Courtesy: UEFA


As in the past days we have a look at the UEFA articles on the current World Futsal Championship in Chinese Taipei, which UEFA is covering as well. We have to remind that yesterday, immediately after the semifinal matches, the reports were published for the first time in the UEFA's web site home page! Just to confirm the great effort of UEFA in order to develop futsal.


Spain hold nerve in shoot-out

Friday, 3 December 2004
By Greg Demetriou

Brazil 2-2 Spain (aet, Spain win 5-4 on penalties)

Spain have made it through to the FIFA Futsal World Championship final with a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory against Brazil in Chinese Taipei.

Opponents not known

The reigning world champions - who beat Brazil 4-3 to win the event for the first time in Guatemala four years ago - went through after Neto hit the bar with Brazil's sixth spot-kick. It means they will play Italy in Sunday's showpiece final in Taipei City, while Brazil have to be content with a third-place match against Argentina.

Andreu opener

The importance of the occasion seemed to affect both teams in the first half with neither side showing the form that had got them past the first two group stages. However, the match sparked into life to Spain's advantage in the 23rd minute when Andreu dribbled along the left wing before unleashing an unstoppable drive beyond the Brazilian goalkeeper Franklin. The European side could not hang on to their advantage though and a mistake by Fran Serrjón allowed Brazil to counter and score through Pablo.

Frenetic finish

The Brazilians then looked on course for the final when Simi gave them the lead in the 35th minute only for an almost immediate reply from the prolific Marcelo for Javier Lozano's men. It was Marcelo's eighth goal of the tournament, which left him two behind Brazilian forward Falcão. Torras could then have won it for Spain only to see his rasping drive come back off the post with Franklin beaten.

Penalties required

After extra time failed to produce any goals, although there were plenty of chances, the match went to penalties. Kike missed the first penalty for Spain but a Luis Amado save from Indio's effort brought the European side level and, when Andreu scored after Neto's miss, Spain were through.



Azzurri make final in style

Friday, 3 December 2004
By Greg Demetriou


Italy 7-4 Argentina

Continental champions Italy set up an all-European final of the FIFA Futsal World Championship with victory against their South American counterparts, Argentina in Chinese Taipei.

Bacaro hat-trick

Three goals from Vinicius Bacaro helped put the game beyond their fellow first-time semi-finalists, although one low note for the Italians was the dismissal of Andre Vicentini. The victory means Alessandro Nuccorini's men will meet Spain in Sunday's final, a repeat of the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship semi-final when the Azzurri won 2-1, while Argentina will meet Brazil in a third-place play-off.

Early goal

Argentina were very slow off the mark in today’s encounter in Taipei City, in marked contrast to the lively Italians who immediately showed a willingness to attack. Bacaro broke the deadlock in the second minute when he picked up a loose ball, swivelled and fired low into the net. Argentina had still to register a shot when Fabiano made it two after nine minutes, his fierce drive deflecting off Carlos Sánchez.

Sloppy defending

It was 3-0 in the 12th minute when the hapless Sánchez conceded possession, allowing Bacaro to race through and score with ease. The Argentinians were shell-shocked although they managed to reach half-time with no further goals conceded. They stepped up their game in the second half, and took control of the possession before Sánchez scored with a long-range effort in the 28th minute.

Goals galore

However, Italy were not finished and Vicentini scored with a splendid volley four minutes later. Vicentini was then shown a red card - earning a suspension for Sunday - but, despite the numerical disadvantage, Adriano Foglia was able to make it 5-1 before Marcelo Giménez struck a second for the Argentinians. Bacaro then completed his hat-trick with a 35th-minute free-kick but almost immediately the lead was cut to just three goals again after Fernando Wilhelm’s identical strike. Montovanelli converted late on with the help of the opposing goalkeeper to ensure Giménez's goal in the final 30 seconds only reduced the deficit to three.



Global glory at stake for rivals

Saturday, 4 December 2004
By Paul Saffer

Having barely caught their breath following Friday's thrilling FIFA Futsal World Championship semi-final victories in Chinese Taipei, arch-rivals Spain and Italy go head to head on Sunday at 9am CET for the title of global champions.

Thrilling encounter

Spain defeated Brazil in the final four years ago in Guatemala to lift the trophy for the first time against the nation that had won all four previous editions. And the Spanish repeated the trick in the 2004 semi-finals in Taipei City, matching their opponents all the way in a 2-2 draw after extra time and overcoming an early setback in the penalty shoot-out to prevail 5-4 in sudden death.

Bacaro treble

Afterwards reigning European champions Italy defeated their South American counterparts and fellow semi-final debutants Argentina 7-4, Vinicius Bacaro claiming a hat-trick. And while Spain have the experience of having reached two previous finals in this competition - losing in 1996 to Brazil before their subsequent revenge - Italy overcame the world champions 3-2 in the group stage and also beat them in the last four of the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship - the only Spanish defeats in a run of 38 internationals since September 2002.

Spanish confidence

But then Spain can think back to 1996, when they ended Italy's previous best World Championship campaign with a 4-1 win in their decisive second group stage encounter. And defeating Brazil has given them more than enough confidence to be going along with.

'Hard work has paid off'

Goalkeeper Luis Amado, the hero of the match for Spain, said: "We did not lose our concentration at any point and the team's hard work has paid off even though it is clear that Brazil are far superior in terms of individual talent. Now we are thinking ahead to the final. We are buzzing at the thought of meeting Italy because we want to get even for the defeat we suffered against them during the second phase."

'Happiness is double'

Andreu, who opened the scoring and also converted in the shoot-out, added: "If you make the final and added to which, you have just beaten Brazil in the semis, it's not hard to imagine that the satisfaction and happiness is double."

'High standard'

However, there will be a bittersweet feeling for Italy as Andre Vicentini received a red card in the second half. Still, coach Alessandro Nuccorini said: "Our play was of a very high standard tonight. The first half was excellent, the second a little bit crazy, but that's to be expected."

European rematch

But whatever the result on Sunday, these teams will not have to wait long until their next major meeting as they face off on 17 February in Ostrava in their last group game in the 2005 European Championship finals. And should both emerge from the same pool - as happened in the second stage here - what would be the odds on another Spain v Italy final 75 days after their encounter in Taipei City?