Courtesy: FIFA.com


Inscrutable Skorovich downplaying expectations

Thursday 8 November 2012

Russia’s recent form made them one of the favourites alongside Brazil and Spain going into the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012. Thus far, Sergey Skorovich’s side have lived up to expectations.

A crushing 16-0 win in their Group F opener against the Solomon Islands was followed by a 9-0 thrashing of Guatemala, securing the Russians a place in the second round and sending out a warning to the competition. Their 25 goals is the highest tally in the tournament after the first two games and speaks of a top-class attack, while rock-solid goalkeeper Gustavo has ensured they are the only side to keep a clean sheet this deep into the competition.

It is an incredible start and suggests the Russians are deadly serious about their title challenge but, speaking to FIFA.com, coach Skorovich was keen to play down the pressure: “We’re doing a professional job and we don’t feel any expectations.”

“The real favourites are Spain,” he added. “Spain are champions of Europe and Brazil are the world champions. We’re not the favourites: they are.”

The 39-year-old coach’s words may be a tactic to relieve his charges of the pressure that expectation brings but he insists that despite their first two effortless Group F victories, Russia still have serious obstacles to overcome in Thailand: “We’ve played two excellent games so far, but then again our opponents weren’t so strong and I expect things to go up a level in the next round.”

“I can’t say we won’t be challenged,” said the man with ten years of futsal coaching behind him, “because every side we face has its strong points. The Solomon Islands were definitely easier than Guatemala, who took us into extra time back in 2010.”

The big tournaments always come with their own challenges, but Skorovich, who led Russia to second place at this year’s UEFA European Futsal Championship in Croatia, faces them with an innate good humour and straightforwardness.

His cheerful disposition came to the fore when he talked about his discovery that Spain coach Venanciao Lopez was taking a close interest in the outcome of the Russia-Guatemala match. “He’s a friend of mine,” said Skorovich, “and I saw him buying tickets!”

But his expansive mood soon changed when talk turned to his team’s ambitions at Thailand 2012. “We always have to do our best,” he stated: “Our goal is to make the final.”

And what does he think of the tournament so far? “There haven’t been a lot of closely fought games,” he said. “The Argentina-Italy encounter might be the closest to date. But the important games are still to come.”

Skorovich was quick to reply when asked about his own team and his feelings about coaching them: “When we’ve won the World Cup we can meet again and I’ll answer that question!”

So the inscrutable coach clearly intends to keep his cards close to his chest. If we want an answer, we will have to wait until November 18 to see if Russia can win the title at Thailand 2012.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Race for the knockout stages

Thursday 8 November 2012

The ninth day of action at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 brings with it the decisive matches in groups E and F. While Serbia and Russia have already secured their tickets into the next round, the other countries will do battle to join them in the knockout stages.

In Group E, Egypt and Czech Republic still have a realistic chance of progressing, as do Colombia and Guatemala in Group F. The all-European tie between Serbia and the Czechs promises to be a thriller, while Colombia have the unenviable task of trying to get the better of Russia.

Match of the day
Serbia - Czech Republic, Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 9 November 2012, 19:00 (local time)

Having already reached the last 16 following victories over Egypt (3-1) and Kuwait (7-2), tournament debutants Serbia can afford to relax ahead of their game against Czech Republic. It is a different story for the UEFA Futsal EURO 2010 third-place finishers though, as the pressure is on following a 7-2 defeat to Egypt in their second group game.

Victory is essential in order for coach Tomas Neumann’s men to guarantee themselves a berth in the next round, although a draw may also be enough if results go their way in the other groups’ fixtures. Nevertheless, the eastern Europeans will be determined to keep their fate in their own hands.

Other highlights
In the remaining Group E tie, Egypt go head to head with Kuwait. While the Pharaohs come into the match following a confidence-boosting triumph over Czech Republic, Kuwait have their backs to the wall. Only a clear victory over the African heavyweights would leave the door open for the Asians to go through.

Elsewhere, Guatemala and Colombia are still in the hunt to finish as Group F runners-up. The Central Americans appear to have the easier task, against Solomon Islands, while the Cafeteros face one of the title favourites in Russia.

The South American tournament newcomers will need to be on top form to better the Russians, who have been exceptional in their opening two games, taking the maximum six points and scoring 25 goals in the process.

Player to watch
Egypt's Ahmed Mohamed found the net during the defeat to Serbia as well in the victory over Czech Republic. As top scorer Ramadan Samasry has received two yellow cards and is therefore suspended against Kuwait, all eyes will now be on Egypt's No14, as coach Badr Khalil's charges look to reach the knockout stages.

The stat
0 - In their final Group F game against Colombia, Russia will seek to keep a third consecutive clean sheet. Spain are the only team to have managed such a feat in tournament history, having done so at Chinese Taipei 2004. The Furia Roja's impressive defensive record there laid the foundation for their championship triumph, so it could well be a positive omen for coach Sergey Skorovich's side.

