Courtesy: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel


Tozer leads futsal squad

Wave coach Keith Tozer is leading the U.S. national futsal team as it enters the CONCACAF championship next week in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Three teams will qualify from the regional tournament for the FIFA Futsal World Cup, to be played in Brazil from Sept. 30 to Oct. 19. The U.S. squad, which headed to Guatemala on Wednesday, includes Wave goalkeeper Nick Vorberg, Detroit Ignition forward Jamar Beasley and Baltimore Blast midfielder and league final MVP Denison Cabral.

Tozer has coached the U.S. squad in the last three CONCACAF finals, and the Americans have won two titles, including the most recent tournament held in 2004.

"It's difficult for the fact we're not a futsal country," Tozer said of the five-a-side game. "We have to teach a team to play against countries that play all the time.

"The tactics are so different, even from our (MISL) indoor game. You definitely have to be very technical."

The U.S. recently played three matches in Brazil and went 1-2 against Brazilian futsal clubs. The U.S. will play in Group B in the CONCACAF tourney and will face Haiti on June 3, Panama on June 4 and Costa Rica on June 5 in group play.

The semifinals are set for June 7, with the third-place game and championship match on June 8.






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