Courtesy: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel


Tozer makes quick trip

Wave and U.S. national futsal coach Keith Tozer made a whirlwind trip to Brazil for the Futsal World Cup draw, and the United States was placed in Group B with Italy, Portugal, Thailand and Paraguay.

The U.S. qualified for the world championship by virtue of a third-place finish in the CONCACAF tournament in June in Guatemala. The Futsal World Cup is scheduled from Sept. 30 to Oct. 19 in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.

"I've been involved in the game 30 years now, and I had chills during the ceremony," said Tozer, who traveled 14,500 miles between July 8 and his return to Milwaukee on Saturday. "It is a difficult group, but any group at this level is going to present challenges. Italy and Portugal are two of the top futsal teams in the world."

Tozer was contemplating an August training trip to Italy, but he said the Italian coach tapped him on the shoulder after the draw and said, "No thanks," because of their opening-round matchup in the World Cup.

Instead, Tozer said he was planning an Aug. 11-18 trip to Brazil to play some top club teams from that country. The U.S. might play in September in Los Angeles against Guatemala and Japan, a few weeks before the World Cup opens.

The U.S. team will be allowed a 14-player roster for the tournament. Among the key players on the squad are midfielders Denison Cabral and Matt Stewart and defender Pat Morris.

The Wave's Nick Vorberg will compete for a goalkeeper slot, and former Wave keeper Brett Phillips will return after missing the CONCACAF tournament.

Defending world futsal champion Spain was drawn into Group D along with the Czech Republic, Iran, Uruguay and Libya.
A total of 20 teams will compete in the five-a-side tournament. Host Brazil is in Group A along with Russia, Japan, Cuba and the Solomon Islands. Argentina, Ukraine, China, Guatemala and Egypt are in Group C.





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