Courtesy: UEFA.com


Futsal tactics guide

Thursday 24 April 2008

by Paul Saffer

Professional futsal is still a young game compared to its eleven-a-side parent; the tactics are evolving all the time.

Speed
Speed is a theme in futsal, as with such a small pitch, no one has long to dwell on the ball. Equally players have to move fast if they are to find space to receive passes, not least as the ball tends to stay on the ground. Futsal is widely played in Brazil by children before they concentrate on football, and the likes of Ronaldinho and Deco attribute much of their world-class technique to their grounding in the small-sided game. There is no opportunity to rest, so stamina is vital.

Fast moves
Goals generally come from swift moves, often involving lightning exchanges of passes, as the goal is small and a defence given time to regroup at the top level will usually be able to keep opponents at bay. The majority of goals at the very highest level are scored inside the area. Fouls can also be costly because of the danger of giving away a free-kick without the protection of a wall for offending more than five times in a half.

Tactics
Coaches are able to make as many substitutions as they like, with higher-tempo teams, like Russian sides, tending to swap players more, even all four outfielders at once. Teams may utilise a single tactical system, be it a pressing game or a more defensive, counterattacking strategy, but the astute use of player rotation can allow a coach several formations depending on the match. There is also the traditional ending to a tight game when a coach whose team is losing narrowly can take off his goalkeeper and use a fifth outfield player.

Formations
Formations are more fluid than in football, especially with the success in recent years of the '4-0' system which has grown in popularity due to its use by the exceptional Spanish national side. Also widely used is the 3-1, which relies on a 'pivot' forward to hold the ball after being cleared by the defence, 2-2 – where the players stay close together at all times - or the winger-utilising 1-2-1. It is a boon for teams to be able to switch to several different formations in varying match situations.

Defending
Over the last few years a zonal marking system has been superseded by man-to-man tactics, which was applauded by FIFA's technical experts in 2004 as a more dynamic ploy. Generally, though, as in most sports the most important factor is the individual technique and ability of players, and this is especially true in futsal, hence the popularity of Brazilians in the European leagues. Futsal is also being promoted in nations where it has not yet taken off, like England and France, as a useful tool for honing football skills.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Final four to stream live on uefa.com

Thursday 24 April 2008

For the first time, uefa.com will stream this weekend's UEFA Futsal Cup final four live as the continent's top clubs compete for European glory in Moscow.

Free to view
Alongside television coverage provided by Eurosport and other UEFA broadcast partners, uefa.com will be streaming games from the 5,000-seater Krylatskoe Sport Palace. Live match streaming will be available on a free-to-view basis in certain territories in the Americas and Asia, while elsewhere live coverage will be pay-per-view. Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty tackle Russia's MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg in Friday's first-semi-final (18.30 local time, 16.30CET), before hosts and holders MFK Dinamo Moskva meet Spanish champions ElPozo Murcia FS (20.30/18.30). The winners progress to Sunday's final (19.30/17.30), which is preceded by the match for third place (17.00/15.00).

Premium video
Full subscribers to uefa.com's premium video service (uefa.com/video) will also be able to access extensive delayed coverage including in-match event clips, full match re-runs and ten-minute highlights from all four games.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Deivid gives thanks to futsal

Friday 25 April 2008

by Paul Saffer from Moscow

Fenerbahçe SK were the surprise package of this season's UEFA Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time and coming close to pipping Chelsea FC to the last four.

Futsal development
The spectacular goals of Deivid book-ended the run, from his acrobatic volley against FC Internazionale Milano on Matchday 1 and his stunning long-range drive versus Chelsea FC. The Brazilian's secret? The small-sided game in which the European club finals begin today in Moscow, futsal. "I started playing futsal when I was seven and played until I was 12," Deivid told uefa.com. "It helped a lot and it still helps me, especially in situations when you need to dribble or run in short spaces."

Brazilian secret
Brazil will certainly be well-represented in the squads for the UEFA Futsal Cup final four, in which hosts MFK Dinamo Mosvka, Russian rivals MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg, Kairat Almaty and ElPozo Murcia FS will all aim to lift the trophy on Sunday. Deivid is in no doubt that his nation's devotion to the small-sided side game helps explain their remarkable football prowess. "In Brazil we used to play football on the streets, with not much space and a small goal," the 28-year-old said. "It is similar to futsal. And I think this is one of our secrets, in general, as to why Brazilians are more skilful. You have to find solutions within seconds and in not much space."



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Murcia minded to oust Moscow's heroes

Friday 25 April 2008

by Eugene Ravdin, David Baño & Paul Saffer from Moscow

MFK Dinamo Moskva have the honour of defending the UEFA Futsal Cup on home territory when they take on ElPozo Murcia FS in Friday's semi-final.

