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FIFA.comRajcevic: This is my biggest chanceFriday 2 November 2012Slobodan Rajcevic can hardly wait to get started at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012. The 27-year-old is part of the Serbian team set to make history at the tournament, as the south-east Europeans have never reached the showpiece event of the indoor game before.
“I’m very proud and happy. The World Cup is the biggest chance in my career,” the forward told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. “One day I’ll tell my grandchildren about it. It’s something very special to be at a tournament alongside players like Falcao, Kike, Ricardinho and Pula. We’re dreaming of a quarter-final against Brazil, that would be amazing.”
Yet before that potential match against his idol Falcao, Rajcevic and Co must first negotiate their way through the perhaps most even group in the competition. The White Eagles go up against Egypt, Czech Republic and Kuwait in Group E.
Ahead of his side’s opening game against the Pharaohs on Saturday 3 November, the striker therefore believes Serbia stand a good chance of not only reaching the knockout stages, but also of causing an upset or two.
“I respect every opponent, but our aim is to finish top of Group E. It won’t be easy, but we have enough quality to do it,” Rajcevic said. “The first match against Egypt is the most important. Victory would give us a very good chance of winning the group.”
The imposing forward has been part of his national side for the last six years and has developed into an “important player” during that time, as he himself says. “But we thrive on our excellent team spirit,” he added.
It was that morale which helped coach Aca Kovacevic’s charges reach the last eight of the two most UEFA Futsal EUROs. At February's continental showpiece, Serbia narrowly lost out 2-1 against eventual runners-up Russia and now they have their sights set on beating the world’s best.
“Our aim is to reach the knockout stages and I’m sure we can do that. Anything is possible once we get there,” Rajcevic said. Should Serbia achieve their objective, it would not only be a remarkable accomplishment, but also a milestone in the history of Serbian futsal.
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FIFA.comNewcomers, veterans eye winning startsFriday 2 November 2012Expectations are high for day three of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012, with several teams set to make their first ever appearance in the global showcase.
Newcomers Kuwait and Serbia are keenly awaiting their tournament bows against respective Group E hopefuls Egypt and the Czech Republic, while in Group F debutants Colombia will also be getting their first taste of the competition when they tackle Latin American rivals Guatemala. The latter section also features the opening match for Russia and their prolific striker Pula, whom the Solomon Islands will be desperate to keep quiet.
Match of the dayEgypt-Serbia, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 3 November 2012, 21.00 (local time)
Serbia may be gracing the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time in their history, but they have no intention of simply making up the numbers when they begin their maiden campaign. Quarter-finalists in the last two UEFA Futsal EUROs, Aca Kovacevic's charges are currently rated as one of the Europe's six strongest sides.
Egypt would thus be wise to beware their upcoming opponents, though there ought to be little danger of complacency after they suffered a 6-1 loss to Serbia in the Grand Prix de Futsal four years ago. Perhaps crucially, coach Badr Khalil can count upon a number of players who picked up experience at Brazil 2008 as his team targets revenge and the best of starts at Thailand 2012.
Other highlightsShortly after that match, Kuwait will enjoy their own introduction to the global stage when they take on the Czech Republic, who are contesting their third edition and will be bolstered by a raft of old hands at this level. Victory would take the European challengers a significant step closer to the knockout phase, after they fell at the first hurdle four years ago.
Meanwhile, the spectators in attendance at the match between Russia and the Solomon Islands will surely be mindful of the two sides' meeting at Brazil 2008, when Russia slotted 31 goals past the then tournament debutants. Unsurprisingly, the Oceanian aspirants are determined to present a stiffer challenge this time around.
The other game in Group F pits new boys Colombia against Guatemala, who were the last side to book their ticket to Thailand 2012 courtesy of a 2-1 triumph against USA.
Player to watchThe eyes of every Russia fan – and surely those of the Solomon Islands players – will be focused on explosive forward Pula, who set a new benchmark for goals scored in a single FIFA Futsal World Cup match when he plundered nine against the same opponents at Brazil 2008. Much is expected of the forward once again and he will be hungry for a repeat performance, while the Solomon Islands will be anxious to somehow blunt his edge.
The stat5 – Colombia are the fifth South American team to dispute a FIFA Futsal World Cup and can now count themselves among the continental elite, alongside world champions Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Arney Fonnegra and his players can draw strength and motivation from the fact that no South American side has ever exited the tournament in the group stage.
The words"In Thailand, we want to play our style of futsal based on teamwork and measure ourselves against the best sides in the world. It would be good to be on the same level as our opponents and why not win one or two matches?" Luis Fonseca, Kuwait coach.
Next upCzech Republic-Kuwait (Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 19.00)
Guatemala-Colombia (Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 17.00)
Russia-Solomon Islands (Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 19.00)
Egypt-Serbia (Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 21.00)
(All kick-off times are local)
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FIFA.comSolomons relishing Russian reunionFriday 2 November 2012“I’ll never forget it. That’s the kind of thing that stays in your heart.”
Elliot Ragomo, captain of the Solomon Islands, is addressing the elephant in the room. The form of the team has been discussed, his role as captain analysed; eventually, conversation had to turn to the events of 6 October 2008. “Everyone remembers us for that game, and that scoreline,” he acknowledged. “It’s a world record after all.”
He is talking, of course, about the 31-2 thrashing he and his team-mates suffered at the hands of Russia during Brazil 2008. It was, as Ragomo correctly states, a result that saw the Solomons make history for all the wrong reasons, and tomorrow sees them return to the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time since. Their opponents? Russia.
And yet, while you would imagine that this is just the opening fixture the Kurukuru would have wished to avoid, Ragomo insists that the opposite is true. “Honestly, we are very happy to be playing Russia again,” he told FIFA.com. “Because it’s the same opponents as that 31-2 match, it’s a perfect chance to show people how far we have come since 2008. We have been improving all the time, and I can promise you one thing now: that kind of result will never happen again with this team.
“The players are mostly the same ones who played in Brazil, but you will see a different team and a different spirit here in Thailand. We are ready for the challenge this time and we are all going to stick together to make sure the Solomon Islands are competitive. I think we can cause a surprise or two. People will see our results from 2008 and think we have no chance. But we have a lot of talented players and, more importantly, we have nothing to lose.”
Wiser for their experiences in Brazil, the Solomons team here in Thailand is also noticeably older. Four years ago, the squad’s average age of 18 hinted at the difficulties that were to follow, whereas this time they arrive with the knowhow necessary to equip them for the challenges that await. That battle-readiness, and the extent of their improvement in the intervening years, was underlined just last week in fact when the Kurukuru stunned the tournament hosts with a 4-3 friendly win.
“That was great - a real boost for everyone,” said Ragomo. “No-one expected that – the Solomons beating Thailand in their own country – and it has given us great confidence about what we can do here at the World Cup.
"Our target is to qualify from our group. We know it will be tough, but it would be the biggest thing in the world if we can achieve it. There would be a public holiday back home if we can get through. We will need to see what the games bring, of course, and we can’t say anything for sure at this stage. But we have one motto in this team and it is never to give up. I think you will see here in Thailand that we live by that.”
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Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
