Courtesy: FIFA.com


Aussies undone by rampant Azzurri

Italy have underlined their FIFA Futsal World Cup title credentials with a thumping 9-1 win over Australia at Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium in their Thailand 2012 opener.

Finalists in 2004 and bronze medallists four years ago, Gli Azzurri embarked on a goal spree after a tight opening 15 minutes in which the Australia keeper, Peter Spathis, excelled. The breakthrough, when it finally arrived, came via an unlikely source, with goalkeeper Stefano Mammarella’s long throw squared by Marcio Forte for Rodolfo Fortino to side-foot into the top left-hand corner.

With that, the floodgates opened, Saad Assis making it 2-0 with a powerful low right-foot before Gabriel Lima added a superb, deceiving Tobias Seeto with a dragback before drilling a shot under the body of the helpless Spathis. Just before half-time, another long throw from Mammarella was perfectly judged for Forte to make it 4-0 as he flicked a deft volley over the advancing keeper.

Italy started the second half as they had ended the first, with Sergio Romano chipping in a fifth inside a minute of the restart and Assis scoring his second with a spectacular long-range shot soon after. Humberto Honario then made it seven from close range after some great footwork and unselfish set-up play by Fortino, and Giuseppe Mentasti and Alex Merlim got in on the act with goals eight and nine before Danny Ngaluafe burst through the Italian defence to pull one back for the beleaguered Aussies.

The quotes
“Even when we didn’t score for the first 15 minutes, I wasn’t worried. I just told the players to be calm because the chances were coming – their keeper was just playing really well, and we kept hitting the post and the bar. In the end, I have to be satisfied with the result, although I’m a little frustrated with the goal we lost as I would have liked a clean sheet,”
Roberto Menichelli, Italy coach.

“The level Italy play at is obvious. We are an amateur team and train only once or twice a week; it's already a great effort that we made it to the World Cup. Against teams like Italy you end up being fatigued, and they take advantage of that,”
Steven Knight, Australia coach.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Mexico no match for five-star Argentina

Argentina have joined Italy at the top of Group D with an impressive 5-1 win over Mexico at the Nimbutr Stadium in Bangkok.

Cristian Burruto scored twice as the dominant Albiceleste cruised to victory against El Tri to strengthen their status as genuine title contenders. Fernando Larranaga’s side relied on a slice of good fortune to take a fifth-minute lead though, with Santiago Basile’s left-foot shot hitting the post but rebounding back into the net off the head of goalkeeper Miguel Estrada.

The South Americans were nonetheless good value for their lead, and they extended that advantage after 13 minutes when Maximiliano Rescia finished off a slick counter-attack from close range. Another sparkling team move led to a brilliant third goal, which Martin Amas side-footed emphatically high into the net following a gorgeous flick by Matias Lucuix.

Borruto then made his entrance with two goals in as many minutes, finishing off a rebound for the first before cutting in from the left to wrong-foot Estrada and put Argentina 5-0 up. Mexico did pull a goal back, much to the delight of the Thai fans, when Jorge Rodriguez stuck out a thigh to divert the ball home, but it was little consolation against a side markedly superior.

The quotes
“This was our first game at the Futsal World Cup, and it was a very tough one against a team whose coach that I admire very much. The few things I know about futsal I learned from him. He is the master. We knew this would be a great challenge, and very difficult, but we are proud that we played the whole game with courage and never sat back against a very strong team,”
Ramon Raya, Mexico coach.

“It was a very hard game. Mexico are not well known opponents to us, we haven’t played each other often before, but my players adapted well and gave a good performance. I appreciate their efforts very much,”
Fernando Larranaga, Argentina coach.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Panama comeback stuns Morocco

Panama turned around a 3-1 half-time deficit to run out 8-3 winners in Group B’s first encounter at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012.

