Futsal/Indoor Soccer World News
March 13, 2002

News and information on Futsal/Indoor Soccer from around the world


NORTH AMERICA

U.S. COACH CALLS IN 20 PLAYERS FOR D.C. TRAINING CAMP
U.S. Futsal National Team Head Coach Keith Tozer called
in 20 players for a training camp in Washington, D.C.
from March 17-22, the team's first action in almost two
years. The training camp will mark the squad's first
preparation for the 2004 Futsal World Championship,
and first action since finishing third at the 2000
CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Costa Rica that
prevented them from advancing to their fourth
consecutive FIFA World Championship. "I am extremely
excited about the upcoming camp in Washington D.C.
and beginning our preparation for our trip to Belgium
and future tournaments," said Tozer. "We have a very
good mix of veteran players along with the addition
of some very exciting new players." The young U.S.
squad features just nine players with previous
international experience. Leading the way for the
Americans are midfielder Ted Eck (14 caps, 10 goals)
and Cleveland Crunch goalkeeper Otto Orf (8 caps and
a perfect 7 0 mark in international play). Forwards
Todd Dusosky (Milwaukee Wave-MISL) Bernie Lilavois
(Far Rockaway, N.Y.) and defender Josh Timbers
(Morganton, N.C.) all have five caps each, while
forward Jeff Betts (Dallas Sidekicks-MISL) has four
international appearances for the U.S.

U.S. Futsal National Team Training Camp Roster
March 17-22, Washington, D.C.

Goalkeepers
Dan Green, 0 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Otto Orf, 8 caps (Cleveland Crunch - MISL)
Alex Rosenberg, 0 caps (World United FC - San Francisco,
Calif.)

Defenders
John Ball, 2 caps (Cleveland Crunch - MISL)
Steve Bernal, 0 caps (Milwaukee Rampage - A-League)
Troy Dusosky, 0 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Chris Morman, 0 caps (Harrisburg Heat - MISL)
Matt Tanzini, 0 caps (Harrisburg Heat - MISL)
Josh Timbers, 5 caps (Morganton, N.C.)

Midfielders
Ted Eck, 10 goals/14 caps (Springfield, Ill.)
Lee Edgerton, 0 caps (Cleveland Crunch - MISL)
Leighton O'Brien, 0 caps (Seattle Sounders - A-League)
Pat White, 3 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)

Forwards
Jeff Betts, 1 goal/4 caps (Dallas Sidekicks - MISL)
Steve Butcher, 0 caps (Cleveland Crunch - MISL)
Todd Dusosky, 1 goal/5 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Dewayne Gilpatrick, 0 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Greg Howes, 0 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Bernie Lilavois, 1 goal/5 caps (Far Rockaway, N.Y.)
Johnny Torres, 1 goal/2 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)

USA HOST FIRST-EVER FUTSAL MATCHES
The D.C. training camp will also feature the U.S. squad
hosting their first-ever international futsal games on
American soil when they face Canada on Mar. 20, at UMBC
in Baltimore, Md. at 6 p.m. ET, and then take on Mexico
on Mar. 21, at American University in Washington, D.C.
at 7 p.m. ET. It is the first international matches for
the Americans since the 2000 CONCACAF Championship in
Costa Rica. "This (D.C.) camp will conclude with our
first ever international matches in the U.S., so it will
be important in seeing where we are right now in our
preparation (for 2004 FIFA World Championship)," said
Head Coach Keith Tozer. The Americans are no strangers
to Mexico after meeting twice during the 2000 CONCACAF
Tournament. The U.S. won both encounters by posting a
3-2 win in the first game on July 25, 2000 then earned a
5-1 victory in the second match four days later (July 29).
Prior to the match-up against Mexico, the USA will open
the home stand against Canada in their first international
meeting.

MEXICO TO MEET CANADA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
After their match-up against the USA on Mar. 21, Mexico's
Futsal National Team will meet Canada in an international
friendly two days later (Mar. 23) at American University in Washington, D.C.
at 8 p.m. ET. Mexico's last international
match came at the Copa Guatemala de Futsal as they dropped
a 5-3 decision in the finals to the host Guatemala on Oct.
28, 2001, while Canada is coming off a 5-2 victory over
El Salvador in an international friendly played in Montréal
on Dec. 1, of last year.

