Courtesy: UEFA.com


Russia 'big favourites' for Serbia encounter

Aca Kovacevic knows his Serbia squad are up against it if they are to reach the last four for the first time at the expense of 1999 champions Russia in Tuesday's second quarter-final.

Monday 6 February 2012

by Wayne Harrison & Paul Saffer from Split

Having matched their best performance in a UEFA European Futsal Championship, Serbia are hoping to enter unchartered territory by ousting a Russia team in the quarter-finals their coach Aca Kovacevic describes as "big favourites".

Twelve months ago Russia prevailed 3-0 when the sides locked horns in qualifying, Dmitri Prudnikov scoring two and Pula one in a game in which Marko Peric was dismissed. Serbia will, however, draw encouragement from the 2010 finals in Hungary, where Kovacevic's men rallied from two down to defeat Tuesday's opponents 4-3 and claim top spot in their group.

Unlike that encounter, which both nations entered already assured of progress, there is no room for error in Split. "We have played Russia many times in the last five or six years," Kovacevic, whose squad finished runners-up in Group B behind Portugal, told UEFA.com. "The last four games were very close, and we have always played very well against them."

While Serbia − who boast the four-goal top scorer in Croatia, Vidan Bojovic − are preparing for their second foray into the knockout stage, Russia are seasoned campaigners at this level. Winners in 1999, they have been in the final on two other occasions, each time facing Spain.

"I'll repeat once again what I have said many times: the base of players in Serbia is very small compared to other countries, especially Russia," added Kovacevic, who will recall captain Bojan Pavicevic after resting him for Sunday's 2-1 loss to Portugal. "To get to the quarter-finals is a very big success for us."

Russia finished ahead of Italy in Group C after drawing 2-2 with the Azzurri and although the loss of a two-goal lead in that game irked coach Sergei Skorovich, he was satisfied overall. "Our goal was to qualify in first place, so I'm very pleased we finished in top spot," he said.

Skorovich raised a few eyebrows with his decision to start Gustavo in goal against Italy rather than the experienced Sergei Zuev. Having watched the Sibiryak keeper impress on his full UEFA European Futsal Championship debut, not to mention his 33rd birthday, Skorovich revealed the thinking behind a plan he could stick with.

"Gustavo uses his feet very well," he explained. "The idea was to utilise this strength of his in case Italy pressed us all over the court. Italy also use diagonal passes very well to try to reach their pivot. Gustavo understands the game really well and can predict a team's next move."

The winners of Monday's Split game between Croatia and Ukraine awaits Serbia or Russia in Zagreb on Thursday.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Portugal hope for first Italy win

The last two UEFA European Futsal Championship runners-up meet in the last quarter-final on Tuesday, when Italy hope to maintain their unbeaten record against fellow contenders Portugal.

Monday 6 February 2012

by Paul Saffer, Nuno Tavares & Francesco Corda from Zagreb

One of the last two UEFA European Futsal Championship runners-up will be out of the competition on Tuesday when Italy take on Portugal in the last quarter-final at Arena Zagreb.

Portugal, second in 2010, won Group D in the capital by beating Azerbaijan 4-1 and Serbia 2-1 to top probably the toughest section. Italy, the 2003 champions and runners-up in Portugal four years later, have had to travel from Split after being pipped to Group C supremacy by Russia on goal difference following a 2-2 draw, as well as 3-1 defeat of Turkey.

Both of these teams went through 2011 unbeaten, twice drawing 1-1 with each other in October in Portugal, whose last loss was to Italy a year earlier in Brazil. In fact, the Azzurri have not been defeated by Portugal in 13 meetings but, tellingly, seven of those games finished level.

"We already knew, no matter which opponents we would face in the quarter-finals of this European Championship, that our task would be very, very difficult," Portugal coach Jorge Braz said. "Tuesday's match will be very tough but we like games like that. Those who are ambitious − and that's the case with us − enjoy overcoming these kind of difficulties.

"We know everything there is to know about the characteristics and quality of the Italian squad, but we are much more focused on our tasks and on what we have to do on the pitch in order to succeed and go through to the semi-finals."

Italy disappointingly fell at this stage two years ago in Hungary in a penalty shoot-out to the Czech Republic, but showed their ability this time in coming back from two down against Russia, Gabriel Lima making an immediate impact in the second half having been rested for the first to avoid a ban-earning booking. "Now we have Portugal, they are more rested than us but we are fired up because the draw against Russia was almost like a victory," Lima said.

"Portugal are a little more technical and less physical than Russia, they have quicker moves. But from the games we have played we have come to understand a lot about their marking, therefore in my opinion it will be a great match in which we have a good chance."

The winners of Monday's Zagreb encounter between Romania and holders Spain will await Italy or Portugal on Thursday at the same venue.




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