford and Cumbria.

Further article from Futsal England

With the culmination of possibly one of the strongest regional qualifiers, the Futsal England North London league will be sending Team USSR as their representatives.

And what a team they are ….!

Unbeaten for the duration of the competition and with a positive goal difference of 28 they look like the team to beat. Many of the players have experience of Futsal abroad at school level and are delighted to be back playing the sport they love.

‘…futsal is a passion, not just a game…’ commented Olexsandr Sally the team coach and manager. ‘Whilst there is no doubt we have some talented individuals, our strengths lie in the belief we have as a team. We play for each other….and obviously to win !!’ ‘The National Finals in Sheffield will give us a new stage on which to participate. We hope we can live up to expectations………’

The key to Team USSR is their strength in depth, with the whole squad including the keeper, having the ability to play in any role. Futsal unlike the eleven a side game does not require players to have a fixed specialism. Constant rotation and shifting of formation is the driving force in a successful squad. Two-on- one tap-ins is where the majority of goals are scored and Team USSR have mastered this. They will be a formidable force at the finals.