All reports below are courtesy: FIFA.com


Vinicius: Victory would be glorious

Friday 17 October 2008

Much to the relief of everybody involved, coach Paulo Cesar de Oliveira's Brazil have borne the pressure of being the favourites and host nation to reach the final of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008. Though perfectly positioned to reclaim the crown they lost eight years ago in Guatemala, up against them in the tournament decider will be the Seleção's very own futsal bogey team: Spain.

Having been beaten by the Europeans in the final of Guatemala 2000 and the semi-finals at Chinese Taipei 2004, La Roja claiming the world title on both occasions, will they get their revenge this time around? "That's not a word that I like to use, but I'd be lying if I said this match didn't have a special edge to it," Brazil captain Vinicius, a member of that 2004 squad, told FIFA.com.

"We've been preparing for this a long time, we've made a lot of sacrifices along the way and we're on the verge of a significant achievement."

Pressure-cooker atmosphere
Fresh from a hard-fought 4-2 semi-final win over Russia, the Auriverde skipper was full of praise for his side's beaten opponents. "We weren't at all surprised by how well the Russians played," says the no7.

"On the contrary, they put in the performance we'd expected from them in the first round (when Brazil won 7-0). They've got a lot of quality, they're one of the best teams in Europe and against us they showed how good they really are."

And how have Brazil managed to meet every challenge head on so far at this tournament? "Because we're more clinical (than our opponents) and we're able to understand the way a game is going," says the 30-year-old wide man.

"Sometimes the fans looking on think that we're not playing particularly well, but it's all about being able to control each period during a match. You don't have to have the ball all the time and be constantly starting moves; you just need to be effective once the opposition goal is in range."

Nor was the Brazil skipper afraid to touch upon a potentially sensitive subject: the demanding nature of the Brazilian faithful. "We know how high the standard of world futsal is nowadays, but maybe those in the crowd don't. It's understandable, they're here to judge us, but we can't go judging them - it's one of sport's unwritten rules," says Vinicius. "However, we'll just carry on doing our job regardless."

Familiar foes
Vinicius is one of eight members of the Brazil squad currently playing his club futsal in Spain, and is therefore perfectly placed to analyse the Seleção's final opponents. "They are a truly great team and I've learnt a lot from them. Their approach is based on teamwork: the players all put the team first and that makes them very strong," says the El Pozo player, who shares a dressing room in Murcia with Spanish stars Alvaro, Kike, Marcelo and Juanjo. "Spain are always perfectly prepared, they know how to read every moment of each game so they are very dangerous."

When asked how the Brazil squad of 2004 compares with the current crop, Vinicius had this to say: "I'm not a big fan of making comparisons, but that team was lacking that extra bit of preparation needed to compete with the big teams. And I think that's what has made the difference with this current side. Now we feel ready to take on anybody at any time."

"I worked my whole life to become a world champion, it's a dream that is very close to becoming reality," concludes Vinicius, as Sunday's grand finale fast approaches. "Winning would be glorious."




Kike: Beating Brazil would be brilliant

Saturday 18 October 2008

The final of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Spain 1996 ended with Brazil claiming their third world crown at the expense of the host nation. Now, in an intriguing twist of fate, La Roja have the chance to match that impressive feat here at Brazil 2008.

Spain were victors at Guatemala 2000, where they defeated the Auriverde in the final, as well as at Chinese Taipei 2004, where they ushered the Seleção to a semi-final exit. So which of these two futsal giants will take the honours at the sixth edition of the global competition?

"Everyone was talking about this final, but I think that we've always had our feet on the ground. We were aware that Brazil, perhaps because of the way they play, would make it through more easily," Spanish star Kike tells FIFA.com. "But that's not our style. We're always made to suffer, our game is more tactical and less easy on the eye but, fortunately, we're in the last game of the competition once more."

The experienced defensive player is still slightly shaken by the events of La Selección's nerve-jangling semi-final against Italy, decided by an Adriano Foglia own goal in the last second of extra time. "I've played in a lot of games, but never one that's ended like that. Our games against Italy are always tightly contested though," said the El Pozo player.

"Our game's about building a lead and then holding onto it. We did the hard work by opening the scoring but then we defended too deep and got into trouble. But we proved capable of bouncing back and stayed focused right to the end."

Past and future
Kike is one of three surviving members of the 2000- and 2004-title winning squads, the other two being Luis Amado and Javi Rodriguez, and as such is well-placed to compare those sides with the current crop. "For one thing, I'm much older now!" grins the experienced performer, "But these squads don't really have much in common."

"I think the squad in Guatemala was the best generation of futsal players Spain has ever produced and, though I really wish it were so, I doubt we'll see another like it," says Kike. "The squad at Chinese Taipei was a strange one. We had problems going into the tournament; Daniel (Spain's ten-goal top scorer in 2000) was out injured... But the defeat against Italy (in the second group phase) made us roll up our sleeves and show our character. Now we're coming to the end of an era and a big overhaul is round the corner. We'll see what the future holds."

