Impressive work done by the UEFA futsal staff, analyzing the five Europeans "Queens" taking part in Chinese Taipei World Futsal Championship.

Courtesy: UEFA


Portuguese respectful but ready

Saturday, 13 November 2004

Portugal have high hopes for the forthcoming FIFA Futsal World Championship but are rightfully respectful of their first three opponents.

Improved quality

For all his own team's progression in recent years including qualification for this event and the 2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship finals in February, coach Orlando Duarte is well aware of the threat posed by Group D rivals Iran, Argentina and Cuba. Duarte said: "We have improved our quality but other countries have made many improvements as well. We are in the so-called 'group of death'."

Top opponents

In particular, it is the Iranians, the champions of Asia, who are causing most concern, especially having beaten Brazil and drawn with Ukraine in recent times. Duarte added: "Iran have a really strong team and they have a world-class player in Vahid Shamsaee." Of South American champions Argentina, he added "they defend very well and are very strong", while Cuba "are not easy opponents".

No excuses

Yet Duarte is upbeat about his side's chances, even though other nations have also had more time to prepare. He said: "I'd be more concerned if I were coach of the other teams. We have just started our work. It is not the ideal period to prepare for a World Championship but this won't be used as an excuse for any unsuccessful result. We will do our best. It will take some time to reach the ideal shape for our team, but our new players have given a good response."

Arnaldo blow

Duarte was forced to think again when naming his 14-man squad after losing Arnaldo to a serious knee injury having already earmarked him for a place in Chinese Taipei. Arnaldo will be out of action for six months but the injury has not dented Portugal's ambition.

Training stepped up

"We want to impress in the World Cup but the main goal is to qualify to the second stage of the competition", said Duarte. "We have a more mature team now, in great shape, with many young talents and they are now training for nine or ten hours per week instead of only three or four as in the past."

Good send-off

After their last training sessions in Rio Maior, Portugal left for their pre-tournament camp in Macau where they were to spend a week before heading on to Chinese Taipei. A week before departing the team were invited to the Portuguese parliament to be welcomed by its chairman Mota Amaral and Gilberto Madaíl, the head of the Portuguese Football Federation. The invitation, offered by the country's president was designed to offer full encouragement to the team before the finals.

Portugal squad

João Benedito, Sandro, Silvio, Ivan, Majó, Luís Silva, Leo, Marcelinho, Gonçalo, Rogerio Santos, Israel, Joel Queirós, André, Zézito.



Perfect blend suits Ukrainians

Saturday, 13 November 2004

Ukraine have a fine reputation at the FIFA Futsal World Championship having reached the last four of the 1996 edition, although they then missed out on the finals four years ago.

Brazilian draw

Eight years ago, Ukraine were the only one of the finalists in Spain who did not lose to the all-conquering Brazil drawing 2-2 to the eventual winners in the last eight. Gennadiy Lysenchuk is still in charge of the side and since then has twice led Ukraine to runners-up spot in the UEFA European Futsal Championship finals.

Student success

Lysenchuk is understandably expecting good things from his side in Chinese Taipei, and has high hopes for his blend of youth and experience. He said: "In choosing our potential squad, we have looked at many young players, including those who won gold at the student world championships." That triumph at last month’s 9th World University Futsal Championship 2004 in Spain showed there is a strong wave of Ukrainian talent coming through.

Lots to learn

The coach is well aware that some of his players may be playing on the biggest stage of all for the last time. "Gradually we are trying to renovate the team however, we included some experienced players that have competing at this level in the past. They are getting older so this tournament will probably be the last one for them. This will be an advantage for us as they'll do all their best to surprise the world in their last appearance. At the same time our young players will learn a lot from them."

Weather poser

They will have to learn fast as Ukraine have been paired with reigning world champions Spain in Group A, along with the hosts Chinese Taipei and Egypt. Acclimatisation will be important with the muggy conditions likely to favour all three of their hosts. Ukraine have taken this into account although have been hampered by the fact the Ukrainian league would continue until a week before the finals.

