Courtesy: Solomon Star News


Futsal starts, Kurukuru in top form

by Ednal R. Palmer

Thursday, 01 November 2012

Their recent tour to Spain has put the Kurukuru team in top form, in preparation for the 2012 Futsal World Cup in Thailand which starts today.

Evidently during their recent friendly match with host Thailand, the Oceania champions sent a warning to other countries in the competition with a stunning 4-3 defeat of the hosts.

Thailand had been preparing vigorously for the top tournament but bounced and fall to the hands of the under dogs Kurukuru.

Thailand had defeated a few best teams in their build up campaigns. They beat Iran 5-4, Malaysia 12-1, USA 5-3 and recently Egypt 4-3.

Although in games, it is always anybody’s game depending on how a team plays each day, the Kurukuru have shown power and a competitive level of play that will be detrimental to some renowned world teams.

Thailand coach after the defeat admitted that the Solomon Islands was a good side during the game and that his team failed in defence.

Holding the European champions and World Number one futsal team Spain to score only nine goals, is a promising sign for the home team.

Kurukuru plays one of the Worlds powerhouses, Russia in their opening match this Saturday.

They will then play Colombia on Tuesday November 6 followed by their final pool match against Guatemala on Friday November 9.

In their previous meeting with Russia in the 2009 Futsal World Cup in Brazil, Solomon Islands suffered one of the heaviest defeats in their history when they conceded 31 goals.

Russia ranked 4th in the World Futsal Ranking behind Italy on the 3rd spot, Brazil 2nd and Spain at the top.

Solomon Islands in October’s ranking review dropped two places from the 43rd spot to the 45th behind France on the 44th spot.

The 45th Spot held by the Solomon Islands is way ahead of regional teams such as New Zealand which sits at the 72nd spot and others including England, Canada, South Africa who are in the 80s and 90s spots.

Solomon Islands is in Pool F, which include Russia, Guatemala and Columbia.

In the opening four matches, the reigning champions and the tournament hosts will both be in action on what promises to be an action-packed opening day.

While Japan lie in wait for Brazil and Costa Rica square up to the Thais, Paraguay face a tough opening encounter against Ukraine, while Libya will be out to spring a surprise against Portugal.






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