Both teams were making their debuts in this competition and it was the Africans who started the brightest, taking the initiative from the beginning thanks to the prompting of their inspirational captain Yahya Baya. Indeed, it was his strong left-footed shot which was eventually turned in by Yahya Jabrane on the seventh minute to give his side the lead.

Morocco went 2-0 up in a fortunate manner five minutes later when Fernando Mena’s clearance rebounded off Aziz Derrou and bouncing straight into the net. Adil Habil made it three without reply through a penalty kick before Carlos Perez gave his side some hope seconds before half-time.

The goal gave his side the boost they needed. Panama were quick off the blocks following the restart. Miguel Lasso began the rout just 90 seconds after the interval. Less than a minute later, Mena restored parity with a close range finish.

From then on, it was a one-sided encounter which saw Panama use their pace to excellent advantage. Lasso, Mena, Apolinar Galvez, Oscar Hinks and Claudio Goodridge all profited from counter attacks to see the side from CONCACAF record a historic win.

The quotes
"We knew, that it would be difficult to play against Panama. They are better than us, and they were well prepared. We wanted to hold the result but our players lack experience. But the first half showed us that we are a good team, and we will go into the next two games without a complex,"
Hicham Dguig, Morocco coach.

"In the first half my team did not respond to the tactics we discussed before the match, and the Morocco keeper was in excellent form. But we made a little adjustment at half-time and that enabled us to use our counter-attacks to win this game,"
Agustin Campuzano, Panama coach.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Iran revival holds Spain

Asian heavyweights Iran came from two goals behind to secure a 2-2 draw against six-time European champions Spain in their FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 opener at the Huamark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok.

The Spanish, who have twice lifted the trophy at this tournament, raced into a half-time advantage but had to settle for a point with their Group B rivals after an entertaining match-up between two teams intent on attacking throughout.

Miguelin’s precision finish put Spain ahead in the early stages and their lead was doubled shortly before half-time when Lozano took advantage of a rebound, following clever play by Torras, to find the back of the net.

But Iran improved in the second period and earned the draw they deserved courtesy of goals from Masoud Daneshvar and Hossein Tayebi within three minutes of each other, much to the delight of the considerable Iranian support.

The pair are back in Group B action on Monday, when Spain face section pace-setters Panama after Iran have met Morocco.

The quotes
“It was a really tight match. We were not effective in attack and the game changed in the first five minutes of the second half, when instead of us scoring the third goal, they got one back. From then on they were more aggressive. We usually grow as the World Cup goes on, but you have to congratulate Iran - they played a great game,"
Venancio Lopez, Spain coach.

“During half-time, I asked my players to simply go out and play their attacking game, and so they did. At the end, I believe the result is perfect for the match,"
Ali Sanei, Iran coach.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Falcao eyes semi-final return

Friday 2 November 2012

What a difference a day makes. Today, after undergoing medical tests to check the extent of the injury suffered in yesterday's Thailand 2012 opener against Japan, Brazil winger Falcao has a smile on his face once again. Both the star and the South Americans' staff now believe the No12 could recover in time to play a further part at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012.

After just three minutes of the 4-1 win over the Japanese, Falcao was forced to withdraw with an injury to his right calf. Though the area was immediately treated with ice as soon as he reached the substitutes' bench, the player cut a frustrated figure as he left the arena in Nakhon Ratchasima, visibly concerned his fourth FIFA Futsal World Cup campaign was over virtually before it had begun.

Fortunately for him and fans of A Seleção, an MRI scan carried out this morning showed only a grade-two injury, which is far less serious than the player had feared. “We’re very hopeful he’ll be back at our disposal,” said team doctor Aloir Neri. “We’re going to put him through intensive treatment to try and get him back in time for the latter stages.”

With the potential recovery time set at a period of between ten and 15 days, the winger could well be available for selection once more should the reigning world champions reach the last four. The semi-finals of Thailand 2012 are scheduled for 16 November and the final two days later.

