Courtesy: FIFA.com


Javi Rodríguez: "I'd love to win it again"
(FIFA.com) 02 Nov 2004

The FIFA Futsal World Championship Guatemala 2000 will always be special for Javier Rodríguez. For it was there in the dying seconds of the Final that the Spanish player struck to hand his side victory and take the title that Brazil had seemed to own.
Although, undoubtedly it will be a tough act to follow, Rodríguez tells FIFA.com that he is just as optimistic about this month's championship in Chinese Taipei, and that nothing would please him more than to scale those dizzy heights once again.

As one of the team's pivotal wingers and elder statesmen, Rodríguez knows that he will be expected to guide the newcomers in the squad after the retirement of several long-serving players. The challenge, of course, is to seamlessly incorporate the new generation without adversely affecting results. The group of players that veteran coach Javier Lozano has assembled strikes a fine balance between youth and experience, a recipe he is hoping will propel them to a second successive title.

Guatemala the inspiration, Taipei the focus

"The final in Guatemala will always stay with me. The whole experience was wonderful, as it was our first World Championship. Brazil had dominated the sport since its inception, so I think it was no harm to bring them down a peg or two. That said, however, we can't live on the glories of the past," Rodríguez remarks when asked about the showdown with Brazil four years ago.

Despite the passing years and receding hairline, the 30-year-old's desire to continue making history remains undiminished. Aware that Chinese Taipei 2004 will be his last World Championship, the player cannot suppress a yearning and admits: "I'd love to do it again, of course."

The Spanish international, who has scored 52 times in his 80 appearances, is not resting on his laurels and is already preparing to face rivals of the highest calibre in Asia. "There are some very dangerous opponents waiting. Teams like Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Italy are capable of causing anyone problems," he says.

Before Spain can start plotting the downfall of the other tournament heavyweights, they first have to contend with their Group A rivals Egypt, Ukraine and, of course, the hosts themselves Chinese Taipei. "I think we are better than our group rivals, but you can't discount Ukraine, who were runners-up this year in Europe, or Egypt, who are always capable of springing a surprise."

Despite the challenges ahead, Rodríguez is confident of his team's chances. "As reigning World Champions, Spain just need to go out there and enjoy the experience," he says, while dismissing suggestions that the mantle of title holders meant added pressure. " On the contrary. We'll be approaching the Championship with the same humility we showed in Guatemala. Our objective is to enjoy ourselves and perform well. Other than that you've just got to wait and see." However, when pressed on the question of eventual winners, Rodríguez is a little more specific: I think the next World Champions will come from the quintet of Brazil, Portugal, Italy, Argentina and Spain."

He does accept, however, that opposing sides will be even more fired up than usual when they meet Javier Lozano's men. "We know that other sides will be trying even harder against us. Teams always raise their game and go the extra mile against the reigning champions. That's why we're going to have to be more focused than ever before to ensure we're not caught on the hop."

One of the keys to success for Spain is the group of players that make up the current side. The friendship and camaraderie that exists between the players and coaching staff is a big plus in their quest to retain the title. "The truth is that during the last World Championship and the intervening four years the atmosphere within the squad has been extraordinary. The guys we have are great, both on and off the pitch, and that becomes evident whenever we play," says the winger.

On October 26, Spain played a friendly against Poland as part of their build up to Chinese Taipei. Any doubts about whether or not the side were ready for the task ahead were banished after a blistering second half saw the Iberians romp home 6-2. Rodríguez, currently second in Spain's all-time leading scoring charts, showed that his instinct in front of goal is as sharp as ever by levelling the tie at 2-2 before his countrymen pressed home their advantage.

Problems assembling the squad

However, the build-up to Chinese Taipei has not been without its problems for Javier Lozano. A series of misfortunes have deprived the coach of key players and have forced him to modify the squad on numerous occasions. The latest setback affected the goalkeeper Cristain who tore a cruciate ligament as his side warmed up for the Polish game. The naturalized Brazilian Daniel has also been ruled out because of an injury picked up in a recent league match.

But the saddest news of all to hit the tightly-knit squad was the confirmation last month that their goalkeeper Sergio López Andujar would have to retire from competition after a routine pre-tournament check-up showed an aortic dilation in his heart. Doctors at the Royal Spanish Football Federation advised him against playing on given the high probability of receiving blows to the chest.