Courtesy: UEFA.com


Cary strike leaves Portugal above Serbia

Pedro Cary's goal with less than four minutes left earned Portugal victory against their fellow quarter-finalists and first place in Group D.

Sunday 5 February 2012

Serbia 1-2 Portugal

by Paul Saffer from Arena Zagreb

Portugal made certain of first place in UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 Group D with victory against fellow quarter-finalists Serbia.

Both of these sides were already through after beating Azerbaijan − Portugal winning 4-1 and Serbia prevailing 9-8 − but top spot would mean staying in Zagreb for Tuesday's last-eight ties rather than switching to Split. Arnaldo Pereira put Portugal in front on his 150th appearance only for Ricardinho to score an own goal, but Cary then clinched victory. Russia and Italy's Group D decider tonight will decide who plays who in the next round.

Serbia conceded against Azerbaijan in the eighth second on Friday but they kept it tight from the off this afternoon, and their swift counters certainly worried Portugal. Slobodan Janjic sprinted clear but was denied by João Benedito, who also stopped a Slobodan Rajcevic free-kick and saved from Mladen Kocic after he robbed Cardinal.

Mostly, though, Portugal were in possession, Cary shooting wide and Cardinal forcing Miodrag Aksentijevic to save. Cary then twice struck over from close range following clever balls from Ricardinho and Cardinal, who himself missed after an interception in Serbia territory.

Just 74 seconds after the interval, the deadlock was broken. Ricardinho again found Cary with a long pass but this time he played back for Arnaldo to smash in. Ricardinho could have had a second, but in front of goal the ball did not fall kindly for his favoured left foot.

With nine minutes left Ricardinho did have the ball in the net, but at the wrong end, his looping defensive header from a Vladimir Lazic's corner sailing over Benedito and in. Keen to make amends, Ricardinho jinked through the Serbia defence but his shot was blocked by Kocic. However, Portugal did get back in front when Joel Queirós found Cary, who this time hit the target.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Arnaldo's 'special' goal for Portugal

Arnaldo Pereira spoke of his emotion after recovering from injury to score on his 150th cap as Portugal clinched Group D with a 2-1 win against a not-downhearted Serbia team.

Sunday 5 February 2012

by Paul Saffer, Nuno Tavares & Elvir Islamovic from Arena Zagreb

Jorge Braz, Portugal coach
We knew we had to be, as we said before the game, extremely organised at every moment. We had good possession of the ball, when we didn't we knew we had to be extremely organised. We made some mistakes when we had the ball in our possession, it can happen, but there were only two or three and I think we will keep on improving as the tournament goes on. I think it was an extremely rational performance and that is very important in a competition like this.

We like difficult opponents, and we have played both Russia and Italy in our preparations at the start of this season. We know them well, it's going to be very difficult, but that's what we like, we like those kind of matches. We're here to win.

Arnaldo Pereira, Portugal defender
It was a very special and emotional match for me as it was my 150th game with Portugal and I managed to score a beautiful and important goal. What else can you ask for? The most important thing was to top the group and we did that so now we can relax a bit before starting to focus on our next opponents.

It's always a great privilege and pleasure for me to play for Portugal and as long as I feel fit I will always do my best to help my country. I had to endure a serious injury and a long recovery process but my team-mates have been amazing and they helped me to get back in shape.

Pedro Cary, Portugal defender
To tell you the truth we expected a bit more from Serbia. Their first five minutes were very promising but in the second half we completely dominated the match. The players on the bench even commented that their players were apathetic and didn't have the will to win the game. As for our team we always play to win even when we only need a draw to achieve our objective, which was the case today.

We played well and we fully deserved to win our group and to remain here in Zagreb. Now I will rest in my bed and watch the match between Russia and Italy as we will face one of them in the quarter-finals.

João Benedito, Portugal goalkeeper
We didn't deserve to concede that goal [Ricardinho heading into his own net to equalise], especially taking in account how it happened, but that's futsal and the most important thing is that we managed to react and go in search of a win. Thank God we did just that. It was very important for us to remain here in Zagreb, mainly as at this stage of the competition you have to recover very quickly from your previous match.

Arnaldo is one of the most charismatic Portuguese players and he fully deserves to have scored that amazing goal on his 150th cap for Portugal.

Aca Kovacevic, Serbia coach
Today it was a totally different game compared with the one against Azerbaijan. Today we played very well, I am satisfied with the players' performance. Today we played at the standard of a European Championship, Portugal were a little better than us and deserved to win, but we now have a very good motivation for the quarter-final, we are ready and we know we can play.

Today was a different game, against Azerbaijan we were under pressure because we knew we had to win to get to the quarter-finals. Today we played without pressure and defended to the standards we set. That's how we usually defend.

Marko Prsic, Serbia forward
It was a good match, we had an excellent second half. We came back after their first goal, but we conceded a late goal, although we had our chances in that period. We had a few good counterattacks, we were dangerous but we missed our chances. But, after all we are not dissatisfied, they were runner-ups at the last EURO. Yes, it wasn't extraordinary today like in our first match, but mostly that's because we had secured a spot in the quarter-finals, and it didn't matter too much who we would play there.