On the verge of making his 21st FIFA Futsal World Cup appearance, is Kike thinking of hanging up his trainers after Sunday's final? "I've not made a firm decision, although I do think the journey is coming to an end," says the 30-year-old defender.

"That said, now's not the time to be thinking about it. Decisions like that need to be taken calmly and without hurrying. But World Cups do tend to signal the end of an era. I think that's quite healthy."

Next up, Brazil
Flipping back to the present, Kike gives his verdict on this weekend's all-important clash in Rio de Janeiro: "How do you beat Brazil? With hard work, humility and togetherness - all things this squad has. And most of all it's important not to be overwhelmed. Yes they can beat you, but you can also beat them. That's something we're very clear about and have proved in the past."

"Spain always believe they'll be champions. Then if we lose, we'll congratulate our opponents and move on. That's what sport is about," the player tells FIFA.com as the interview draws to a close. "Having said that, beating Brazil in Brazil would be something else. Right from the moment we knew the event would be hosted here, we wanted to be in this situation, playing this match, savouring the atmosphere and everything surrounding it."

"Only the match will show whether we've got what it takes to win. We respect them and we know they're a tremendous national side, but we're very confident in our own ability."




Futsal titans astride world stage

Saturday 18 October 2008

It’s the denouement Brazilian futsal fans were hoping for, as the host nation prepare to do battle with holders Spain in Sunday’s FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 final. The Auriverde have a score to settle with the Iberians, who have thwarted their title ambitions at the last two tournaments, in the final eight years ago and at the semi-final stage in Chinese Taipei 2004.

However, Spanish memories of the Brazilians are not uniformly positive either, as the Europeans lost the final to the South Americans in front of their home crowd back in 1996. FIFA.com runs the rule over two nations that share a long history of rivalry at the very highest level.

Brazil - Spain, Rio de Janeiro, Sunday 19 October, 10.30 am (local time)
The emotional temperature at the Maracanazinho in Rio de Janeiro will be at boiling point on Sunday. Thousands of fans will flock to the hall adjacent to the venerable Maracana to witness the final of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008. Hosts Brazil are slight favourites to claim the title, and the local crowd’s passionate support could just provide the edge.

However, there is genuinely little else to choose between the two teams vying to hoist the FIFA Futsal World Cup trophy into the air. Especially during the first two group phases, both teams offered ample evidence of their supreme quality, and both are deserving finalists.

Brazil are the best attacking team at the tournament and have thrilled the crowds with occasionally breathtaking futsal. It is hard to point at any particular defensive weaknesses, as their record of just six goals conceded is the best of all 20 FIFA Futsal World Cup contenders. If anything, the hosts are occasionally vulnerable to swift counter-attacks, as evidenced by their semi-final against Russia.

Their Spanish opponents are supremely well-drilled, but also boast potent goalscoring power in Fernandao and Javi Rodriguez. Coach Venancio Lopez’ most important player is tactician and strategist Kike, the coolest of leaders even when the heat is on.

The neutrals will enjoy watching the clash between the creativity of the Selecao and Spain’s well-marshalled defence, with keeper Luis Amado directing operations from the back. The Roja are unlikely to deviate from their tried and trusted strategy of biding their time, before pouncing whenever their opponents make a mistake or Lopez orders an offensive thrust.

The key factor
Both teams will do their utmost to take the lead, as the side scoring the opening goal will be at a great advantage in the final, thereafter dictating the pace and rhythm while launching potentially devastating counter-attacks. Mental strength is also bound to play a pivotal role, as was undoubtedly the case in the semi-finals.

The player
Schumacher, Brazil
Coach Paulo de Oliveira’s number eight is the fulcrum around which all else revolves in the Brazilian futsal team. Schumacher has had an outstanding tournament, with ten goals and two assists in eight matches so far. At 1.87m (6ft 1in), the three-time FIFA Futsal World Cup participant is a beacon of solidity in defence, topping off an array of talents with exceptional vision.

The stat
4 – Spain star Javi Rodriguez will contest his fourth FIFA Futsal World Cup final in a row. He and his team-mates lost the 1996 final as host nation against Brazil, but he laid his hands on the trophy in 2000 and 2004 after victories over the Selecao and Italy respectively.

The words
It’s very special for me to play in the final at the age of 32. I think Brazil are favourites, because they’re right at the top of their game. I’m expecting a very close match, and the World Cup will be decided by little details. Daniel, Spain player

We’re recovering from the game against Russia and getting ready for the final. We need to keep our cool and turn in a top performance on Sunday. Falcao, Brazil player






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