Courtesy: The FA.com

France edge England

By Jamie Bradbury in Sheffield

Wednesday, 20 December 2006


England 1-2 France (Harris - Markovic, Otmani)

International Futsal Friendly Double-Header
7pm, Wednesday 20 December 2006
English Institute of Sport, Sheffield

First game result: England 2-4 France, Tuesday 20 December 2006

With Christmas just around the corner, it would have been a fantastic present for Graeme Dell and his England team, but victory just was not to be.

The second match in a double-header against France brought to the end the third year of England's participation in the game of Futsal, and against a side who have been playing the small-sided code since 1994.

A narrow 2-1 reversal was harsh on the Three Lions who were in control of possession for large parts of the game, but they just couldn't get that vital breakthrough to edge the encounter in their favour.

But it was certainly an exciting action packed match. And while thousands of fans up and down the country were braving the elements to take in eleven-a-side games, the noisy crowd of 350 inside Sheffield's impressive English Institute of Sport were treated to a new style of fast-paced football, which could never be fogged off.

England got off to the brightest of starts, maintaining possession while France retreated in an attempt to keep them at bay.

A couple of early shots from the left, first from Glen Harris then the boot of skipper Richard Follett failed to trouble Djamel Haroun. But the keeper couldn't do anything when, with four minutes gone, England took the lead.

As with much of the half, the Three Lions played keep-ball on the halfway line looking for an opening. Darren Budd turned well in front on the French dugout and found a little bit of space on the right firing in low to beat the French man before the ball was turned in by Harris under the crossbar.

England continued to pass the ball around, remaining patient for an opening, but what they really needed was someone with a magic key to open the French door.

Instead they probed without really hurting, while at the other end, the visitors were more definitive, despite being restricted to pot shots, which Graham Smith was equal to on more than one occasion.

However, with little over a minute left, a foul by Marc Canham, which highlighted the physical difference between eleven-a-side and Futsal, gave France an opening and the square pass from Mustapha Otmani to his team-mate Zoran Markovic was dispatched emphatically for the equaliser.

That goal visibly lifted France and after the turn-around, they began the second 20 minutes in similar fettle.

England didn't change their approach, though, but were met with a little more resistance. France looked comfortable at the back and with the skilful Driss Bourroum they had an player prepared to do something different.

In fact it was his improvisation that put France on top and eventually won them the game.

A looping ball which was going out of play appeared to be a lost cause. But the Issy Les Moulineaux player hooked the ball over his and Smith's heads to Otmani who applied the acrobatic finish from two yards with Smith and his defenders stranded.

That hurt England and it took them a few minutes to regain their momentum, but once again, they just couldn't break down the plucky French rearguard.

With second left on the clock keeper Smith, taking advantage of his permitted seconds with the ball, unleashed a fierce effort which had substitute keeper Ivan Bouget diving full length to palm away. That left two seconds on the clock and there was still time for Alex Haddow to sting the keeper's hands with a shot from the corner, but that too went away to safety, and with it England's hopes of that elusive first win.

But for any newcomer to Futsal watching tonight, it would have been hard to identify the higher ranked team. This match could have gone either way, and unfortunately for Dell's men, that win is still to be found. But surely, on that display at least, it's only round the corner.

England
Graham Smith, Mark Canham, Luke Williams, John Adams, Jim Elford, Ben Watson, Michael Lyons, Michael Skuballa, Steve Harrison, Alex Haddow, Glen Harris, Darren Budd, John Robinson, Richard Follett (c)
Coach: Graeme Dell

France
Yvan Bouget, Stéphane Basson (c), Reda Benlala, Driss Bourroum, Frédéric Duponcheel, Nabile Elasri, Mounir Khrouf, Moustafa Kourar, Mustapha Otmani, Zoran Markovic, Jean-Paul Marna, Mickael Sabathier, Djamel Haroun
Coach: Pierre Jacky

Officials: Craig Grundy (Sheffield & Hallamshire), Steve Wade (East Riding) and Marc Birket (Sheffield & Hallamshire)

England's next set of games are in Romania in January where a mini-tournament will take place as pre-qualification for next year's UEFA Championships in Portugal.



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