Courtesy: UEFA.com

Romania triumph twice in Turkey

Thursday 14 June 2007

by Paul-Daniel Zaharia

from Bucharest

Romania continued their preparations for November's UEFA European Futsal Championship as they produced 5-1 and 4-2 successes in two friendlies with Turkey in Istanbul.

Victories
Turkey, who are bidding to host the 2009 finals, are relative newcomers to the sport having only made their international debut in December with two losses in Romania. But Turkey have made fast progress and the results were useful ones for Romania ahead of their first major finals in Porto in November. In the first encounter yesterday Dumitru Stoica struck twice and Aurel Bugala, Lorand Szöcs and Gabriel Tomescu also found the target, while today Zsolt Mihaly was the double goalscorer and Cosmin Gherman and Robert Lupu also contributed to the victory.

'Well deserved'
Having overseen two wins against Egypt and a loss and victory versus Slovakia since qualification prior to visiting Turkey, Romania coach Zoltán Jakab said: "These were two well-deserved victories, we were better, but we are well aware that we will have to improve if we will want to achieve something important at the final tournament. It's good for us that we play so many friendlies, which keep us in good shape on international level." His team welcome Georgia for their next matches on 23 and 25 September and start their EURO campaign against the Czech Republic on 16 November.





Courtesy: UEFA.com


Double win takes Lozano to landmark

Friday 15 June 2007

by Lucy Turner

from Barcelona

Spain, who will defend their UEFA European Futsal Championship title in November, look in prime form after securing 6-0 and 8-1 wins in friendlies against the United States that took coach Javier Lozano to the 200-game mark.

Debutants impress
With Boomerang Interviú and El Pozo Murcia FS involved in the championship play-off final, Lozano fielded an experimental lineup for the challenge matches, including debuts for goalkeeper Jesús Herrero, Juanra Calvo and Lin. In the first in Lucena, Spain showed their strength in depth against the reigning CONCACAF futsal champions. In the fifth minute Saúl and Isco both struck to make it 2-0 and Boria and Rafa Muñoz doubled the lead late in the first half. Juanra and Saúl took the tally to six and victory was complete, though Marcelo suffered an injury ruling him out of the second match.

Second win
In that game two days later in Andujar, Lozano oversaw his 173rd win as coach, compared with just 15 draws and 12 losses. Joe Hammes gave the US a shock 12th-minute lead but it was 4-1 to Spain at the break thanks to Lin, Saúl, Isco and Borja. Juanra and Rafa Muñoz increased the advantage further and with the US having committed more than five fouls, Juanra then converted a ten-metre penalty. Lin completed an 8-1 success late on.

Coach happy
Lozano said: "I am satisfied with my team's performance. Everything has gone perfectly because both games have given me the chance to see new players who want to prove they can be of use to the national team." Spain will start the defence of their European title in Porto against Ukraine on 16 November before further Group B fixtures against Serbia and Russia.



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