Good start needed

Lysenchuk has also had injuries to contend with having lost Vladimir Deinega and Oleksandr Kondratiuk. He was also hoping to avoid further problems when his team play a local club side three days before the start of the competition, when the duel with Spain opens their campaign. A positive result in that fixture would set the eastern Europeans well on their way.

Koridze class

The coach, who will be relying heavily as ever on lethal forward Serhiy Koridze, is confident his side can progress to the last eight. Once there, he knows anything can happen and with his team’s past pedigree, few would bet on them going all the way.

Ukraine squad

Olexiy Popov, Vasyl Sukhomlinov, Kostyantin Vlasenko, Fedir Pylypiv, Oleg Shaytanov, Ramis Mansurov, Georgi Melnikov, Vitaliy Nesteruk, Olexandr Kosenko, Vitaliy Brunko, Artem Kovalyov, Serhiy Sytin, Serhiy Koridze, Igor Moskvychov.



Spanish set for strong defence

Saturday, 13 November 2004

Spain will defend their world crown at the FIFA Futsal World Championship without one of their most experienced performers but with the determination to reclaim their crown.

Knee injury

The reigning champions' coach Javier Lozano lost Daniel to a knee injury ahead of the tournament. The 28-year-old Boomerang Interviú FS winger sustained a knee injury while on club duty recently. Daniel subsequently underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee but would not be able to recover in time.

'Huge blow'

Goalkeeper Luis Amado told uefa.com that Daniel would be much missed in the squad. "Losing Daniel at this moment is a huge blow for us. He is one of our key players and it's a real shame," he said. Lozano has instead included the exciting winger Pipe who has 16 caps. The coach believed his exceptional technical ability and goalscoring prowess would more than compensate for Daniel's absence.

Goalkeeping woe

However, Lozano has also had troubles in goal. Third-choice goalkeeper Cristián Domínguez suffered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee earlier this month while warming up during the interval of Spain's match against Poland. The injury has put the player out of action for six months.

Chance to shine

To fill the gap, Lozano has called up the 24-year old URJC Móstoles goalkeeper Paco Sedano despite a lack of experience. Amado said: "It's natural that Paco might be a bit anxious during the tournament, particularly at the start but I just hope that he is able to relax and enjoy himself," he said. The developments followed the earlier forced retirement of El Pozo Murcia Turística FS goalkeper Sergio López-Andújar, 26, after the discovery of a heart complaint.

Ukraine danger

For the group stage, Spain have been pitted against competition hosts Chinese Taipei, coached by the experienced Belgian Damien Knabben, Ukraine and Egypt in Group A. Amado has no doubt where the real danger lies. "For us, Ukraine are the ones to look out for. Meeting the host team is always tricky but we are far more worried about the Ukrainians. We have met them several times before and know how strong they are - out of all the teams in our group they will give us the hardest time."

Full throttle

Amado concluded that the Spanish squad were as keen as ever to recover the title they won in Guatamala four years ago. "We will be without an important player like Daniel but we are looking at the tournament with the same excitement as we always have done - trying to play some good football and hoping to win."

Spain squad

Luis Amado, Rafa, Paco Sedano, Julio, Torras, Kike, Orol, Fran Serrejón, Pipe, Andreu, Limones, Alberto Cogorro, Marcelo, Javi Rodríguez.



Team spirit vital for Czechs

Saturday, 13 November 2004

The Czech Republic suffered a major blow in the lead-up to the FIFA Futsal World Championship finals in Chinese Taipei when they lost star man Roman Mareš although the emerging nation do have plenty to be positive about.

Domestic duty

Czech coach Michal Stríz was forced to leave out Mareš when naming his squad because his Russian club Dina Moskva require him for domestic duty. "The problem is that Russia did not qualify for the World Cup and they will not interrupt their professional league. Roman is a very profitable player for Dina," said Stríz.

