Courtesy: UEFA.com

Rivals show mutual respect

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Murcia

Mulling over the all-Spanish UEFA Futsal Cup semi-final between hosts ElPozo Murcia FS and holders Boomerang Interviú, the coach of fellow trophy contenders MFK Dinamo Moskva, Yuri Rudnev, said: "This is a good selling point for the organisers - but not so good for those teams." Something his counterparts from Boomerang and ElPozo may consider as they kick-off in front of a packed crowd at the Palacio de Deportes de Murcia on Thursday night.

Boomerang edge
Boomerang and Spanish title-holders Murcia are meeting for the 60th time in 17 years, and are both aiming to keep up their nation's dominant run of taking this trophy four times in five editions. The pair's most recent encounters were a 3-3 league result here in March minutes before they were drawn together in this competition, and an 8-3 win for Boomerang in the Spanish Futsal Cup final in Lugo a fortnight later. But Murcia coach Duda, whose team have not beaten Boomerang at home in seven encounters since 2002/03, is not looking to the form guide.

Duda respect
"No two games are alike," said Duda, whose team have won all their home matches this season save for the Boomerang encounter in which Murcia scored two late goals to prevent defeat. "We are hopeful that we will win. We have worked hard and done a lot to reach the final four. We respect Boomerang and we have renewed motivation to avenge our recent reverses."

Boomerang experience
Boomerang coach Jesús Candelas has experience of the only previous match in this competition between two compatriots, when his side gained a last-gasp 2-2 draw in 2004 against Playas de Castellón FS to end that team's two-year reign. His side thus reached their first final, which they went on to win as they also did last season against Dinamo.

'Stand-out game'
Candelas, who can still call on eight of the squad from three seasons ago, is aiming for an unprecedented third triumph, and agrees with Rudnev that this new-look event is being launched with a dream encounter. "This is the stand-out game of the final four," Candelas said. "We have to show our knowledge and our experience. Here we are, the four best teams in Europe, and that means showing respect. Today everyone is very optimistic, but we will need to use our experience to get a result."

Public support
They will also have to overcome Murcia's passionate home support, and Duda does not deny it will be an advantage as his team bid to reach their first UEFA Futsal Cup final on Saturday. "This is an interesting format but we regret that, expect ElPozo, no one else gets to play at home in the finals. A lot of people have worked hard for a long time to make this tournament happen. Our priority has always been this competition, the media have supported us and you can feel a great atmosphere on the streets of Murcia and people here are very keen to win this trophy."



Courtesy: UEFA.com

Dinamo test tough for Charleroi

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Murcia

Thursday's UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals kick off with a rematch of one of the great encounters in this competition's history - the epic 2005 decider between Action 21 Charleroi and MFK Dinamo Moskva that the Belgian side edged 10-9 on aggregate after extra time. But the new-look format of this single-venue final four event in Murcia is not all that is different.

Duo switch
Two of that Brazilian-infused Charleroi side, Henrique and Kelson, promptly joined Dinamo and helped them gain revenge with a 5-3 victory last season on their way to finishing runners-up again, and are in the Russian champions' squad this week. And furthermore Charleroi's financial woes this summer mean that the only members of their 2005 squad with them in Spain this week are then second-choice goalkeeper Eder Fehrmann, Lúcio Rosa, André Vanderlei and Liliu. To increase their worries, André is out with a hip injury suffered a fortnight ago though Liliu, who has had a knee problem, is likely to feature.

Different objectives
So although Charleroi may be this competition's only three-time finalists, coach Christian Vavadio is not confident of lining up in a fourth on Saturday against Boomerang Interviú or hosts ElPozo Murcia FS. Vavadio said: "We don't have the same objectives as in the past. It's a miracle that we are here at all. It's going to be a very difficult game but I know my players and I know they will give their all - and Dinamo will have to as well if they want to beat us."

Dinamo aim
Dinamo coach Yuri Rudnev left after the 2005 final but rejoined this February and it is clear that he wants his team to go one better than the last two seasons and finally take the European crown. "Our objective is to fight for the title," he said. "And against Charleroi we will play to win. We face this game very seriously. We respect our opponents and we hope to get a positive result."

No revenge mission
Thinking back two years, Rudnev said: "It was an exceptional game between two great teams. Action 21 were a very balanced side with very good Brazilian players. Now we will face a different team. Despite their problems they are back here so we know they will be strong opponents. This is not a revenge mission - we are looking to our own objectives, to compete for the trophy."

