UEFA.com is doing an impressive work to present the prestigious two legs final between Action 21 Charleroi and Dinamo Moscow that will assign the UEFA Futsal Cup 2004/2005 title. Below you can have a look at the last article published.

Courtesy: UEFA.com

Spanish sides set the pace

Monday, 18 April 2005

By Paul Saffer

Maybe it is unsurprising, given their status as reigning world champion nation, that Spain monopolised the UEFA Futsal Cup in its first three editions.

Opening win
Playas de Castellón FS, a side not competing for the first time in 2004/05, won the opening two titles. However, it was their eventual victims in both those finals, Action 21 Charleroi of Belgium, who had the honour of winning the inaugural match in the competition on 8 October 2001, beating Czech champions Pramen Havlickuv Brod 7-3 on their way to clinching qualifying round Group 1. The first two goals of the tournament were scored by a Spaniard, Charleroi's Pedro Medina de Carvalho.

Lisbon tournament
The eight qualifying group winners - Charleroi, Castellón, AS Roma, MNK Split, Poland's Clearex Chorzów, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Bosnia-Herzegovina's MNK Kaskada Gracanica and CSÖ-Montage Budapest FC - progressed to a national team-style final tournament at Lisbon's Pavilhão Atlántico. With the top two from each pool of four progressing to the semi-finals. Split and Sporting pipped Roma and Gracanica in Group A. In Group B, Castellón and Charleroi overcame Budapest and Chorzów.

Castellón joy
Both semi-finals were clear-cut affairs. Castellón beat Sporting 4-0 while Charleroi defeated Split 7-3. Four days before the final, the Spanish title-holders had overcome their Belgian rivals 3-1 in a group game. In the decider, Castellón again prevailed, winning 5-1.

Numbers rise
With the competition now established, the number of entrants the following season rose from 27 to 30. Again there were eight qualifying groups, with Castellón, Charleroi and Split joined this time by new Spanish champions Boomerang Interviú FS, Russia's Norilsky Nickel, Italy's Prato C/5, Ukraine's FC Shakhtar Donetsk and KMF Niš of Serbia and Montenegro, However, now the two four-team groups were held in separate venues, and only the pool winners would advance to a two-legged final.

Final rematch
It seemed Boomerang had beaten hosts Charleroi to win Group A thanks to an 8-5 victory. But in their final group game against Nickel, Boomerang fielded an ineligible player - an 11-3 win therefore became a 3-0 loss and Charleroi progressed on goal difference. Castellón ensured a rematch of the first final, beating hosts Prato, Shakhtar and Niš to win Group B.

Successful defence
Castellón's 100 per cent winning record in the competition ended in the first leg of the final, as home side Charleroi held them 1-1. The second leg was a thriller, Castellón prevailing 5-3 to win 6-4 on aggregate after several twists and turns.

New faces
By last season, 33 teams were lining up, necessitating a preliminary round in which AS Odorheiu Secuiesc of Romania beat England's Tranmere Victoria FC 17-2 on aggregate. However, there were familiar faces emerging from the first qualifying round; Castellón, Charleroi - who beat FC Olimpic Tirana 44-3 in their opening game - Boomerang, Prato and Split joined by newcomers SL Benfica, Ukrainians FC InterKrAZ Kyiv and Dutch team ZVV West Stars.

All change
However, it was all change in the next stage. Castellón's hold on the title was ended by arch-rivals Boomerang, a 2-2 draw in the deciding game eliminating the champions by two points, although they remain unbeaten in any match in the tournament's history. Meanwhile, to the delight of the home crowd in Lisbon, Benfica beat Charleroi 5-4 to clinch their group.

Boomerang prevail
Boomerang now had the task of keeping the trophy in Spain. A 4-1 home leg win in Madrid got them off to the right start, and although Benfica triumphed 4-3 in Lisbon a week later, Boomerang remained 7-5 ahead overall, their winning team including Joan, who had also starred for Castellón in Lisbon in 2001/02.



Courtesy: UEFA.com

Deadly dozen from Ivanov

Monday, 18 April 2005

Russian international Sergei Ivanov is leading the way as top scorer in the 2004/05 UEFA Futsal Cup after his 12-goal haul from MFC Dinamo Moskva's six games to date.

Friendly threat
In all, prior to the two-legged final, 516 goals have been scored in this season's competition, the fourth staging of the prestigious event for Europe's top club sides. Interestingly, the biggest threat to Ivanov is likely to come from his Brazilian team-mates Joan and Cirilo, who have ten and nine goals respectively. Pelé, a third Dinamo player from Brazil, is further back in joint tenth with seven, the same number as Action 21 Charleroi's top marksman Lúcio Rosa.