Starring role

The 29-year-old Mareš was a key man as the Czechs finished third at the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship. However, he has suffered from injury which Stríz said was also a factor. "The worry of suffering another injury, which could put his professional career in jeopardy, is probably his main reason to quit the national team temporarily," added Stríz, who tried to persuade him to play during recent friendlies in Russia and will at least have him for next year's EURO finals, which the Czechs will stage in Ostrava.

Tough test

The Czechs lost 4-3 and then won 5-0 against the Russians, who have missed out on a place at the finals in Chinese Taipei. "We must cope with his absence, I hope we are able to advance from our group even without him." To do just that, the Czechs will need to get past Brazil, Thailand and Australia in Group B. "The final group game against Brazil will be the highlight for all of us," said Striz. "Their play is on such a level that it is like they are playing a different sport. We will never forget the only game against them when we lost 6-1 four years ago," said Stríz.

Kamenický captain

On the plus side, Mareš's younger brother Michal has left the Dina squad to link up with the national team along with other key internationals. Among them will be Jaroslav Kamenický, who has experience from the top flight of Czech football and he will take the armband from Roman Mareš. Kamenický missed more than a year, including the success in Italy, due to a serious illness, but is fit again.

Brazilian feast

With the exception of the Mareš brothers, the rest of the Czech squad are all semi-professional having full-time employment away from the sport and will need to book holiday for the finals. Yet their commitment should surpass any limitations and the Czechs can righly look to the finals with confidence.

Difficult conditions

Stríz said: "We know we are able to defeat Thailand and Australia, although we don´t know much about them. The opening game against Thailand could be the crucial one. The hot weather could be an advantage for our opponents, however we should achieve a victory with our tactical superiority."

Czech Republic squad

Petr Krayzel, Jirí Kaspar, Jan Klíma, Daniel Rajnoch, David Levcík, Tomáš Sluka, Petr Hoffmann, Jaroslav Kamenický, Josef Havel, Vít Blazej, Martin Dlouhý, Roman Musial, Michal Mareš, Zdenek Sláma.



Italians peaking at right time

Saturday, 13 November 2004

Italy will be looking to the backbone of the side that made them the reigning European champions when they travel to Chinese Taipei to try and claim the world crown.

Key duo

The likes of prolific forward Adriano Foglia, world player of the year in 2003, and captain Salvatore Zaffiro have come into form at just the right time for coach Alessandro Nuccorini. The squad warmed up for the finals with a double header against Slovenia on 4 and 6 November. The Azzurri lost the first game 3-2, with Vinicius Bacaro, the hero of the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship final, hitting the bar in the dying minutes and Slovenia surging forward to score the winner on the counterattack.

All change

However, Italy were back on form, with the return of several experienced faces, two days later when they emerged 7-0 winners. "It was a completely different side," said coach Nuccorini. "We played much better and the result was a clear consequence of this. We played with an extremely high tempo and we were very aggressive in defence." It is precisely this approach which will serve the Italians well in Asia.

Upbeat mood

Although all the teams taking part in the finals should be respected, the Italians will feel every confidence of being able to overcome their Group C rivals Japan, Paraguay and the United States. The squad, who were training in Prato prior to their departure for the Far East, have been able to foster a good team spirit, having beaten Croatia 5-1 prior to the Slovenia matches. Understandably, Nuccorini is in upbeat mood and, although his nation won the European title in 2003, he realised then that the team would not achieve full potential for a couple of years.

Surprise package

Of his main men, Nuccorini said: "Foglia is a very important player for us. He did not have a great period of form recently but now he's improved and I expect him to improve even more for the World Championship. The condition of captain Zaffiro is also growing day after day. He made terrific passes against Slovenia." However, newcomer Zanetti is the man that Nuccorini believed could be the surprise package for his team.

Italy squad

Gianfranco Angelini, Alexandre Feller, Pellegrini, Salvatore Zaffiro, Grana, Montovaneli, Edgar Bertoni, Andre Vicentini, Fabiano, Rodrigo Bertoni, Vinicius Bacaro, Adriano Foglia, Morgado, Sandro Zanetti.