Courtesy: UEFA.com

Tough task for Italian hopefuls

Thursday, 6 July 2006

Arzignano Grifo C/5 of Italy are to come up against last year's semi-finalists Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan after the draw for the 2006/07 UEFA Futsal Cup preliminary and main rounds took place today in Nyon, Switzerland.

Biggest yet
With 40 clubs involved, the sixth edition of the prestigious competition will be the biggest yet. It also promises to be more exciting than ever as the semi-finals and final will be played under the 'final four' format, as seen in other indoor sports like basketball, in one venue next April.

Two rounds
The preliminary round in mid-September features 16 sides drawn into four mini-tournament groups, including clubs from Austria, Germany, Malta, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland - nations who are all fielding representatives in the UEFA Futsal Cup for the first time. The top team from each pool will join 20 others in October's main round, with the clubs split into six groups of four.

Final stages
The top two from each pool will participate alongside the four top seeds in December's elite round, with the draw taking place on 31 October. Ultimately, all four of these groups will send one club to the 'final four' tournament, scheduled for 26-28 April. Holders Boomerang Interviú, runners-up for the last two years MFK Dinamo Moskva, 2005 winners Action 21 Charleroi and Spanish club El Pozo Murcia FS are the four clubs already confirmed in the elite round.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com