Courtesy: Crunch Sports


2011 Grand Prix de Futsal fixtures for Saturday, October 22nd 2011

Seven games take place today at the 2011 Grand Prix de Futsal ahead of Sunday's Brazil vs. Russia final.

Brazil and Russia came out on top on Friday, seeing off Iran and Argentina respectively in their semi-final clashes.

After hammering Uruguay 12-0 in Thursday's quarter-finals, the hosts of the 7th Futsal Grand Prix were 4-1 winners over Iran.

But Argentina, who had impressed in the quarter-finals against Paraguay, lost narrowly to Russia on Friday (3-2).

Argentina will now play Iran on Saturday night to determine who finishes in 3rd place at the Brasil Grand Prix, while teams will battle to finalise places 5th-16th.

Crunchsports.com will have previews of all of today's games online throughout the day, along with Sunday's Brasil vs. Russia final.

Saturday's 2011 Grand Prix de Futsal fixtures:
All times BST
1900 Uruguay vs. Czech Republic - 7th place play-off
1900 United States vs. Costa Rica - 15th place play-off
2100 Belgium vs. Zambia - 13th place play-off
2100 Guatemala vs. Paraguay - 5th place play-off
2300 Argentina vs. Iran - 3rd place play-off
2300 Angola vs. Mozambique - 11th place play-off
0100 Netherlands vs. Hungary - 9th place play-off

Sunday
1500 Brazil vs. Russia - FINAL



Courtesy: Crunch Sports


Uruguay vs Czech Republic

Uruguay take on Czech Republic in today's 7th play-off at the 2011 Futsal Grand Prix after both sides lost on Friday.

Uruguay took on Guatemala on Friday and were looking to bounce back from a 12-0 hammering by hosts Brazil in the quarter-finals 24 hours earlier.

But the South Americans suffered their second defeat in as many days, with the game going to penalties after a 4-4 draw and Guatemala edging it 4-3 in the shootout.

The Czech Republic had lost to Russia in Thursday's semi-finals and were looking to bounce back yesterday against Paraguay, but the Europeans were second best throughout the game and lost 6-2.

The Czechs have struggled for goals throughout the tournament and in the final game of the tournament, they may find that Uruguay edge it tonight.

Prediction: Uruguay to win.




Courtesy: Crunch Sports


Argentina vs Iran

Argentina take on Iran in tonight's 3rd place play-off at the 2011 Futsal Grand Prix in Brazil.

Iran have impressed throughout the 7th Futsal Grand Prix in Brazil, reaching the knockout stages of the tournament by winning all three of their group games, then advancing to the semi-finals with a 4-2 win over Guatemala on Thursday.

But Friday saw Iran become the latest side to go down to an impressive Brazil side, who reached Sunday's final with a 4-1 victory.

Iran are now involved in the bronze medal game against an Argentina side who have also impressed.

Argentina, who were also unbeaten in the group stages, played well on Thursday as they beat South American rivals Paraguay 7-3 to advance to the final four.

But they came up short against Russia in Friday's other semi-final game, narrowly losing 3-2.

Tonight's game has the potential to be a thriller and both sides will be eager to finish the tournament on a high.

This one really could go either way.

Prediction: Iran to win.



Courtesy: Crunch Sports


United States vs Costa Rica

The United States face Costa Rica later today in the 15th place play-off at the 2011 Futsal Grand Prix after both sides lost on Friday.

Team USA were looking to bounce back yesterday after losing 5-2 to Netherlands in Manaus on Thursday.

But for the second time in the tournament, the United States struggled against a poor Belgium side and lost their 13th-16th play-off tie 4-1.

Friday also saw Costa Rica slump to a shock 7-3 defeat against Zambia.

It was a result which few will have expected.

Zambia had been beaten 2-1 by Hungary on Thursday, with the Africans producing yet another poor performance which came after they scored just three goals and conceded 24 during the group stages.

But somehow, they managed to put seven past a woeful Costa Rica side, who will now have to pick themselves up quickly if they are to avoid the "award" of finishing 16th tonight.

Prediction: United States to win.



Courtesy: Crunch Sports


Netherlands vs Hungary

Netherlands play Hungary tonight in the 9th play-off at the 2011 Futsal Grand Prix after both sides recorded play-off wins on Friday.

The Netherlands, who have been one of the better sides to have missed out on the quarter-finals, had impressed on Thursday with a 5-2 win over the United States.

