Courtesy: UEFA.com


Italy and Slovenia claim futsal berths

Saturday 12 April 2008

Italy and Slovenia are the latest teams to book their places in the first UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament finals after wins on home soil tonight.

De Luca double
Staging Group 6 on home soil in Martina Franca, Italy opened yesterday with an 8-0 defeat of France while Turkey and Moldova drew 0-0. And after France beat Moldova 6-0, Italy knew that a win against Turkey would take them through regardless of the Matchday 3 results on Monday. De Luca struck twice before the break, either side of a Lima effort, and Coco Wellington and Romano sealed a 5-0 success for Italy and a place in the finals in December alongside hosts Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, the Netherlands and tonight's other qualifiers Slovenia.

Slovenia through
Needing only a draw against Belgium at home in Group 1 in Lasko, Slovenia struck three times without reply before the break and went on to win 4-2. Georgia pipped Bulgaria to third place with a 5-4 win. Two berths in St Petersburg now remain unfilled and that will be put right on Sunday. Group 3 hosts Spain need only a draw to deny Slovakia in Alcobendas but it is more complicated in Group 7 where the Czech Republic lead Croatia on goal difference, with home side F.Y.R. Macedonia one point behind. The Czech Republic face F.Y.R. Macedonia and Croatia meet eliminated Armenia.





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