Courtesy: Herald Tribune


Brazil, Spain favorites again at futsal World Cup

- The Associated Press

September 29, 2008

SAO PAULO, Brazil: The rivalry between Brazil and Spain will be renewed when the Futsal World Cup begins Tuesday in Brazil.

Hosting the event for the first time, Brazil will try to win the five-a-side football competition for the first time in 12 years, while Spain is looking to clinch its third straight title.

Brazil and Spain have won all five titles since the competition began being organized by FIFA in 1989. Brazil won the first three tournaments before Spain took over in the next two.

"Our prime objective is to reach the final, and once there, we want to win the title again if at all possible," Spain coach Venancio Lopez told FIFA's Web site. "Our team's philosophy is based on working hard and not living in the past ... Our rivals are improving and strengthening their squads significantly."

In addition to the last two titles, Spain was third in 1992 in Hong Kong and second in 1996 at home. Brazil was second in the 2000 tournament in Guatemala and third in 2004 in Taipei.

"Spain is the team to beat at this World Cup," Brazil coach Paulo Cesar de Oliveira said. "They're a group that have had everything planned out for years now."

The Spaniards eliminated Brazil in a penalty shootout in the 2004 tournament before beating Italy 2-1 in the final.

"Brazilian futsal is entertaining and exciting, and no one's going to change that," said Brazil star Falcao, the golden ball winner in Taipei. "But our main objective here is to win."

But despite failing to win the last two World Cups, Brazil remains one of the main powerhouses in the sport, and its biggest source of talent. In this year's competition, more than 20 Brazilian-born players will be participating.

The 14-player roster of Italy's national team is entirely composed of Brazilians who have been naturalized as Italians. Other nations with Brazilian-born players include Spain, Russia, Japan and the United States.

The U.S. has on its roster Jamar Beasley, the older brother of regular national team player DaMarcus Beasley.

"We're both making our living in football, just in different parts of it," Jamar said. "We always support each other."

A total of 20 nations will be competing for the title — six from Europe, four from Asia, four from South America, three from North and Central American, two from Africa and one from Oceania.

The teams are divided into four groups of five, with the top two advancing to the next stage with two groups of four teams. The top two in those groups will reach the semifinals.

The competition will be played in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.

Futsal is played by five players per side over two 20-minute periods. The playing surface is about the size of a basketball court.




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