Courtesy: CONCACAF


Futsal expectations heavy on Guatemala
27/06/2012

A crowd of 7,500 can be quite intimidating - at least when Guatemala is playing futsal in the Domo Polideportivo.

Packed houses four years ago gave "Los Chapines" only their second CONCACAF crown in history when it won the confederation indoor title, and they're hoping it can provide enough boost to do it again starting Monday.

"Playing at home is important to a certain point," Guatemala coach Eduardo Estrada said. "We hope that the fans once again become a determining factor."

"Definitely the expectations are big. First it is to qualify for the World Cup and then to win the title."

Guatemala will open against either Canada or El Salvador in the nightcap of a four-game opening day of the fifth CONCACAF Futsal Championship, and then face Panama and the United States in Group A on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mexico will face Costa Rica in Group A to start the competition, followed by St. Kitts & Nevis against Cuba.

For Guatemala, which hosted the 2000 Futsal World Cup, the sport and national team have become a focus for the nation, which at least one outfit has it rated 21st - the best in CONCACAF - in its latest rankings.

Its 7-year-old league, Liga Nacional de Futsal, is one of a handful of professional circuits in the region and considered a model by many in the confederation.

"The impact (of the league) is big, but everything is based on how the national team does as it has awakened the interest of many young people that were already playing futsal and now want to win a spot on the national team," Estrada said

It's a combination that has left much of the rest of the región trying to catch up, especially the two-time champion United States, which has had six-a-side profesional indoor leagues since 1978 and won the 1996 and 2004 CONCACAF crowns.

"Over the last four or five years, Guatemala and Costa Rica have improved greatly," said U.S. manager Keith Tozer, coach of the Milwaukee Wave in the Major Indoor Soccer League and the U.S. futsal coach since 1996. "In 2000, futsal was not that big, it had not taken off.

"Now, they have more experience, while we're at the same level."

Tozer feels his team will have more a more attacking flair than four years ago, with forwards Michael Millwood of the Baltimore Blast, Bato Radonic of the Missouri Comets and recently naturalized Nelson Santana of the Syracuse Silver Knights.

Besides Guatemala and United States, 2000 champion Costa Rica, and three-time World Cup qualifier Cuba are generally considered title contenders.

Mexico, a perennial contender in every other CONCACAF tournament, has never qualified for a Futsal World Cup, but like all eight hopefuls, will have an extra chance this time as CONCACAF will send four teams this year to the quadrennial championship in Thailand in November.

The extra berth can have its drawbacks though.

"I think it's a mindset," Tozer said. "When we go into a back-to-back games (in the MISL), in the second game against the opponent, I tell my guys 'We have the advantage. We played the night before, we have our legs going,

"But if the other team is playing a second game in as many nights, I tell my guys `We rested night before.' It's a mindset. I can't give this team an out. The mindset has to be go in there and win the gold."

The CONCACAF championship unofficially begins Thursday when Canada and El Salvador square off in the first of two qualifying games on consecutive days for the eighth and final berth in the championship field.

The winner will join Group A with Guatemala, the United States and Panama for three straight days of round-robin play. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals and qualify for the World Cup.

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