EUROPE

ITALY TO STAGE 2002 MUNDIALITO
Reggio Calabria, Italy will stage a 2002 Mundialito for
Futsal National Teams that will run from Mar. 19-25.
The eight-team tournament will feature two groups of four
with all the games to be held at the Palapentimele Hall
in Reggio Calabria. Group A will feature the host Italy
along with Brazil, Belgium and Slovenia, while Group B is
composed of Argentina, Czech Republic, Iran and Russia.

2002 Mundialito - Reggio Calabria, Italy
Groups and Schedule - Local Time Kickoff

Group A
Italy
Brazil
Belgium
Slovenia

Group B
Argentina
Czech Republic
Iran
Russia

Mar. 19
Russia vs. Czech Republic 14:00
Argentina vs. Iran 16:00
Italy vs. Belgium 18:00
Brazil vs. Slovenia 20:00

Mar. 20
Iran vs. Czech Republic 14:00
Belgium vs. Slovenia 16:00
Italy vs. Brazil 18:00
Argentina vs. Russia 20:00

Mar. 22
Brazil vs. Belgium 14:00
Czech Republic vs. Argentina 16:00
Russia vs. Iran 18:00
Italy vs. Slovenia 20:00

Mar. 23
Semifinals
Winner of Group A vs. Runner-up of Group B 17:00
Winner of Group B vs. Runner-up of Group A 19:00

Mar. 24
Placement Matches
Seventh/Eight Place - Fourth place of Groups A & B 17:00
Fifth/Sixth Place - Third place of Groups A & B 19:00

Mar. 25
Third Place Match - Semifinal Losers 16:30 Championship
- Semifinal Winners 18:45


INTERNATIONAL FUTSAL TOURNEY TO BE HELD IN SPAIN
An official announcement will be made on Mar. 18, at the
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, that an international tournament
of Fútbol Sala (Futsal) will be held as part of the
"Centenario del Real Madrid" which will run from Mar.
29-31. The four-team competition will be held at the
Polideportivo Parque Corredor de Torrejón de Ardoz in
Madrid. Spain will square off against Japan in the
opener on Mar. 29, while Brazil meets Egypt in the
second match the following day (Mar. 30). The third-place
match along with the final game will be held on Mar. 31.

HOLLAND TO PLAY TWO-GAME SERIES AGAINST HUNGARY
Holland's Futsal National Team will host Hungary in a
two-game international friendly series from Mar. 19-20.
Hungary will meet Holland in Zwaag in the first game on
Mar. 19, and then both squads will square off again the
following day (Mar. 20) in Almere.

POLAND TRAVELS TO HUNGARY FOR INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY IN APRIL
Poland's Futsal National Team will travel to Eger, Hungary
to face the host in an international friendly on April 10.
The last time these two teams met was in Jaworzno, Poland
in a two-game series from Oct. 4-5, 2000, in which both
games ended in draws (5-5, 4-4).

GENK CUP TO TAKE PLACE IN BELGIUM
The 2002 Ford Genk Cup will be held in Genk, Belgium from
May 8-11. The annual futsal tournament sanctioned by FIFA
and Belgium's Football Association will feature 24 invited
teams from around the world. The invitation criteria is
done by the following process: 1) Top eight teams from
the Belgium Futsal League; 2) Automatic bid for the host
club - Zvk Ford Genk; 3) Top team from each of the Futsal
Leagues in Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain; 4) 11 Wildcards
- Futsal Clubs or National Teams. The first round will
feature eight groups of three. Similar to the 2001 Singapore
Tiger 5's International Tournament, the Genk Cup will have
three award winners. The first-place group winners will
advance to the "Cup Quarterfinals," while the eight-group
runners-up will move onto the "Plate Quarterfinals." The
third-place group finishers will compete in the "Bowl
Quarterfinals." The quarterfinal winners will face off
in each competition's semifinals, with the surviving teams
moving onto their respective "Cup, Plate or Bowl" Finals.



NOTE: This edition of "Futsal/Indoor Soccer World News"
will be the final edition of March. Beginning in April,
the "Futsal/Indoor Soccer World News" will be released
on the first Wednesday of every month.


Futsal is a sport that is a derivative of soccer and
played with five-man teams on a basketball style court,
with no walls and a low bouncing ball, unlike the
traditional sport of U.S. indoor soccer played with
six-man squads and walls. Great soccer superstars such
as Pele, Zico, Ronaldo and Diego Maradona grew up playing
the game and credit Futsal with developing their skills.
FUTSAL® is a registered trademark of the United States
Futsal Federation.