Goals - Player (Club)
12 - Sergei Ivanov (MFK Dinamo Moscow)
10 - Joan (MFK Dinamo Moscow)
10 - Andreu (Boomerang Interviú FS)
09 - Cirilo (MFK Dinamo Moscow)
09 - Paulo Roberto (El Pozo Murcia FS)
08 - Kike (El Pozo Murcia FS)
08 - Israel (Sporting Clube de Portugal)
08 - Ani Mullaj (SK Tirana)
08 - Lenisio (El Pozo Murcia FS)
07 - Pelé Junior (MFK Dinamo Moscow)
07 - Deo (Sporting Clube de Portugal)
07 - Lúcio Rosa (Action 21 Charleroi)


Courtesy: UEFA.com

Dinamo determined for trophy

Monday, 18 April 2005

By Paul Saffer

MFK Dinamo Moskva only made their UEFA Futsal Cup debut in 2003/04, but despite winning all their games last season were ousted in the first qualifying round as they fielded an ineligible player against ZVV West Stars of the Netherlands - an 11-3 victory turned into a decisive 3-0 defeat as a punishment.

Ivanov opener
This time, though, everything would go to plan, right from the opening game. Travelling to Poland to play in Group 6, Dinamo opened against SK Tirana of Albania, who came through the preliminary round. Sergei Ivanov took just seconds to put Dinamo ahead, and by half-time it was 16-0. By the end Ivanov and Odair Pedro Da Silva 'Pelé' had five goals each and Joan four in a 23-2 triumph.

Big score
Double figures were reached again the next day versus Georgian side FC Iberia 2003. This time the score was a relatively modest 10-1, Ivanov striking a hat-trick, Pavel Kobzar and Joan scoring twice and Sergei Malyshev, Stanislav Larionov and Cirilo also claiming goals, though Pavel Kobzar's first-minute opener was cancelled out by a swift equaliser.

Draw enough
Dinamo only needed a draw against group hosts KS Baustal Kraków, thanks to their superior goal difference, but finished in style with a 3-0 win. Ivanov and Pelé struck early and Joan completed the scoring, Dinamo's mini-tournament tally of 36 goals the highest in any of the eight groups.

Spanish threat
Two other teams from the former Soviet Union, FC Dorozhnik Minsk of Belarus and Ukraine's FC Shakhtar Donetsk were now waiting in Dinamo's second qualifying round pool, but the real threat in Group 2 looked to be Spanish team El Pozo Murcia FS.

VIP presence
However, Dinamo were rewarded with home advantage, which Action 21 Charleroi had already used to good effect in the other group when the four clubs gathered in the Russian capital. Shakhtar were the first opposition for the hosts, and with several members of the Russian parliament and sports minister Vyacheslav Fetisov in attendance, Malyshev and Cirilo gave Dinamo a 2-0 half-time lead, and the Brazilian went on to complete a hat-trick as the game ended 6-2.

Goals required
Murcia, though, had defeated Dorozhnik 8-0, and before Dinamo's game the next day the Spanish club repeated that scoreline against Shakhtar. That meant if Dinamo wished to require just a draw to progress from their final game against Murcia, they needed to overcome Dorozhnik by a 12-goal margin.

Joan hat-trick
That never looked likely, but Dinamo still won 10-6, having been 5-2 up at the break. Joan claimed a hat-trick in a ten-minute second-half period, while Ivanov scored twice and Larionov, Olexiy Kudlay, Konstantin Maevskiy and Cirilo also were on target along with a Dmitri Matsiuk own goal, though Dorozhnik pulled two back late on, Dinamo coach Yuri Rudnev identifying "some awful mistakes in defence".

Dozen goals
So victory was required two days later, with Murcia hoping to continue Spain's record of always producing a finalist and Charleroi having eliminated holders Boomerang Interviú FS. However, Ivanov's 12th goal of the tournament put Dinamo into an eleventh-minute lead, but Lenisio deservedly levelled just before the break.

Cobeta dismissed
Malyshev, though, restored the lead seconds after the break and Sirilo then extended the advantage. Kike pulled one back with a penalty, but Maevskiy swiftly made it 4-2 with nine minutes left. Murcia again struck through Alvaro, but four minutes from time a Cobeta foul earned him a red card and Dinamo scored with Joan's free-kick. Although Alvaro scored again, Dinamo held on for a 5-4 win and could now become the first Russian capital side to win any UEFA club competition.



