Courtesy:
FIFA.comVeteran Kopecky spearheading Czech chargeMonday 5 November 2012At the age of 35, Marek Kopecky is the oldest member of the Czech Republic squad in Thailand to take part at the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012, with the exception of 37-year-old keeper Libor Gercak.
Making full use of his extensive experience, Kopecky proved how key he is to this Czech side by scoring his team’s opener in their first Group E game against Kuwait and playing an influential part in the narrow 3-2 success.
“As I’m one of the older players at the core of a very young squad, naturally I tend to take on a certain level of responsibility,” said the Czech No8 to FIFA.com. “It’s a role that suits me perfectly. I just hope they find my experience useful and that it helps us all go as far as possible.”
The eastern Europeans were dominant for much of the aforementioned encounter, against a Kuwaiti outfit that reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship UAE 2012. In fact, goals from Kopecky, Michal Belej and Tomas Koudelka had given them a 3-0 lead by the 35-minute mark. Comfortably in control, coach Tomas Neumann’s team then went on to suffer a worrying drop in intensity in the game’s closing stages.
“It was our first match at this World Cup,” said Kopecky, by way of explanation. “The first game is always the hardest because you’re so determined to start with a win. It’s sometimes difficult to handle the pressure, even more so in a very competitive match.
“Strangely, we lost our nerve even though we were 3-0 up, and our opponents took advantage to fight back,” added the player, who also appeared at this competition in Brazil four years ago. “We simply can’t afford any more lapses like that in our upcoming games.”
The veteran duo of Kopecky and custodian Gercak were both pivotal against Kuwait, inspiring their team-mates with shining individual displays. While the former stood out due to his composure and ability to slow the play down when required, the latter pulled off a string of decisive stops to keep his team in the lead.
“I’m very happy about what we showed as a team,” said the No8, clearly preferring to turn the focus onto the squad as a whole. “We’ve got loads of young players in this side, who are still short of international experience. Our objective is to grow and progress with every game,” added the keen tattoo enthusiast.
Next up for the Czech Republic is another testing encounter, this time versus Egypt on Tuesday. Beaten 3-1 by Serbia in their first game, the Pharaohs are now obliged to pick up a positive result against the Czechs to keep their qualification hopes alive.
“The match against Egypt looks like it’s going to be very tough too,” said Kopecky. “They’re a good side, with several very talented individuals who catch the eye. It’s certainly not going to be an easy ride for us.”
That said, victory for the Czechs would undoubtedly be a significant step towards reaching the knockout phase. “Our priority goal is to reach the Round of 16 and from then on, anything’s possible,” said the forward, part of the squad that finished third at 2010’s UEFA Futsal EURO. “But if luck goes against us, we could also easily end up facing one of the tournament favourites at that stage of the competition.”
His young squad-mates can rest assured, however, that in case of a tussle against one of global futsal’s elite nations, they have an attacker with the experience, composure and natural leadership skills to point them in the right direction.
Courtesy:
FIFA.comBullish Pharaohs accentuate the positiveMonday 5 November 2012In reacting to a defeat, players and coaches usually choose between two distinct options: depression and defiance. Within seconds of Egypt emerging from their dressing room on Saturday, there was no doubting which camp they would fall into.
To describe the Pharaohs exuding confidence would be a major understatement. Such was their self-assurance, in fact, that a 3-1 defeat Serbia in their Group E opener couldn’t bring them to even contemplate failing to reach the last 16.
“We still believe in ourselves,” said their creative No8, Mizo. “And we will do enough to qualify. We just had bad some luck against Serbia, but what can you do about that? The goal for us remains the same. We have confidence that we will overcome this defeat, and we know the coach has confidence in us too.”
Badr Khalil leaves no-one in any doubt over that. Indeed, it is clear that Egypt’s unshakeable sense of belief stems directly from the bench, and their perpetually positive coach. And if Khalil was still smiling contentedly just minutes after his team’s defeat, it was simply because he saw it merely as a bump on the road towards near-certain qualification.
“I thought that we deserved something from the match, but I am not downhearted,” he told FIFA.com. “I think you will see why in the end because I’m sure that it will be Serbia and Egypt who go through at the top of this group. I’m still very, very confident that my team will be there in the last 16. I watched the match between Czech Republic and Kuwait, and it is my opinion that we are much stronger than both these teams. I really believe that.
“We play the Czechs in our next match and they are another strong type of European team. But I don’t think they will be as difficult for us as Serbia were. They also have some players already with yellow cards, which could become a factor. We will give them respect, of course, but our goal is to reach the semi-finals. And we are determined, at the very least, to get through from this group.”
Failure, it quickly becomes clear, is not a word in the Egyptian futsal alphabet. That’s why Mizo spoke only of his determination to prolong the Pharaohs’ FIFA Futsal World Cup adventure and reward not only the support of their countrymen, but their hospitable hosts.
“It’s a dream to be playing in this kind of tournament and we want to make our country proud,” he said. “And we are loving it here in Thailand. We have had a great welcome from the people here. The people are very friendly, always smiling, and the Thai fans in the stadiums have been great to us. We want to win our next matches for them as well as for our own supporters.”
