Courtesy: FIFA.com

Encouraging signs from the smaller nations

(FIFA.com) 16 Mar 2005

Behind the well established heavyweights of European Futsal, a clutch of nations with less experience in the discipline have their sights set on qualifying for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Championship. We take a look back at the international tournament recently held in Villeneuve d'Ascq, France, where the hosts, England, Romania and Finland all showed continued signs of progress.
What stood out more than anything else over two days of competition was how small the gulf in quality has become between the four teams on view. Apart from France's 5-2 victory over England, every match was settled by a single goal and the destination of the overall prize never once looked obvious.

England, in particular, have reason to be optimistic as one of the newest teams on the scene. Just five months ago, the English found themselves on the wrong end of a record 24-1 defeat at the hands of Portugal but, even then, Portuguese coach Orlando Duarte predicted a bright future for his opponents.

Led by visionary boss Graeme Dell, the Three Lions continue to surprise seasoned Futsal observers, and their decision to make the long trip to Chinese Taipei to watch the last FIFA Futsal World Championship at close hand now looks to be paying off. It was precisely the kind of inspired initiative that sets Dell out as the right man for a difficult job, and his new F30 project looks set to take his team even further.

The purpose of the scheme is to bring together the cream of English Futsal talent for regular training sessions once a month. "The F30 group will vary slightly throughout the season as we identify better players, but this gives us a broader group to work with," says Dell. The benefits already seemed to be in evidence at the international tournament in Villeneuve d'Ascq, where a valiant England side only just missed out on third place.

Romania confirm their status

That honour ultimately went to a very young Finland squad. Matti Willgren's charges arrived in France with eight untried players in their ranks, but still managed to give Romania a scare in a tight encounter. Narrowly beaten in the end, Finland finished third overall ahead of England and more than fulfilled their initial objectives. "We've still got a lot to learn, and playing against sides like this is an excellent test," said Willgrem on the eve of the competition. He can be satisfied that his team passed that test with flying colours.
As hosts, France were not afraid to announce their intentions before taking on England in the tournament's opening game. "Why can't we win the whole thing?" was the motto in the French camp, and they came close to doing just that. Putting a 6-1 loss to Romania in November 2004 well and truly behind them, Pierre Jacky's men pushed the Romanians to the limit, before succumbing to defeat by a single goal.

That result earned Romania the title, and confirmed their status as the rising power in European futsal. The country already has its own professional league, and Romania now harbour serious ambitions of becoming regular participants at the major international tournaments. The 2008 FIFA Futsal World Championship is the jewel in the crown, of course, but Romania will not be the only smaller nation hoping to have stepped up to the next level by then.

Tuesday 8 March

France 5-2 England
Finland 1-2 Romania

Wednesday 9 March

France 2-3 Romania
Finland 5-4 England

Final standings:

1-. Romania
2-. France
3-. Finland
4-. England