Courtesy: UEFA.com

Charleroi ready for third final

Monday, 18 April 2005

By Paul Saffer

Having missed out on the UEFA Futsal Cup final for the first time last season, Action 21 Charleroi were determined to return to the showpiece this time around.

Fifth title
Perhaps boosted by the absence of their nemeses in the first two deciders, Playas de Castellón FS, as well as the side that pipped them in the 2003/04 second qualifying round, SL Benfica, Charleroi ended this season's competition with their fifth straight Belgian title under their belt.

Same story
The Brazilian-dominated team have won all their previous first qualifying round games in previous years, last season striking 66 goals in their mini-tournament. And it was the same story this time in Group 5 in Romania. First Finland's Ilves FS were defeated 8-0, Leo and Lúcio Rosa each scoring twice. Then FK Inkaras of Lithuania fell by an 11-0 margin, Alex and Julien Pauly claiming hat-tricks.

Tougher prospect
Home team FC Bodu Bucuresti had also won their opening games, and proved a tougher proposition in the decider. It was 6-1 at half-time, Leo striking a treble, but a late Bodu fightback made the final score 9-4.

Holders next
However, with the draw for the second stage made at the same time as the first, Charleroi knew they now had to tackle Spanish holders Boomerang Interviú FS as well as Benfica's successors as Portuguese champions Sporting Clube de Portugal and Slovenian side KMN Litija.

Exciting game
Still, Charleroi were named as hosts for Group A, having had to travel to Lisbon to play in Benfica's group last year. And in their opening game this time Charleroi overcame opposition from the Portuguese capital, winning an exciting game 7-4 against Sporting.

Eder hat-trick
Davi's opener was swiftly cancelled out in the ninth minute by Sporting's Deo, but in the following six minutes Robinho, Alex and Eder made it 4-1 to Charleroi before Paulinho's free-kick cut the deficit to two just before half-time. Andre struck on 27 minutes for Charleroi, but João Marcal and Gonçalo Alves then reduced the lead to 5-4 before Eder struck twice more to complete a vital hat-trick. Paulinho was sent off late on.

Superior goals
A day later, Charleroi defeated Litija 3-1. Alex's early goal was matched by Litija's Slaviša Goranovic, only for Lúcio Rosa to score twice before half-time. Although Boomerang had also won their two opening games, Charleroi's goal difference was superior meaning they only had to draw their decider with the reigning champions.

Sending off
That was just as well. With 6,500 fervent supporters inside their Spiroudôme, Charleroi were boosted four minutes in when Schumacher, so crucial to Boomerang's triumph last season, was sent off. However, Charleroi goalkeeper Fehrmann and his Boomerang counterpart Luis Amado were on top, and with eight minutes left the game was still scoreless.

Fans happy
Then, to the delight of the home crowd, Kelsen beat Amado to put Charleroi ahead. Boomerang lived up to their name, though, as they came back with a vengeance. Luis hit the post, Neto equalised four minutes after the goal, and with barely a minute left Gabriel gave Boomerang what looked a decisive lead.

Sixth goal
At that point, Charleroi coach Sergio Benatti withdrew Fehrmann and sent on Davi as a fifth attacker. The gamble paid off, as just 22 seconds were remaining when Lúcio Rosa made it 2-2 with his sixth goal of the tournament to send the Spiroudôme into raptures.



Courtesy: UEFA.com

Jarni helping Futsal's future

Monday, 18 April 2005

Former Juventus FC and Real Madrid CF defender Robert Jarni has done much to raise Futsal’s profile since the Croatian star ended his football career. Jarni, 36, took part in this season’s UEFA Futsal Cup for MNK Split but was unable to help them progress past the first qualifying round, having taken them to the last eight of the 2003/04 edition.

With a promising coaching career in front of him, and years of experience at the highest level - Jarni is well placed to discuss the future. Here, in a interview given at the recent UEFA Futsal Workshop held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Jarni shares his thoughts on Futsal.

Why did you become a Futsal player back in Split after a long and illustrious career in the outdoor game?

Robert Jarni: It was a situation where I got home after the 2002 [FIFA] World Cup finals. I started playing Futsal with my friends and I fell in love with the game. So then I took up the offer to go into club football and I have become more and more deeply involved and in love with the game.

Do you think your presence can help promote the game?