Miodrag Aksentijevic, Serbia goalkeeper
This match was supposed to show us where we are and how much we can do against the strongest teams. I am not disappointed, although a draw would have meant much more for us and would give us a psychological boost. But, our loss doesn't affect us too much, as the game was mostly for pride, because we achieved our goal by winning in the first match."



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Italy comeback fails to deny Russia top spot

Italy levelled from two down but, despite mounting incessant pressure, could not prevent their fellow quarter-finalists from winning Group C.

Sunday 5 February 2012

Russia 2-2 Italy

by Wayne Harrison from Spaladium Arena

Italy recovered from two down to draw with Russia in UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 Group C but were pipped to top spot on goal difference.

Russia knew anything other than defeat by their fellow quarter-finalists would allow them to stay in Split to face Serbia on Tuesday. They seemed set for three points when Aleksandr Fukin and Sergei Sergeev struck before the break, only for Gabriel Lima and Fortino to prevent the Azzurri's first loss in 16 matches.

Gustavo, making his full UEFA European Futsal Championship debut, calmed any personal nerves with a third-minute save from Humberto Honorio. Moments later his side were ahead through Fukin. Loitering on the Italy right, he seized on Pula's poked pass and beat Stefano Mammarella.

If the goal punctured a tentative start, openings soon presented themselves more frequently. Dmitri Prudnikov was centimetres away from a superb solo effort having waltzed around Vampeta, before Gustavo repelled Luca Ippoliti.

Russia were the more menacing, though, and three minutes before the break Sergeev slammed Konstantin Maevski's lay-off across Mammarella. Before that, only the backtracking Sergio Romano cleared Cirilo's attempt off the line.

Fifty-three seconds after the restart Italy were back in it thanks to Lima. Rested in the first half in fear of him receiving a booking which would rule him out of the quarter-finals, he instantly turned in Honorio's cross. Suddenly it was different game. The sliding Gustavo, 33 today, foiled Vampeta on the break and then stopped Lima's volley and Honorio in a one-on-one situation in a matter of minutes.

The 2003 winners deservedly levelled when Fortino bundled in Marcio Forte's kick-in ten minutes from time. Though Saad Assis hit a post and Ippoliti was deployed as a flying goalkeeper, Italy could not find a third and now travel to face Portugal in Zagreb in two days' time.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Futsal EURO quarter-finals set

After a well-attended group stage, the quarter-finals will feature Romania v Spain and Croatia v Ukraine on Monday ahead of Russia v Serbia and Italy v Portugal the following evening.

Sunday 5 February 2012

by Paul Saffer from Zagreb

The full lineup for the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 quarter-finals has been decided following the end of the group stage.

Monday's two matches were defined when Groups A and B were completed on Saturday. Holders Spain will kick off the action at 18.30CET in Zagreb when they face Romania. At 21.00CET in Split, hosts Croatia meet Ukraine.

A competition record crowd to trump the 8,000 that watched Croatia's opening win against Romania is expected at the Spaladium Arena; already more than 37,000 people have watched the 12 group matches, despite the heavy snow in Split and Zagreb over the last few days.

Tuesday's fixtures were set on Sunday evening. By winning Group D with a 2-2 draw against Italy, Russia were able to remain in Split to face Serbia in the earlier of the two games. In the evening, 2010 runners-up Portugal face the Azzurri.

The winners of the two quarters in Split will face off in the first of the semi-finals in Zagreb on Thursday, followed by the other game, which could be a rematch of the 2010 final between Spain and Portugal. The final and third-place match are in Zagreb on Saturday evening.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Italy response worries Russia's Cirilo

Cirilo was at a loss to explain why Russia surrendered a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw with Italy which still clinched Group C top spot, saying "we can't afford any more slips like that".

Monday 6 February 2012

by Dmitri Mamykin & Francesco Corda from Spaladium Arena

Sergei Skorovich, Russia coach
The two halves were completely different. Before the break we played very well. We controlled the ball well, and our movement and passing was so good that we were able to create some chances. Unfortunately we conceded a goal at the beginning of the second half which had a big impact on the match.

This was a morale boost for Italy, who started to play with more aggression. They also had the psychological advantage. We tried to change things and at one stage we were able to move the game away from our goal, but this was not enough.

In the last few minutes Italy introduced a flying goalkeeper but we were ready for that. In general, I'm very satisfied with our performance in a five-on-four situation. So, all in all, a draw is a fair result because we were clearly the best team in the first half, while Italy had the upper hand after the break.

Cirilo, Russia pivot
We were better in the first half, while they were better after the break. It's difficult to say why were not able to maintain the same level in the second half, but we can't afford any more slips like that. We knew Italy would attack, we expected this kind of performance from them. They were two goals down and needed a win in order to finish on top of the group [to stay in Split to play Serbia in Tuesday's quarter-final rather than switch to Zagreb], so they went all out attack. For some reason we were not ready for this.

Roberto Menichelli, Italy coach
Italy once again showed that they can play at the same level as the best teams in Europe, if not the world. This is the thing that gives me most pleasure − it means the job we've done is a good one. To draw with Russia, one of the teams you expect to win the European title, and to have been on a par with them − in the second half we were the better team, in the first no − is a positive. I'm satisfied; we will try to fix a few things for Tuesday.

