Courtesy: UEFA.com


Ricardinho rallies Portuguese pride

Monday 12 November 2007

by José Nuno Pimentel

from Lisbon

The UEFA European Futsal Championship finals start on Friday in the Porto region, and hosts Portugal have their hopes invested in a 22-year-old winger called Ricardo Filipe Da Silva Braga – better known as Ricardinho.

'Strong candidates'
The SL Benfica player has emerged as one of the leading prospects in world futsal and he hopes for honours in his debut in a major finals. "I think it's time for Portugal to win a competition like the European Championship, especially as we are playing on home soil," Ricardinho told uefa.com, adding that it does not matter that they have never got past the group stage in this tournament. "We are much more mature now. So we are strong candidates to win the title."

Useful setback
Ricardinho was 17 when he made his national team bow in an 8-4 defeat of Andorra in June 2003, and was a key cog in Portugal's recent 20-month unbeaten run, which only ended in September against former world champions Brazil. "We are very focused on having an excellent European Championship", said Ricardinho. "But we know that to achieve what we want we must have our heads in the right place and our feet on the ground. The reverses against Brazil were useful as they were a warning about the difficulties that we are going to have deal with in these finals."

No fear
While Portugal won bronze at the 2000 World Cup, their best achievement to date, Spain took the title, defended it in 2004 and claimed their second European crown a year later. But they do not worry Ricardinho. He said: "We know that Spain, Italy [Portugal's first opponents in Group A on 16 November] and Russia are very good teams but we've already shown that we are a strong team as well. We don't fear anyone."

Spanish dream
Naming his heroes as not only Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and Brazilian futsal icon Falcão, but triathlete Vanessa Fernandes and judoka Telma Monteiro – "all natural born winners" – Ricardinho missed out on the UEFA Futsal Cup final four with Benfica this season, but states the only thing the Portuguese champions are missing is a league as strong as Spain's – a competition he would like to experience. "I don't know when I'll leave Benfica but it will probably be soon," he said. "I'd like to play in Spain as they have the best and most attractive league, but I have to think well as offers may arrive from other countries." But, he adds: "I am feeling good at this great club that every year is playing and reaching the high level of the best futsal clubs in Europe."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Neumann believes in Czech chances

Monday 12 November 2007

by Ladislav Josef

from Prague

The Czech Republic may not be among the favourites for the UEFA European Futsal Championship finals, which begin on Friday, but coach Tomáš Neumann is ambitious to advance.

Optimistic
Neumann's side must finish in the top two of Group A involving hosts Portugal, 2003 winners Italy and debutants Romania to advance, but the 37-year-old believes they can reach the semi-finals in Porto, having included David Filinger - who will sit out the first three games through suspension - in his squad. "He's in the form of his life," Neumann said. "We want to show that we are not a pessimistic team and believe in going through."

'Winning type'
Three-times the Czech player of the year, Neumann retired in 2000, three years before their European championship best semi-final, while as hosts in 2005 they were edged out in the group stage. "I am the winning type and I am sure we are able to win a medal," Neumann said. Yet he is well aware of the task ahead, having been defeated 3-0 and 7-1 by Italy last January and 6-0 and 4-1 by Portugal in April. "Italy are definitely one of the main contenders and to play against them is always a treat for us," he said. "Portugal are also a very strong side, particularly on home soil."

Vital opener
That makes the first match against Romania even more important, though they lost 4-3 to them last year before a 7-7 draw. "The opening game against Romania will be very important for us as only victory can keep our chances alive," said Neumann. "It's to our advantage that nobody thinks we can do it."

Gifted youngster
The coach is taking a young side to Portugal, with stalwarts Jaroslav Kamenický, Petr Vladyka, Jan Klíma and Petr Krayzel missing out but 19-year-old Jiří Novotný is included. "He is the most gifted futsal player in the Czech Republic and I am convinced that he has a great future," explained Neumann. Novotný was among the scorers in the two 11-0 home wins against Malta that completed the Czechs' warm-up programme last month. "We needed to test our attacking skills, although I know that we will mostly be defending in Porto," said Neumann.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Ivanov calms Russian nerves

Tuesday 13 November 2007

by Eduard Nisenboim

from Moscow

Beaten finalists in the last UEFA European Futsal Championship two years ago, Russia have high hopes of going one better this time. Coach Oleg Ivanov is cautiously optimistic of a first title since 1999.

Caution
With MFK Dinamo Moskva now UEFA Futsal Cup holders, and their Brazilian-born pair Cirilo and Pelé Junior now naturalised Russians, Ivanov's team are certainly a good bet for success. "Our officials are talking only about victory," Ivanov said. "But I am used to thinking only about today and to solving problems as they arise. Our minimum task is to advance from the group. I will not talk about anything more than that, because we are a superstitious group. We will be looking to win each game."

Preparations
Russia lost to Spain in the final two years ago in Ostrava, and indeed their most recent result was a 3-1 defeat by the same opposition in March. Spain along with Ukraine and opening opponents Romania await in Group B from Friday in Porto, but Ivanov is not concerned about the near eight-month gap to their last fixture. "I don't see any necessity in playing friendlies," Ivanov said. "We have a busy schedule and everyone has enough match practice, so we will stick to training games. Before the championship we had a short camp in Shelkovo and then we'll train in Portugal for a few more days. During this time we have to build understanding between players from different clubs, we need to get our defence sorted out and to work on set-pieces."

Boys from Brazil
The presence of Cirilo and Pelé, in contrast to the Russia football team's policy of not using naturalised players, is a big boost for Ivanov. "They make us stronger and more experienced," he said. "We have high hopes for Cirilo, we have not have a sharp striker like him before. He can take the initiative and he can finish off an attacking move. I really don't care that Cirilo is Brazilian. The most important thing is that he is the best in his position in Russia and is the top scorer in the league. Marat Azizov from [PFC] CSKA Moskva could be his replacement, but he is still not ready to be first choice in the national team. If attracting foreigners makes you stronger then it's only good, because good results boost the popularity of the sport. The example of [American] J.R. Holden, who helped the Russia basketball team become European champions, is the best proof of this."

Club growth
Dinamo's success is something else that cheers Ivanov, coach since 2003, especially as both they and MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg are in the final four of this season's UEFA Futsal Cup. "The clubs are working better, the competition in the league is stronger, there are new arenas being built," he said. "There is a lot of attention on youth futsal at high school and university levels. All of this yields results."



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