Courtesy: UEFA.com


Bordignon books Italy's final berth

Friday 12 December 2008

Match report by Paul Saffer from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Italy are through to Sunday's UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament final after Andrei Bordignon's first-half goal proved enough to eliminate Spain.

Superb defending
Having been the outstanding team in the group stage, Spain found themselves given little room by their hard-working opponents. Italy conceded first in all their previous matches in St Petersburg but opened the scoring today not long before the break and, just like their senior side in their 2-0 semi-final defeat of Russia in last year's UEFA European Futsal Championship, defended superbly. They now play hosts Russia, with who they drew 2-2 in the group stage on Wednesday.

Early save
Urged on by assistant coach Giorgio Zito, in charge of Italy today due to Paolo Minicucci's sending-off in the 2-2 draw with Russia yesterday, the Azzurrini had most of the early possession. However, goalkeeper Gabriel Miraglia had to make a diving save in the fourth minute from a strong shot from Lolo and not long afterwards tipped over a similar effort by the Spain captain.

Bordignon goal
Luiz Felipe Follador let fly and only narrowly missed the target and Italy were even closer in the 12th minute when Sergio Romano intercepted a clearance and fed Gabriel Lima to shoot just wide. The pressing tactics prescribed in the build-up by Minicucci were limiting Spain and for the first time in this competition they trailed when Wellington Coco fed Bordignon on the right to produce an impressive drive that Óscar Iglesias could not stop. Óscar did redeem himself by heading away a Coco lob outside the Spain box.

Spain frustrated
The first half had been tight but in the first four minutes of the second period both teams hit the woodwork. Italy's Daniel Giasson strode forward and struck the post to the relief of Spain's regular second-half goalkeeper Didac Plana and finals top scorer Pola turned and shot on to the crossbar. Plana then blocked a Lima effort and Spain were getting little change out of a determined Italy outfit, Lolo trying his luck from outside the box. Despite a desperate late offensive from their opponents, the Azzurrini held out.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Minicucci marvels after Azzurrini follow blueprint

Friday 12 December 2008

Match review by Francesco Corda & Paul Saffer from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Suspended Italy coach Paolo Minicucci watched his team defeat Spain 1-0 in the UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament semi-finals from behind the Azzurrini goal and congratulated his "alter-ego" assistant Giorgio Zito on masterminding "the perfect game". Jordi García, whose Spain side had been widely tipped to win Sunday's final, admitted that Italy were rewarded for their passionate display and bemoaned the absence throughout the tournament of regular captain Sergio Lozano.

Paolo Minicucci, Italy coach
We knew we had to produce the perfect game and as a joke we said that 1-0 had to be the score and that was indeed the case. Our game was simple: strong and careful defence, great pressure, swift moves and counterattacks, and keeping the ball when possible. All this happened, I have no words; the lads had one of the most beautiful matches since I became coach of this team. In this sport the team that doesn't concede win, therefore we looked to the defence because we knew that Spain are better on the ball than us. Both Italy or Spain lack a pivot, that is a rarer and rarer role and in this discipline it is a great problem. I always thought, since the time I played, that in this sport there should be one coach next to the pitch and one coach away from the pitch, therefore I did not suffer because I have around me people who I chose, and I'm totally convinced they know how to carry out their job. Therefore I was very calm. I would want to praise Giorgio Zito, he is someone who I can trust and is competent and serene: he is my alter-ego.

Jordi García, Spain coach
I always told my players that Italy were the favourites to win the tournament. We had problems in attack because our best player [Sergio Lozano] was injured before the tournament, and that had a negative impact on the final score. I congratulate Italy on their win. This was the hardest game we have ever had to play, maybe I was not able to motivate my players enough. Italy are always very highly motivated against us as our nations have a history of being rivals, and this was the key to their victory today. Several of these players are playing in the first and second division in Spain and are already good enough for the senior national squad.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Prudnikov pearler sends Russia to showdown

Friday 12 December 2008

Match report by Paul Saffer from Yubileyny Sports Palace

UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament hosts Russia will face Italy in Sunday's final after Dmitri Prudnikov's solo effort saw off the challenge of stubborn Ukraine.

Pressure tells
From midway through the first half Russia put their neighbours under constant pressure but no goal was forthcoming until Prudnikov's run and sublime finish with just less that seven minutes to go. Russia drew 2-2 with Italy in the group stage yesterday; now they will meet the same opponents again for the title.