Marcel Lossveld's side made it two wins in a row yesterday with a narrow - but deserved - 6-5 victory over Angola.

Holland will arguably be narrow favourites to win tonight and finish 9th when they take on a Hungary side who looked good on Friday when beating Mozambique 7-3.

It was the result Hungary needed after they failed to impress during Thursday's 2-1 win over Zambia.

But given that they have been leaking goals against better opposition during the group stages of the tournament, Friday's win was probably Hungary's last of the tournament.

Prediction: Holland to win.




Courtesy: Crunch Sports


Brazil vs Russia

Hosts and favourites Brazil take on Russia in the final of the 2011 Futsal Grand Prix.

The Brazilian team booked their place in the final on Friday, impressing yet again with a 4-1 win over Iran at the Amadeu Teixeira Arena in Manaus.

Brazil had finished top of their group at the 7th Futsal Grand Prix with a 100 per cent record, scoring 20 goals in 3 games.

Their impressive run this week continued on Thursday with an awesome 12-0 win over Uruguay in the quarter-finals, before the green and yellow team beat Iran in a highly entertaining game on Friday night.

Brazil keeper Tiago admitted afterwards: "We knew that Iran would be more difficult than the other teams we have faced.

"The margin was stretched when you look at how well they played. I worked more than all the other games, but in the end, we deserved the win."

Russia booked their place in Sunday's final with a 3-2 win over Argentina (after extra-time).

Russia played much better than they had in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Czech Republic and Brazilian-born Russian Cirilo, who scored one of the goals in the game, said on Friday night: "We were better in both halves in all aspects.

"We conceded a goal from a set piece, which had been talked about, but we went to extra-time, and managed to score.

"We are in the final and this was our objective in the first place."

While Russia are in the final, they will have to take their game to another level against the hosts, who have impressed throughout the tournament.

A Russian win shouldn't be ruled out, but Brazil are favourites to be victorious.

Prediction: Brazil to win.




Courtesy: Crunch Sports


Guatemala vs Paraguay

Guatemala play Paraguay this evening in the battle for 5th place at the 2011 Futsal Grand Prix after both sides recorded wins on Friday.

Guatemala had lost 4-2 to Iran in Thursday's quarter-finals but bounced back yesterday to grind out a penalty shootout win over Uruguay.

Uruguay went into the game off the back of a 12-0 drubbing by Brazil on Thursday and after the game was drawn at 4-4 after extra-time, Guatemala won the shootout 4-3.

Their reward is a game against Paraguay, who inflicted the second defeat in as many days on the Czech Republic on Friday.

The Czechs had lost to Russia in Thursday's quarter-finals and found themselves to be second best yet again, losing 6-2.

It was an impressive performance by Paraguay and they'll be keen to finish on a high later today.

Prediction: Paraguay to win.



Courtesy: Crunch Sports


Angola vs Mozambique

Mozambique take on Angola tonight in the 11th play-off at the 2011 Futsal Grand Prix after both sides were beaten on Friday.

Angola had got their first win of the 7th Futsal Grand Prix on Thursday with a penalty shootout win over Belgium.

But they were narrowly beaten 6-5 on Friday by the Netherlands, who to their credit have been one of the better sides to have missed out on the quarter-finals.

This evening's opponents, Mozambique, were outplayed by Hungary on Friday, going down 7-3 to the Europeans.

Mozambique coach Roberval Ramos had admitted after Thursday's 4-2 win over Costa Rica that his team had achieved what they set out to do in Manaus.

Mozambique had done little in the way of training before this month's tournament and it may well be that they are tiring.

Because of that, it may well be that Angola end the tournament tonight with a win.

Prediction: Angola to win.



Courtesy: Crunch Sports


Belgium vs Zambia

Belgium take on Zambia this evening in the 13th place play-off at the 2011 Futsal Grand Prix after both sides recorded wins on Friday.

Belgium bounced back from a poor defeat to Angola on Thursday by beating the United States 4-1.

It was the Europeans' second win of the tournament and both their wins in Manaus have come against the USA.

Tonight, Belgium take on Zambia after the African nation recorded a shock 7-3 win over Costa Rica.

The result was one of the surprises of the tournament to date and came 24 hours after they had slumped to a dull 2-1 defeat against Hungary.

Zambia scored just three goals and conceded 24 during the group stages, but will be in confident mood following Friday's victory and this one could go either way.

Prediction: Zambia to win.





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