Courtesy: FIFA.com


Battle commences for European crown

(FIFA.com) 08 Sep 2006

The annual battle for the European futsal crown begins this weekend with the preliminary stage of the 2006-07 UEFA Futsal Cup, a contest staged by European football's governing body, UEFA.

A total of 16 teams will contest four 'mini tournaments', with the four winners joined by 20 further teams in the first round proper beginning on 9 October.
The year's qualifying round features a clutch of newcomers, including the first-ever German participants in the shape of UFC Munster. Other nations represented for the first time include Austria, Malta, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland.

Every UEFA member association is eligible to enter its national champions for the quest to unseat current trophy holders Boomerang Interviu of Spain, but it is a long road from the opening weekend until the Final Four tournament at the end of April 2007.

A total of 40 teams from 39 countries are in the running for this the sixth edition of the UEFA Futsal Cup, with the mini tournaments in the qualifying round taking place from 10 to 16 September. Swedish first-timers Skodve AIK open proceedings on Sunday against Albanian representatives KF Tirana in the first Group C match at the Winter Palace Sport Hall in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. Hosts FC Mladost Sofia take on Maltese cracks Hibernians FC in the next fixture. The rest of the programme in this group takes place on Monday and Wednesday.


Newcomers hoping to spring surprise
Skovde, the Swedish champions, are thoroughly looking forward to their first appearance at the UEFA Futsal Cup. "It'll be a fantastic experience for us, and also an opportunity to improve our playing standards," according to coach Gudmundur Magnusson.

Tirana boss Agostin Kola, a former Albanian international, is equally confident ahead of the tournament: "I know my players are up for it. We're going to Sofia to give a good account of ourselves and progress to the next round."
Scottish champions Fair City Santos are also targeting a berth in the first round proper when they contest their opening Group A match against Arm enian visitors Adana Yerevan in Perth next Wednesday. "We're proud to be representing Scotland on the European stage for the first time," player-coach Mark Potter declared. "We face three incredibly tough matches, but we'll work hard and see if we can get through." Fair City also take on French champions Roubaix Futsal and Finnish outfit Mad Max Valkeakoski.

Group D sees UFC Munster fly the German flag for the first time in the competition. The team, winners of the inaugural German Football Association (DFB) Futsal Cup, meet Parnassos Nikosia from Cyprus in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas next Tuesday.

Defender Gereon Quick reckons his side are capable of springing a surprise. "We want to come away as worthy representatives for Germany at the UEFA Futsal Cup," he said. "We've landed in a very difficult group and it will be tough, but we have a good chance of qualifying." Munster will need to overcome the challenge of Lithuanian hosts FK Nafta Mazeikiai and Austrian representatives USC Eugendorf if they are to make the first round.

Last but not least, Group B opens on Wednesday in Andorra La Vella with a meeting between Swiss debutants Uni Futsal Bulle and Moldovan champs Toligma Chisinau. The group line-up is completed by Doncaster College from England and hosts Granvalira F.C. Encamp.

Qualifying round:

Group A
Mad Max Valkeakoski (FIN)
Adana Yerevan (ARM)
Roubaix Futsal (FRA)
Fair City Santos (SCO)

Group B
Granvalira F.C. Encamp (AND)
Toligma Chisinau (MDA)
Doncaster College (ENG)
Uni Futsal Bulle (SUI)

Group C
FC Mladost Sofia (BUL)
KF Tirana (ALB)
Hibernians FC (MLT)
Skodve AIK (SWE)

Group D
FK Nafta Mazeikiai (LTU)
Parnassos Nikosia (CYP)
Uni Futsal Club Münster (GER)
USC Eugendorf (AUT)


First round:

Group 1
Kairat Almaty (KAZ)
Arzignano Grifo C/5 (ITA)
Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava (SVK)
KMF Partizan Sarajevo (BIH)

Group 2
MNK Split (CRO)
Athina ´90 (GRE)
Araz Naxcivan (AZE)
Winner Group C

Group 3
Sporting Clube (POR)
Clearex Chorzow (POL)
KMF Alfa Parf Skopje (MKD)
Winner Group A

Group 4
Dorozhnik Minsk (BLR)
Iberia 2003 Tbilisi (GEO)
CC LKW Jistebnik (CZE)
Winner Group D

Group 5
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Raba Riga (LAT)
Godolloi Futsal Klub (HUN)
Winner Group B

Group 6
KMF Marbo Belgrad (SCG)
FC Marlene Kras Ster (NED)
GIP Beton MTO Zagorje (SLO)
CIP Deva (ROM)



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