Tight start
Two other perennial rivals, Italy and Spain, played out a tight 1-0 game in the first semi-final and this match started in similar manner, with plenty of passion but chances at a premium. Dmytro Sorokin had the first chance for Ukraine, making Sergei Slemzin save following Dmitriy Klochko's cross. Klochko was then on hand to block an effort from Russia captain Prudnikov.

Russia in charge
Ukraine's Nazariy Tsymbalyak shot wide on the break, but late in the half Russia started to force the pace. Opposing captain Dmytro Lytvynenko had to dive to deny both Dmitri Lyskov and Vladimir Goncharov, before Prudnikov showed some neat tricks only to shoot straight at the Ukraine No1. A Prudnikov free-kick was then played to Goncharov to cut back to Ivan Milovanov, whose strike bounced off the crossbar. Lyskov shot just wide as the half ended.

More chances
Russia retained the edge after the break, Danil Kutuzov having a long-range effort tipped around the post by Lytvynenko and Victor Senatov rattling the frame of the goal. At the other end Oleksandr Kolesnikov just failed to connect with an incisive Dmytro Sorokin cross, but Lytvynenko remained busy especially when he got down low to stop a strike from crowd favourite Aleksei Petrov.

Prudnikov strikes
The breakthrough seemed inevitable and, when it did come, it was a superb goal from Prudnikov, who broke deep from inside his own half and beautifully chipped Lytvynenko. Now it was Russia's turn to show they could defend and despite Klochko's deployment as a flying goalkeeper, so nearly setting up Oleksandr Sorokin to turn the ball in, Ukraine were thwarted.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Final appearance is deserved, says Ivanov

Friday 12 December 2008

Match review by Dennis Novitsky from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Victorious Russia coach Oleg Ivanov said that the hosts fully deserved their slender victory against Ukraine and a place in the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament on Sunday against an Italy team they have already drawn with 2-2 during the group stage. Ukraine coach Gennadiy Lysenchuk thought his team warranted something from the match and, due to the raucous support they receive, is fully expecting Russia to triumph in the final.

Oleg Ivanov, Russia coach
There are no weak opponents in the semi-finals. Ukraine are a very good team, their movement is always great and so it's hard to play against them. We had lots of shots on goal, but scored only once – that's our weak point, as always. I think the scoreline was fair. I'd highlight the goalkeeper [Dmytro Lytvynenko] from our opponents' squad. He performed miracles as we were in total control and had around 30 shots on goal. Spain lost and that's a surprise. Probably the determination of Italy helped them to victory. I think it will be easier for us to play against them as we have already played them during the group stage. We know their weaknesses and strong players.

Gennadiy Lysenchuk, Ukraine coach
I have to congratulate Russia on their win. We gave the initiative away on purpose, we tried to counterattack but we didn't score. We fulfilled our tactical plan. We closed down the space and didn't give space to Russia. I think that we were close to victory even though we played on the counterattack. For me, the best player in the Russian squad is Dmitri Prudnikov. He has experience of playing for the senior national team. Today he received a one-on-one chance and he took it brilliantly. I think that Russia have a greater chance of winning the final. They play at home and they always do well against Italy. From our Under-21 side, Lytvynenko and [Sergiy] Zhurba have been called up to the senior national team already and, I am quite sure, that Dmytro Sorokin will follow in their footsteps. He was really good on the flanks today.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Prudnikov puts pressure on Pola

Friday 12 December 2008

by Paul Saffer from St Petersburg

Russia captain Dmitri Prudnikov took his UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament goal tally to three with his winner against Ukraine and is one of a trio of finalists who know that a hat-trick on Sunday would overhaul current top scorer Pola.

Challengers
The Spain striker claimed five goals in the group stage but could not add to that tally today as his team lost 1-0 to Italy. Hosts Russia beat Ukraine by the same score to reach the final and Prudnikov was on target for the third game in succession to match the tally of team-mate Kirill Pogorelov, who scored a Matchday 1 hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Croatia. Italy's Gabriel Lima also has three goals and the only player apart from Pola on more, Mohammed Attaibi, was eliminated with his Netherlands team in the group stage.

Overall feat
Another Netherlands player, Sofian El Adel, was the top scorer in qualifying with eight goals and his overall tally of nine, including one in the finals, makes him the top scorer in the competition as a whole. Lima is the only player involved in the final with a total of eight.

2008 UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament finals top scorers
After semi-finals

Player (*team eliminated) (Country) Goals

Pola* (Spain) 5
Mohammed Attaibi* (Netherlands) 4
Gabriel (Italy) 3
Dario Marinoviæ* (Croatia) 3
Kirill Pogorelov (Russia) 3
Dmitri Prudnikov (Russia) 3






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