Courtesy:
FIFA.comChapín stalwarts ready to step asideMonday 5 November 2012Close friends for the best part of 15 years, goalkeeper Carlos Merida and winger Estuardo De Leon are both survivors of the Guatemala side that contested the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2000, an event that marked the starting point for futsal in the Central American nation.
On duty again at Brazil 2008, the duo are appearing in their third FIFA Futsal World Cup at Thailand 2012, though as De Leon explained in an interview with FIFA.com, this will be his farewell appearance in the competition.
“As far as I’m concerned this is it for me,” said the 35-year-old Chapín skipper, the architect of their 5-2 defeat of Colombia on Saturday. “I know we’re part of a generation that has achieved some big things but the time has come for us to make way for the youngsters. And what better way to do that than after a World Cup?”
One year his skipper’s junior, Merida also had a big hand in Guatemala’s comeback win over Los Cafeteros, pulling off some important stops at key times, not least when keeping out a first-half penalty. Yet, like De Leon, he too is ready to call it a day.
“The next generation are already coming through,” he said. “There are six or seven players from 2008 and we’ve got some 21 and 22-year-olds who are working well, which is reassuring when you’re retiring.”
Though they play for different sides in Guatemala’s semi-professional league, the two old stagers are firm friends and know each other inside out.
Discussing the close bond between them, the goalkeeper put it down to more than just the time they have spent together in the national team: “It’s because of our background. We both come from very modest neighbourhoods and we know that to play in a World Cup is to fulfil a dream that every boy harbours. It’s a blessing from God.”
Having survived a scare against the Colombians, the Guatemalan stalwarts are turning their thoughts to Russia, their opponents on Tuesday. “We need to make sure we maintain our focus because we won’t always be able to come back from two goals down,” said De Leon. “All the same, the fact we fought back to win that first game is a confidence-booster for us.”
Merida had this to say about their next match. “Russia press hard and very high up the pitch too, so I’m expecting a very different game to the previous one. It’s essential we keep possession and keep the ball on the deck because they’re very tall. We know we can give them a fight, though. They’ve got a lot of technique but we know them better than they know us, which I think gives us an advantage.”
A win would take Los Chapines straight into the Round of 16: “That’s what we’re aiming for and it would be ‘mission accomplished’ for us if we can do it,” explained De Leon. “That doesn’t mean to say we’re lacking in ambition, just that we’re realistic. We’d also be delighted if we could go on and make it to the quarter-finals.”
Courtesy:
FIFA.comIntroductions aplenty as Thailand 2012 heats upMonday 5 November 2012The sixth day of action at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 gives us no fewer than four tournament firsts. In Group F heavily fancied Russia take on a gritty Guatemala side, while Colombia and Solomon Islands are both aiming for to pick up their first win.
In Group E, tournament debutants Kuwait and Serbia face off, while Egypt - beaten by the Serbs in their opening game - look to make up lost ground against a Czech Republic side that sank Kuwait.
Match of the dayRussia–Guatemala, Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 6 November 2012, 19.00 (local time)
These two sides have played each other twice before, but this will be the first time they have squared off in the finals of a FIFA Futsal World Cup. With both sides winning their opening games, this contest will decide who finishes the day top of Group F. Though Russia may be slight favourites, they face gritty opponents in Guatemala, who recovered from a first-half deficit against Colombia on 3 November to secure victory.
The Russians beat Solomon Islands soundly in their own opener but, as stated by coach Sergey Skorovich, they will have to raise their game against Guatemala: “They will make us work harder, that's for sure.”
Other highlightsSolomon Islands are the team with the youngest average age in Thailand and were a little unfortunate to open their campaign against a genuine title contender in Russia. Eliot Ragomo and Co will therefore be looking to set the record straight against Colombia, and in the process boost their hopes of staying in the competition.
Kuwait will want to reprise their battling display in defeat against Czech Republic when they encounter Serbia in Bangkok. Meanwhile, a second victory for the Serbians would further solidify their chances of qualifying from Group E.
That first-game win over Kuwait means the Czechs are high in confidence ahead of their meeting with Egypt. Egypt coach Badr Khalil, for his part, will be exhorting his charges to go out and secure a first-ever win over European opponents at this competition.
Player to watchSerbian captain Bojan Pavicevic was instrumental in his country’s victory over Egypt, providing incisive passes that resulted in Serbia’s first and third goals. The oldest member of his squad, the veteran defender will be pushing his team to claim another three points versus Kuwait this Tuesday.
The stat5 – Czech Republic’s win over Kuwait was their fifth victory at a FIFA Futsal World Cup. Five is also the number of Czech players representing club side Era Pack Chrudim who should feature in the match against five-time FIFA Futsal World Cup participants Egypt.
The words“The game against Russia will be different from the one against Colombia because there will be much more pressure on us. We'll have to have excellent ball control and avoid the aerial route because they’re taller than us. We’ve played them before and we know that they can fight hard,” Guatemala goalkeeper Carlos Merida.
The scheduleColombia-Solomon Islands (Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 17.00)
Russia-Guatemala (Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 19.00)
Kuwait-Serbia (Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 19.00)
Egypt-Czech Republic (Indoor Stadium Huamark, 21.00)
(All kick-off times are local)
Posted by
Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