Relieved that the prognosis is better than expected, Falcao gave a statement to the official website of the Brazilian Football Association (CBF), to thank his countrymen for the flood of messages of support sent to him via social networking sites.

"Hey Brazil fans! As you can see from the smile on my face, I’ve just had the medical tests and the injury was the least severe it could possibly have been,” he wrote. “I believe that, should we make the semis, I could be back in time as I’ve got 15 days to recover. I’m certain that God has saved a special moment for me. Thanks for all your support, you can count on us."

A Seleção return to action in Group C of Thailand 2012 on Sunday, when they meet a Libya side beaten 5-1 by Portugal in their first game.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Comebacks, goals galore thrill Thailand

Friday 2 November 2012

Day 2 of Thailand 2012 brought a deluge of goals and two stunning comebacks as the FIFA Futsal World Cup lived up to its dramatic, high-scoring reputation. Panama and Iran were the teams to snatch positive results from the jaws of seemingly certain defeat, while Italy and Argentina provided impressive demonstrations of their title credentials against Australia and Mexico respectively.

Results
Italy 9-1 Australia
Argentina 5-1 Mexico
Panama 8-3 Morocco
Spain 2-2 Iran

Goal of the day
Argentina-Mexico, 3-0, Martin Amas, 25’ 33”
This was a goal to sum up the very best in futsal. The trademark slick, intricate build-up play was there, provided by Argentina’s entire team, and there was also flamboyance in the shape of an outrageous flick from Matias Lucuix to set up the shooting opportunity. Every great move needs a fitting finish, though, and Amas didn’t disappoint with an emphatic side-foot shot sent flashing into the top right-hand corner.

Memorable moments
A consolation goal worth celebrating
As befits a nation of sports fanatics, Australia has a reputation of being obsessed with winning. It might have been considered strange, then, that the Futsalroos’ players, backroom staff and fans celebrated Danny Ngaluafe’s consolation goal against Italy like a last-minute winner. But as their coach, Steven Knight, explained: “If you look at the history of futsal in Australia, we haven’t scored many goals at the World Cup. That’s why we celebrated like we did, even at 9-1. We set different targets to the professional teams here, and scoring that goal made the team really happy.”

Panama’s comeback kings
If ever there was a match to fit the ‘game of two halves’ cliché, it was Panama’s remarkable fightback against Morocco. Turning a 3-0 deficit into a victory is worthy of praise in any circumstances, but when the final score is 8-3 and all but one of your goals has arrived in the second half, it becomes a bit special. So it was with the Panamanians, who were a team transformed after the interval – thanks, it seems, to a “little adjustment” by coach Agustin Campuzano that had a truly massive impact.

Fans inspire Iranian revenge
Impressive as it was, Panama’s wasn’t the only comeback Bangkok's Huamark Indoor Arena. Iran also came from behind in the venue’s second match and, in doing so, exacted revenge on two-time winners Spain. La Roja had, after all, denied the Iranians a famous win in their opening match at Brazil 2008 in almost identical circumstances, battling back from three goals down to secure a point. Crucial to the reversal of roles on this occasion was a boisterous band of flag-waving Iranian supporters, who provided noisy and evidently inspirational backing even when their team was seemingly on the road to defeat.

Stat of the day
8 - The number of players on target for Italy in their 9-1 victory over Australia, with only Saad Assis scoring more than once. It was a high-scoring day overall, with 31 goals across the four matches making for an impressive average of 7.75 per game.

The words
“This was our first-ever game at the Futsal World Cup, and it was a very tough one against a team whose coach (Argentina’s Fernando Larranaga) I admire very much. The few things I know about futsal, I learned from him. He is the master,” Mexico coach Ramon Raya.

The next games
Saturday 3 November 2012 (local times)

Group E
Czech Republic-Kuwait, 19.00
Egypt-Serbia, 21.00

Group F
Guatemala-Colombia, 17.00
Russia-Solomon Islands, 19.00







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