[Gabriel] Lima was booked in the first match [against Turkey] and if he had picked up another he would have been suspended for our do-or-die quarter-final [against Portugal on Tuesday]. It was important to address this point, although we do have many good players and are not dependent on one individual.

In the second half I was prepared to risk Lima. He was apprehensive but also focused because having a yellow card on your shoulders is a big weight for the player and the team. Lima demonstrated that he is an international class player.

Gabriel Lima, Italy winger
We made the choice [for me not to play in the first half] because I received a yellow card in the opening match and I couldn't risk getting another ahead of the quarter-finals. In the second half when I came on I tried to help. I was fresh and therefore able to inject some enthusiasm to try and change the game.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Serbia's Bojovic leads Golden Boot race

Serbia's diminutive Vidan Bojovic is one goal clear in the race for the adidas Golden Boot after the group stage and says scoring four against Azerbaijan "was like a dream".

Monday 6 February 2012

by Paul Saffer from Zagreb

Vidan Bojovic's four-goal haul in Serbia's 9-8 Group D victory over Azerbaijan gives him the lead in the race for the adidas Golden Boot after the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 group stage.

The 32-year-old, whose sole strike in five previous finals games had come with the consolation in Serbia's 5-1 last-eight defeat by Portugal in 2010, managed four on Friday night in Zagreb – and also scored an own goal. Although Bojovic then failed to register in Sunday's 2-1 loss against Spain, which set up a quarter-final with Russia on Tuesday, he remains a goal clear in the standings.

Looking back at the Azerbaijan match, Bojovic told UEFA.com: "I am still very emotional about that game, because it is not so easy to score four goals against the semi-finalists from the last European Championship. Of course four goals in a EURO is a big achievement, it was a like a dream and definitely my best game for the national team."

One of the shortest players in the tournament, at 1.60m, the Serbia vice-captain said: "It isn't an advantage or a disadvantage. You have tall players who are good like Cardinal, Arnaldo [Pereira] and [Florin] Matei, and you also have players who aren't so big. But that's the interesting thing about futsal – small players can beat big players. That's the difference with futsal and football compared to, say, basketball, where you must be tall – handball, volleyball too. I would not change anything about my stature."

Of the four players on three goals, Russia's Konstantin Maevski is currently in line for the Silver Boot after his hat-trick in the 5-0 Group C win against Turkey and assists in both that match and the 2-2 draw with Italy. Currently three players are sharing the Bronze Boot as they are level in all criteria – Valeriy Legchanov of Ukraine, Croatia's Dario Marinovic and, the only one of the trio from an eliminated side, Azerbaijan forward Jadder Dantas.

Leaders (all have played two games)
1 Vidan Bojovic (Serbia) 4 goals, 1 assist
2 Konstantin Maevski (Russia) 3 goals, 2 assists
3= Jadder Dantas* (Azerbaijan) 3 goals, 0 assists
3= Valeriy Legchanov (Ukraine) 3 goals, 0 assists
3= Dario Marinovic (Croatia) 3 goals, 0 assists

*team eliminated


Full statistics


Criteria
1) Higher number of assists:
• Player delivering the intentional pass, cross, header or shot leading to a goal
• Player shooting and ball rebounding from woodwork, goalkeeper or defender and entering the goal
• Player passing, shooting or crossing and leading to an own goal
• Only one assist per goal can be awarded
• No assist for player winning a penalty or free-kick
2) Higher ratio of converted double (ten-metre) penalties
3) Higher ratio of converted (six-metre) penalties
4) Higher number of goals scored in fewer matches
5) Fair play record (red, yellow cards)

Past final tournament top scorers
2010: Saad Assis (Italy), Biro Jade (Azerbaijan), Javi Rodríguez (Spain), Joel Queirós (Portugal) 5
2007: Cirilo (Russia), Daniel (Spain), Predrag Rajic (Serbia) 5
2005: Nando Grana (Italy) 6
2003: Serhiy Koridze (Ukraine) 7
2001: Serhiy Koridze (Ukraine) 7
1999: Konstantin Eremenko (Russia) 11
1996: Konstantin Eremenko (Russia) 8



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Xavi learns trade from Spain futsal stars

Before Spain continue their bid for a fourth straight Futsal EURO title in their quarter-final against Romania, FC Barcelona's Xavi Hernández speaks about his admiration for the game.

Monday 6 February 2012

With UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 well under way, some of football's biggest names are watching intently to see who will triumph in Croatia – and with FC Barcelona well represented, who would bet against Spain pulling off a fourth straight triumph as they take on Romania in the quarter-finals in Zagreb tonight?

Barcelona's midfield linchpin Xavi Hernández is one of the world's most revered footballers, but the FIFA World Cup winner admits that football's smaller-sided brother, futsal, provides his ultimate definition of the beautiful game. He said: "Perhaps in regular football you cannot appreciate the talent. Everything is more physical. But in futsal you have small details of quality, class and tactical aspects."

Click -> Futsal Planethere to watch the full video.





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