Jarni: Basically I never thought of it that way because when I play I am committed to helping the team. I focus entirely on that and trying to get a good result, like any other player. So I don’t really notice what is going on around me. But if I can cast aside my modesty for a minute or two I would probably say, yes, it has made a difference because in the past the club there were very few spectators, now, since I have been there I have noticed there have been more spectators coming to matches. And obviously the media interest is slightly highter so I think I would have to admit my presence has made a difference. It is a sport with a great future but we all have to work very hard to continue to promote it. But I think there is something to promote.

How has your presence encouraged youngsters to get into the game of Futsal?

Jarni: At the club we are working with youngsters from the age of ten upwards and the coach is also working with them. So we are building for the future. Also we have to take a careful look at coaching coaches - training people to coach youth teams. This is a department where there is still a lot of work to be done.

What is the ideal age to come into Futsal?

Jarni: I think you can really see a clear difference between the players who have come in at the age of 17 and those who have started earlier. We have seen a lot of Brazilians in Europe and you can really see a clear difference in terms of technique, the skill and their control. They have come into the game at a much earlier age. This is what we should be aiming at and what we should be encouraging - then people can become really top players. If we are talking about quality, you are talking about something in technical terms that a player repeats and repeats until they reach technical perfection. The earlier you start doing that the better chance you have of helping them reach that technical perfection.

What about physical condition? There is a myth among some that Futsal can easily generate injuries.

Jarni: There is a different type of physical preparation because obviously the first four or five metres in Futsal are everything. There has to be a lot of explosive effort so the physical preparation has to be different in Futsal. Of course, there is no risk entailed in the game at all.

To illustrate the difference, a friend of mine told me that Futsal was just ‘child’s play, a kid's game’. I invited him along to a training session and afterwards he changed his mind. He said ‘this is terrible because in the outside game you can easily hide and take a breather for a minute’. In Futsal there are only four of you and you can’t hide at all. It really is physically demanding.

Have you improved your skills since turning to Futsal?

Jarni: Yes, the first few months were difficult because the ball is smaller and I kept letting it run under my foot. But it is more demanding in terms of skill and ball control.

What was the biggest change for you in moving sports?

Jarni: I think the most difficult thing was the control. In Futsal you really have to learn how to control and move the ball with the sole of your foot, which is something you don’t really see in the outdoor game. And of course we are not just talking about doing this in static positions. You have to do it at speed. I think that was the most abrupt change that I had to cope with.



Courtesy: UEFA.com

Galán Nieto leaves on a high

Monday, 18 April 2005

Spanish referee Pedro Ángel Galán Nieto is set to bow out at the top of international Futsal after a distinguished career.

Several highs
The 45-year-old from Madrid has enjoyed a series of highs throughout his career including the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship final in Italy although, until now, had been denied the chance to take charge of a UEFA Futsal Cup showpiece. The dominance of Spanish sides in the first three editions had meant Galán Nieto could not take part.

Centre stage
However, when Action 21 Charleroi and MFK Dinamo Moskva meet for the 2005 final second leg in the Russian capital on 30 April, Galán Nieto will finally take centre stage in a European club final. He will be sharing refereeing duties with Iván Novak of Croatia, while Silvio Borosak of Slovenia will be the third official.

Cumbo and Török
Massimo Cumbo of Italy and Károly Török of Hungary, two outstanding referees who had the honour of officiating at the 2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship final in February, will take charge of the Futsal Cup final first leg in Charleroi on 23 April. Zbigniew Kosmala of Poland will be the third official.



Courtesy: UEFA.com

Down to business for finalists

Monday, 18 April 2005

The 2004/05 UEFA Futsal Cup reaches its climax this week with the two-legged final between Action 21 Charleroi and MFK Dinamo Moskva.

New winner
After an excellent competition involving 32 clubs from 31 different countries, Charleroi and Dinamo will do battle this Saturday in Belgium before heading to the Russian capital for the return a week later. Neither side has ever won the trophy before, after the success of Playas de Castellon FS in 2002 and 2003, and the 2004 triumph of their Spanish counterparts Boomerang Interviú FS.

Long road
The action began in September with a preliminary round hosted by English entrants Sheffield Hallam FC, with SK Tirana of Albania and FC MAG Varna of Bulgaria. The following month saw eight groups played out in the first qualifying round with the winners of each of those sections progressing to the second qualifying round in March. This stage saw the contenders divided into two groups of four, with Charleroi and Dinamo ultimately winning through to the final.