Rematch
Dinamo, who have reached the last three finals, took the trophy for the first time a year ago in Murcia after a thrilling 2-1 win against the then Spanish holders, Boomerang Interviú. Two seasons before that, also in Moscow, they beat ElPozo 5-4 to reach what was Dinamo's first final, and coach Yuri Rudnev is looking forward to the rematch despite the absence of a veteran of all their previous campaign, Pelé Junior. "The team is in great mental condition, ready to defend the title we won last year," Rudnev told uefa.com. "Yes, we have lost Pelé Junior and it is quite a heavy blow for us. He is out for five months with cruciate ligament damage unfortunately. But all the other lads are fit and ready to take the pitch."

Murcia class
Rudnev expects the visiting team to give Dinamo a thorough examination, with Murcia aiming to win Spain the trophy for the fifth time in seven editions. "Murcia have got stronger," Rudnev said. "I can tell by the games we have analysed and by their squad, as they brought in some decent players. But their main strength today is their solidity and team play multiplied by individual class, which they have in abundance."

Focus
Dinamo have not allowed their proud status of European champions to give them any sense of complacency. "It is difficult for me to speak for the players, but there is a very serious approach in training and we do not let ourselves lose any intensity," Rudnev stated. "Besides, there is also an advantage in such confidence because now the team believe in their ability and know how to attack and defend. We are ready to defend the title and match Spain's best side."

Duda's dream
Murcia, last year's hosts, fell 2-1 in a dramatic semi-final against Spanish rivals Boomerang Interviú to fall short as they had in 2005, and that loss in Moscow still hurts for ElPozo coach Duda. "Now we want to change the feelings we had on the occasion we were defeated by Dinamo," Duda told uefa.com. "We all really want to win this title, from all the coaching staff to every single player, as it would be the first time for our club, and therefore we think this tournament could be very special."

Attacking options
Vinicius Elías is a doubt with a minor hamstring problem, though he was able to train on Thursday, and one player fully-fit is Wilde, who missed last year's finals through injury but recovered to strike a club-leading seven goals in qualifying this time around. "Our team is stronger offensively than last year, we have more attacking options," Duda said. "The situation is also different to last season we played at home, with the pressure of needing to win the tournament because you don't want to disappoint your fans. We still don't want to disappoint them, but the pressure is not the same when you play abroad. That pressure will be on Dinamo this time."



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Futsal rivals aim for famous first

Friday 25 April 2008

by Eugene Ravdin & Paul Saffer from Moscow

One of MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg and Kairat Almaty will earn their debut UEFA Futsal Cup final appearance when they meet on Friday in Moscow, and either way a little bit of competition history will be made.

Newcomers
Kairat, who previously reached the semi-finals in 2006, would be the first team from Kazakhstan ever to make it so far in a UEFA competition. Meanwhile, their opponents in the opening game of the final four event at the Krylatskoe Sport Palace, Ekaterinburg, are on their debut European campaign. In fact they have never won the Russian league title but were given a passport to this competition by their national champions MFK Dinamo Moskva, who are hosting this tournament, after winning last season's UEFA Futsal Cup.

Homegrown talent
Whereas Kairat last week retained the Kazakh league crown with an 11-4 play-off victory against Aktobe BTA, Ekaterinburg drew and lost at MFK CSKA Moskva to fall 21 points adrift of Dinamo. However, Viz coach Sergei Skorovich has a fully-fit squad of largely domestic talent, and believes they can take their run further. "There are many Brazilians at Dinamo, Kairat and [ElPozo] Murcia [FS]," Skorovich told uefa.com. "While we are a homegrown side that will battle and try to do well with our own troops at such a high level. It is a noble deed but I would prefer it to produce big results as well."

Unbowed
Ekaterinburg may not have the UEFA competition experience of the other finalists, but the presence of experienced Russian internationals including goalkeeper Sergei Zuev, Vladislav Shayakhmetov and Damir Khamadiev means that Skorovich is unbowed as he mulls over his final words before kick-off. "I will just have to look them in the eyes," he said. "We are a professional team. Some of them understand perfectly that they will not have another chance to get such a generous gift from Dinamo. We have reached the final four and we should not stop now."

Absentees
Kairat's chances of stopping them and going one better than their loss two years ago to Dinamo are hampered by suspension to first-choice goalkeeper Gustavo and injury doubts over key pair Etienne and Cacau, who has still not fully recovered from knee ligament damage. "They both are experienced players and it would be a heavy blow for us if they cannot feature," rued Kairat coach Alesio.

Ekaterinburg ability
He is able to call on the experienced Pica Pau, who missed the Elite round, but warned: "We know Viz have quality players like Shayakhmetov and Khamadiev, but their strongest side is their common understanding on the pitch. However, they have individual class too. Viz defend and counterattack very well. They are also dangerous on dead balls so we have to treat them very seriously."

Nerves
Nerves are therefore inevitable, though Alesio is not concerned by that. "I can feel some uneasiness among the players but it is only because they are eager for the games to start at last," the Brazilian said. "Some of them have never played in the UEFA Futsal Cup at such a stage but that is OK, nothing to worry about."







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