Courtesy: Our Sports Central


Trio battles in FIFA Futsal World Cup

09/29/08

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Three of the Chicago Storm's finest take the field in Brazil for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup. The tournament opens Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, and concludes with the final on Oct. 19 in Rio de Janeiro.

Storm goalkeeper Jeff Richey and midfielders Andy Rosenband and Matthew Stewart join Team USA for this grand stage. The U.S. battles Paraguay at 10:30 p.m. (CST) on Tuesday, Sept. 30, against Paraguay in Group B play. All three Storm players had a big role in the U.S. qualifying for the World Cup.

Stewart led all U.S. players with five goals during the CONCACAF Futsal Championships. He had a hat trick during the U.S.'s third-place victory against Panama on June 8. Richey made 19 saves and Rosenband also contributed a goal in that World Cup-qualifying match. The top three teams in the CONCACAF advanced to the World Cup.

"All three Storm players did a great job during our qualifications in Guatemala," U.S. Futsal head coach Keith Tozer said. "Jeff showed that he has the ability to win games on his own, direct his defense and make the big saves when needed to keep us in games. Andy and Matt bring a lot of qualities that they show with the Storm: hard work, dedication, professionalism and the ability to disrupt other teams' offenses through their defense."

Rosenband is forced to miss the opener of the World Cup, however. He was charged with a red card during Team USA's third-place victory in the CONCACAF and is ineligible to play in the opening match against Panama on Tuesday.

For the first time ever, 20 teams are taking part in the World Cup. The draw consists of four groups, with the top two teams in each group advancing to a second group stage. From there, a round robin format determines the semifinalists.

FIFA FUTSAL WORLD CUP GROUPING
Group A: Brazil, Cuba, Japan, Russia, Solomon Islands
Group B: Italy, Paraguay, Portugal, Thailand, U.S.
Group C: Argentina, China PR, Egypt, Guatemala, Ukraine
Group D: Czech Republic, Iran, Libya, Spain, Uruguay

GROUP B SCHEDULE
(Game times CST; Group B matches in Rio de Janeiro, unless otherwise listed)
Sept. 30: Italy vs. Thailand, 8:30 a.m.; Paraguay vs. U.S., 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 2: Portugal vs. Paraguay, 8:30 a.m.; U.S. vs. Italy, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 4: Thailand vs. U.S., 8:30 a.m.; Italy vs. Portugal, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 6: Portugal vs. U.S., 8:30 a.m.; Thailand vs. Paraguay, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 8: Italy vs. Paraguay, 10:30 a.m.; Portugal vs. Thailand, 10:30 a.m. (Brasilia)


Futsal features four field players and a goalkeeper on each team. The game includes two 20-minute halves, no walls, a smaller ball with less bounce than traditional soccer balls, and much smaller goals. The game was invented in Brazil, and it is sanctioned by FIFA as the only form of international indoor soccer.





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