All reports below are courtesy: FIFA.com


Hosts advance to the final

Brazil will face off against either Spain or Italy for the title of 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup champions after the hosts emerged with a 4-2 victory from their semi-final against Russia.

The Auriverde have been a revelation at this tournament, thrilling the home fans with their performances en route to the last four, and they once again rose to the occasion against formidable European opponents.

Goals rarely take long to arrive in futsal and this match certainly proved no different, with Brazil storming into a fourth-minute lead courtesy of a routine strike from the talismanic Schumacher. This was just the kind of start Russia had hoped to avoid and their task was made all the more imposing four minutes later when a calamitous error from Pavel Kobzar allowed Falcao to double the hosts' lead.

The Russians were dominating possession, but with Brazil seemingly comfortable in repelling their attacks, it took until two minutes from half-time for Pula to finally haul the underdogs back into contention with a well-taken finish. Unfortunately for Russia, they were up against a side that always looked capable of stepping up a gear and, within a minute, the two-goal cushion had been re-established, Cico setting up Vinicius to slot the ball home.

The Eastern Europeans were not ready to give up yet, however, and six minutes into the second half they halved the deficit for a second time, Damir Khamadiev collecting an incisive pass Vladislav Shayakhmetov and leaving Tiago with no chance. This sparked a thrilling, nervy conclusion to this match until all doubt was removed with two minutes remaining when Lenisio robbed Pula before threading the ball through for the unmarked Gabriel to beat Zuev from point-blank range.

Brazil will now await the outcome of the second semi-final between European giants Spain and Italy to see who they will face in Sunday's eagerly-awaited final.




Spain set Brazil date

Holders Spain needed extra-time to see off Italy 3-2 and book a place against the hosts in the final of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008.

The Spaniards began the game in Rio on Thursday slowly, keeping their shape and not committing much to attack. But after five minutes Fernandao broke through the Italian defence and laid the ball on for Daniel, who made no mistake poking past the Italian goalkeeper to open the scoring.

The Spaniards continued to keep control of the contest and limit the Italian attacks. Still, Grana snuck through in the 12th minute and forced Luis Amado into a fine save. Edgar Bertoni was unable to knock home the rebound.

The second half saw Spain keep up the possession and try to control the pace of the game. But in the 27th minute, the Italians finally found a way through their stodgy rearguard. Adriano Foglia outfoxed three Spanish defenders and slammed home a stunning goal.

The Italians then began to pile on the pressure, with Foglia, Saad Assis and Sandro Zanetti all going close to grabbing a lead. However, the game was destined for extra-time.

Fernandao scored in the last minute of the first period of extra time to put Spain in front, But Grana drew level for the Italians after the side decided to throw all caution to the wind (2-2). But their cavalier spirit was not rewarded, as Spain pulled an ugly winner when a shot against the post bounced off poor Foglia - who was a delight throughout these finals - and into his own goal to give the Iberians a 3-2 win.

Spain will now meet Brazil in a classic futsal final on 19 October in Rio.




Joy and pain on day of drama

Thursday 16 October 2008

To the delight of the fans in Rio, joint favourites Spain and Brazil will contest the final of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008, although the Iberians’ semi-final was a heart-stopping affair which went right down to the wire. The hosts defeated Russia 4-2 in the day’s first match, before holders Spain finally overcame European rivals Italy 3-2 in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. The Auriverde and the Roja now do battle in Sunday’s final, with world and European runners-up Italy facing the Russians for third place.

Russia - Brazil 2-4
Goals: Pula, Damir Khamadiev for Russia; Schumacher, Falcao, Vinicius, Gabriel for Brazil
Brazil defeated Russia in an enthralling match on Thursday morning to claim the first spot in the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 final. Taking the game as a whole, the Europeans actually had the better of the possession and the play, but the South Americans were the more effective, and ruthlessly exploited individual errors made by coach Oleg Ivanov’s men.

Schumacher and Falcao handed the hosts an early cushion, before Pula pulled one back for the Russians and Vinicius restored the Brazilians’ two-goal advantage in the run-up to half-time. Khamadiev made it 3-2 after 26 minutes and an upset briefly seemed on the cards as the sides tore into each other and created chances at both ends. However, Pula was caught in possession shortly before the end and Lenisio fed Gabriel, who calmly slotted home to seal the victory.

The player
Lenisio (Brazil)
The hosts’ number 10 made a magnificent contribution to his side’s 4-2 win, finishing with two assists.

The stat
5 – The number of times Brazil have now reached the final of the FIFA Futsal World Cup. The South Americans won their first three appearances, but lost their fourth to Spain at Guatemala 2000. The Auriverdes exited at the semi-final stage in 2004.

What they said
It was a very intense game, our toughest match of the tournament. Now we have to focus on the Final. Marquinho, Brazil player

Spain - Italy 3-2
Goals: Daniel, Fernandao, Adriano Foglia (own goal) for Spain; Foglia, Grana for Italy
Holders Spain dramatically overcame Italy in a breathtaking second semi-final. After beating their European rivals in the finals of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2004 and the 2007 European championship, the Roja made it three in a row to book a meeting with Brazil for the 2008 world crown.

Coach Venancio Lopez’ men began with their customary swagger and panache, Daniel beating keeper Alexandre Feller in a one-on-one situation to open the scoring after just five minutes. The Iberians eased back for a spell and the Nazionale Azzurra enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball, although the world champions always had the match under control. Keeper Luis Amado was only once called upon to demonstrate his outstanding agility, pulling off a superb save to deny Grana after 12 minutes.

The spirited Italians upped the pressure in the second half and Adriano Foglia brilliantly struck a deserved equaliser. Neither side produced a winner within the allotted 40 minutes and the game went into extra-time. Fernandao and Grana traded goals, but just as the teams and the crowd were mentally preparing for a sudden-death shoot-out from the six-metre mark, tragedy struck the desperately unlucky Adriano Foglia. A shot off the post rebounded from the Italian’s leg and over his own goal line to settle the issue in the Spaniards’ favour in the very last second of extra-time.

The player
Luis Amado (Spain)
The keeper made a string of exceptional saves in the second period to keep his team in the match, almost single-handedly ensuring the world champions' survival into extra-time.

The stat
7 – the number of goals scored at the tournament by Spain's hitman Fernandao, his side’s leading scorer.

What they said
We mustn’t start feeling sorry for ourselves now, although I can’t begin to describe what’s going through my head at the moment. Grana, Italy player






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