The words
"After beating Colombia, we knew the match against the Solomon Islands would be our most important game in the group. We'll have to be patient against a young, quick team in order to earn all three points,"
Guatemala coach Carlos Estrada.

The schedule
Colombia - Russia (Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 17:00)
Solomon Islands - Guatemala (Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 17:00)
Serbia - Czech Republic (Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 19:00)
Kuwait - Egypt (Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 19:00)
(All kick-off times are local)





Courtesy: FIFA.com


Reyes: Colombia have nothing to lose

Thursday 8 November 2012

For any team debuting at a FIFA World Cup, one of the hardest tasks is to get that first win on the board. Two games into their FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 campaign and Colombia have already managed it, courtesy of Tuesday’s emphatic win over Solomon Islands. For Los Cafeteros, the sense of relief was palpable, especially after losing their opening fixture against Guatemala having twice been ahead.

“It feels good to have won our first game at this tournament,” Colombia’s Andres Reyes told FIFA.com. “It’s not easy to deal with that anxiety, especially when you go in level at half time having lost the lead in successive games. It was only then we realised we had to keep our composure and remain patient. We’re relieved the result went our way,” said the wide player, the only member of the team to score in both their games.

For his part, Reyes felt the victory would be viewed differently over time. “For sure it hasn’t sunk in yet what this means for Colombian futsal, but that’s only natural. We’re still here and right now we need to keep thinking about what more we can do. Later there’ll be time to take stock and plan for the future.”

You do not have to read between the lines to know what this fan of Bogota’s Millonarios is alluding to. Colombia’s three points puts them in the mix for a berth in the last sixteen. The problem, however, is that if they are to advance on their own steam, they will have to do it by beating group leaders Russia, who strolled through their opening two games, scoring 25 times and not conceding.

“We’re realists and know we’ll be facing a side who have come here to win the World Cup. We, in contrast, are here to perform well, learn and win the respect of our more experienced rivals,” explained Reyes. “That said, we have nothing to lose, which is why we can’t hold anything back against Russia.”

The 23-year-old Bogota native has certainly played his part in Thailand, netting once against Guatemala and twice against Solomon Islands. “I’m a bit surprised as that [scoring] is not really my role. Most people dream of scoring a goal at a World Cup but it never really occurred to me. Perhaps the lack of expectation helped me find the target."

Reyes doubted his scoring run would get much attention from his team-mates or rivals, saying modestly: “I don’t think it’s that big a deal," he concluded. "However, so long as my goals help the team, they’re very welcome. This has already been a wonderful experience for us, which is why we want it to continue. We know it’ll be tough, but why not give it a go?”



Courtesy: FIFA.com


Pride in defeat for history boy Alfarsi

Thursday 8 November 2012

He didn’t realise it at the time, but Ahmad Alfarsi created a little piece of history this week. No Kuwaiti had ever scored more than once in a World Cup match before Tuesday, when the 23-year-old rewrote his country’s record books in the meeting with Serbia. There was, of course, one problem: seven other goals were scored in the match – and all seven came from Serbians.

Nonetheless, it was a smiling Alfarsi who chatted to FIFA.com in the game’s immediate aftermath. And it wasn’t so much his own achievements that afforded him a glow of satisfaction as pride in his defeated team.

“To score twice at a World Cup is special of course,” he said. “Although goals never mean as much when you lose, it’s still a match I will always remember. I am more proud of my team though. The fact that we are the first Kuwait side to play at a World Cup since 1982 is a great achievement, and I know the people back home are very proud of us. We’ve had great support, and over the last three years futsal has really developed a lot in Kuwait. We now have a proper league and hopefully this tournament will get even more people interested in the game.”

Role models like Alfarsi are also sure to go a long way towards inspiring Kuwait’s next generation of futsal enthusiasts. A flawless ambassador for his country off the court, he also happens to be one of the team’s most talented and combative players, with his performance against Serbia lauded by coach Luis Fonseca. “Ahmad played very well,” said Kuwait’s Spanish coach. “Usually his defensive qualities are more prominent but it was great to see him take those opportunities in attack. He’s a very strong, aggressive player.”

Nor has Alfarsi been the only Kuwait player to impress in Thailand. Despite successive defeats to Czech Republic and Serbia, the debutants have – much to the satisfaction of their young No4 - added considerably to the entertainment on offer.
“I think we’ve played very well,” he said. “But you need goals to win matches and we haven’t scored enough of those. Our general play is good, but other teams have taken their chances better than us. That’s something we need to work on to do better in future.”

Alfari is certainly determined to ensure that his first taste of a FIFA Futsal World Cup will not be his last. While he accepts that Kuwait are now unlikely to snatch one of the best third-place slots and take their place in the last 16, he insists that Thailand 2012 has merely whetted his appetite for another adventure in four years’ time.

“It has been a really great experience,” he enthused. “We have all enjoyed it so much, and learned so much too. All this is new to us, and the level of football is much higher than we've ever experienced before. We always knew it would be tough, but I think we can go home proud of what we’ve done.”






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