by Luca Ranocchiari - Futsalplanet.com editor

Dear futsal friends, we're ready to open the fifth day of our annual awards, that today will crown the Best National Team of the World during the recently ended year 2011. The international stage is getting bigger and stronger year after year, with interesting and competitive challenges organised all around the world. Many nations confirmed their status of futsal top countries, but which one emerged as the best one? Twelve months ago Spain got the title, but now it's time to come back in the country where everything began, as Brazil is the winner of the Best National Team of the World category for the UMBRO Futsal Awards 2011 - 12th Edition by Futsalplanet.com!


First game, first defeat. The only one
Forget Ekaterinburg, that must have been the speech of coach Pipoca after the first game of the year. Friendly game in the cold Uralsk people: the home idol Dmitri Prudnikov (twice) and the CSKA's Sergeev give no chances to Tiago and mates, not the hoped beginning. But the canarinhos performances along the next months will be quite different, with no defeat in 30 games. The second friendly against Russia, the Iranian trip, the challenges vs Uruguay, Portugal and Ukraine show us the "usual" Brazil.

Hangzhou double
There's an interesting tournament coming in June and Pipoca knows Brazil can't fail to defend their title holders status. The tournament conquered 12 months before is in danger due to the great expectations of China, Japan, Romania and above all Iran. Since the first game vs Iran the canarinhos intention is quite easy to understand and the Zhejiang Dragon Sports Centre immediately finds its owners. 4 games, 4 wins, 22 goals scored and just 4 suffered: China belongs to Brazil once again.

South American glory
Four new winning clashes over Paraguay and Kuwait are the right preparation for one of the most important task of the year: the Copa America. All eyes in Buenos Aires are set on Brazil and Argentina, with the Larrañaga boys dreaming to repeat the Asuncion miracle. But hopes don't always turn into reality and Brazil has no mercy for their historical rivals in the expected final: Jé, Neto, Falcão, Rodrigo and Valdin ... 5-1, they're the champions.

Grand Prix back in their pocket
Just a month to rest and October already means Grand Prix. Brazil has a "moral commitment" to their fans, after missing the 2010 title in favour of Spain. Venancio Lopez's team is not taking part in the tournament in 2011, but the south american kings must pay attention to Argentina and Russia to avoid a new failure at home. The first part of the challenge registers a team absolutely in control but finals are something different. Abramov put Russia ahead and you can breath fear in the Arena Amadeu Teixeira. Brazil is in need of two craques like Valdin and Falcão to "fix things" and get one more Grand Prix title. Twelve months later the spanish wound is finally healed and this great year is completed by two wins in Costa Rica.

After such a brilliant season there are no doubts on paying tribute to Brazil, new winner of the Best National Team of the World category for the UMBRO Futsal Awards 2011 - 12th Edition by Futsalplanet.com!!

Parabéns Brazil!

UMBRO Futsal Awards by Futsalplanet.com

Best National Team of the World - Winners
2011 -> Brazil
2010 -> Spain (Special mention: Brazil Women)
2009 -> Iran (Special mention: Brazil Women)
2008 -> Brazil
2007 -> Brazil
2006 -> not celebrated
2005 -> not celebrated
2004 -> Spain
2003 -> Italy*
* in this edition also clubs were included in the same category






































Special thanks to our friend and collaborator Roberto Porta who provided us with the awards 2011 graphics!