Learning curve
Charleroi, in contrast, are concentrating on hanging on to the Belgian League and Cup this season, having already retained the Super Cup, and are using the UEFA finals to gain experience. Vavadio said: "Most of our players are here to learn, they are mostly still students and maybe this will be their only chance to play a final tournament. They know they have to take it. So this title is not our goal, but with these young players we hope it will become our aim in two or three years time."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Murcia welcomes futsal final four

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Murcia

The Palacio de Deportes de Murcia will be filled close to its 7,500 capacity tonight as the inaugural UEFA Futsal Cup final four event begins in Spain.

New format
In a revamped format, the four semi-finalists have gathered in one venue and will meet tonight, with the final and third-place match following on Saturday. Action 21 Charleroi face the team they beat in the 2005 final, MFK Dinamo Moskva, in the opening fixture, which is followed by the all-Spanish encounter between hosts ElPozo Murcia FS and holders Boomerang Interviú, who are aiming to become the first three-time winners of the six-season old trophy. Eurosport will show all of the final four matches live and they will also be broadcast in Asia and the Americas.




Courtesy: UEFA.com

Charleroi captain lauds spirit

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Murcia

Only four of the Action 21 Charleroi squad that beat MFK Dinamo Moskva in the 2005 UEFA Futsal Cup final will line up against the same club in their last-four encounter tonight in Murcia - yet one of them, captain Lúcio Rosa, insists his side can upset the odds. "We know Dinamo are here to reach the final, but we want to play in the final too," the Brazilian told uefa.com.

Staying loyal
Dinamo are many people's favourites because of the financial traumas that depleted the Charleroi squad last summer - the Belgian side's young selection bears little resemblance to the team that has dominated their domestic competition in recent years and reached three UEFA Futsal Cup finals, winning two seasons ago. But Lúcio stayed loyal to the club he joined in 2002 and has helped the new-look selection recover from an understandably slow start.

Improvement
"I decided to stay at Charleroi as I love the club and wanted to play in the UEFA Futsal Cup," the 31-year-old said. "At first I was disappointed like the other players. But then the championship began, and although the team was not good to start with we made progress, qualified for the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals in Poland, overhauled a 12-point deficit in the league and reached the Belgian Cup final."

'Special spirit'
That result in Poland in December was perhaps the pivotal moment of their season, as Charleroi - needing a draw to go through - trailed Clearex Chorzów 3-1 with three minutes left but fought back to level, despite being without their captain. "The spirit in the squad is very special," Lúcio said. "I was injured in the last match and tried coming on maybe four times but it was impossible. But my team-mate Zico came to me and said: 'We will qualify just for you.' That is the special relationship we have in our team."

Bond
Lúcio, who says it is a "great pleasure" to face former Action 21 team-mates and compatriots Kelson and Henrique tonight, believes Charleroi's spirit could yet pull his side through. "We want to win because the relationship between the players, the coach, the staff and the president is very strong," he said. "Perhaps the events of the summer made us closer. Maybe we are not as talented as in previous years but the fighting spirit is stronger than ever."




Courtesy: UEFA.com

Zidane's new zest for futsal

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Laurent Morel

Having spent five years at Real Madrid CF Zinédine Zidane knows all about bringing European glory to Spain - just as UEFA Futsal Cup final four hosts ElPozo Murcia FS and Madrid-based holders Boomerang Interviú will be trying to do over the next few days.

Popular sport
Zidane, of course, found fame in the eleven-a-side game, but since he retired, he has had time to discover the small-sided discipline. Last month the 34-year-old took part in a well-attended event in Paris, lining up with some of his team-mates from France's 1998 FIFA World Cup-winning side in a futsal tournament. It was not new to him though. "I had seen it during my stay in Madrid as it is a very well known sport in Spain," Zidane told uefa.com.

Familiar territory
He is already a fan, the game reminding him of his early days in the Marseille suburb of La Castellane playing on the small improvised pitches. It is how Zidane developed his superb technique - similar to the Brazilians who invariably grow up playing futsal. "I like it very much, that's the kind of game I played when I was a kid," he said.

Different technique
Certainly, watching Zidane play at the famous Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy arena in the RTL-Futsal event, it was clear Zidane was made for the game. While most of the professional footballers needed time to adapt to the size four futsal ball, Zidane was caressing it with an astounding ease. The way he eliminated two opponents with a one-touch control to score against Paris Saint-Germain FC spoke volumes. Zidane explained: "The technique of playing futsal is different to the eleven-a-side version; there are spectacular things you can attempt in futsal that you would not dare trying in football. It adds more fun to the discipline."



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