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FIFA.comItaly stay perfect with Mexico winItaly have preserved their unblemished record at Thailand 2012 with a 5-2 win over Mexico that consigns El Tri to elimination.
Gli Azzurri now advance to the last 16 as Group D winners, while the Mexicans head for home having lost all three of their matches at this FIFA Futsal World Cup. Italy were good value for their victory, although it took them until the 18th minute to find a breakthrough, with Marco Ercolessi slotting home from edge of the box after Adrian Gonzalez’s pass had been cut out by Rodolfo Fortino.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic though and Mexico drew level three minutes into the second half, Morgan Plata popping up to stab a right-foot shot high into the net after his attempted cross had been deflected back into his path. However, Ercolessi quickly re-established Italy’s lead, peeling away from his marker to prod home Jairo Dos Santos’s measured left-foot cross, and Fortino made it 3-1 soon after.
Plata reduced the deficit with a terrific goal, scooping the ball over the advancing Valerio Barigelli after a long solo run, but Italy again replied almost immediately, with Fortino side-footing home from close range. And there was still time for Luca Leggioro to put Italy out of sight with a long-range that flew in at the keeper’s near post via a deflection off the hapless Rodriguez.
The quotes"The match wasn't easy. Mexcio wanted to get their first points at a World Cup and they wanted to give a good performance against us. Also, we knew we were already in the next round and didn’t play with full concentration,"
Roberto Menichelli, Italy coach."We played well at the start of the match, with a good strategy. Sometimes we lack experience but thats normal for a team like us. Unfortunately this is a sport that doesn’t forgive any mistakes and we took too many risks when the score was 3-2."
Ramon Raya, Mexico coach.Courtesy:
FIFA.comArgentina ease through, Australia face waitArgentina overwhelmed Australia 7-1 to progress to the knockout phase as Group D runners-up and leave their opponents facing an anxious wait to discover whether they will go through as one of the best third-placed teams.
It took just 43 seconds for the deadlock to be broken. Australia goalkeeper Peter Spathis made a mess of an attempted clearance, which cannoned off Cristian Borruto and crept in.
Steven Knight’s charges were back on level terms on six minutes. A fine long pass fom Gregory Giovenali freed Tobias Seeto, whose powerful, low strike went into the back of Santiago Elias’s net.
That goal was greeted by loud roars from the Australian supporters, but it would be the last thing they had to cheer in Bangkok.
Leandro Cuzzolino played a give-and-go with Borruto before slotting home to put Argentina 2-1, and Matias Lucuix ensured they went in at the break at a two-goal advantage.
The Australians had the better of the possession after the restart but while they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, the Argentinians were clinical. Indeed Alamiro Vaporaki, Hernan Garcias and Martin Amas all got on the score-sheet, before Borruto’s second of the game sealed a 7-1 victory for Ferando Larranaga’s men.
Argentina now face the Group E winners – either Serbia, Egypt or Czech Republic – on Monday.
The quotes“My analysis is simple: we were beaten by a much better team. The positive side is the competence we showed against Italy and Argentina, two of the best teams in the world,"
Steven Knight, Australia coach.“We were disorganised during the first half, but the third goal calmed us down. We played better in the second half, and we even had time to try a few things in term of the next game. From now on there are no more easy matches,"
Fernando Larrañaga, Argentina coach.Courtesy:
FIFA.comFive-star Spain finish topSpain have beaten Morocco 5-1 to guarantee their place in the last 16, and top spot in Group B.
It was a comfortable win for the European champions, who took the lead just before the midway point in the half, when Lozano’s curling right-foot shot took a wicked deflection on its way past Rabie Zaari.
There might have been an element of luck on that occasion, but there was no good fortune required two minutes later, when Lozano sent an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net from a short free-kick by Torras.
It looked to be all over bar the shouting when Lin set up Borja for a routine finish a minute before the break, but Morocco made a game of it in the second half and pulled a goal back with Mohamed Talibi bundling the ball over the line following a penalty box scramble.
Spain soon re-established their lead with another fine goal though, Torras working an opportunity on the left and crossing for Fernandao to chest the ball into the net. And salt was applied to Moroccan wounds when they conceded a fifth goal as the final minutes ticked down when Alvaro’s deflected shot trickled agonisingly over the line.
The quotes"We know that Spain are better and stronger than us. But we played a very good match and fought hard all the way through. We didn’t let them settle into their unique style of play,"
Hicham Dguig, Morocco coach."I think we gave a very good performance and showed a lot of intelligence, controlling the pace of the game like we always do. The team is playing better and better, and we are improving every day,"
Venancio Lopez, Spain coach.Courtesy:
FIFA.comIran, Panama progress after close encounterIn a decisive match at the Nimibutr Stadium, Iran made sure of second place in Group B in a thrilling encounter as they defeated Panama 4-3 at Nimibutr Stadium.
Before the game, only one point separated the respective teams. Both knew that a win would secure a place in the next round, so it was a predictably nervy encounter.
Iran took the lead in the fourth minute when Ali Hassanzadeh’s shot cannoned off the post and fell kindly for Ahmad Esmaeilpour whose first-time shot flew into the net.
Two minutes later, Panama drew level when Apolinar Galvez’s cheeky back heel found Claudio Goodridge who fired home a powerful shot.
The west Asians regained the upper hand as the half drew to a close. Afshin Kazemi put them back in front with a well-worked goal and Mohammad Taheri gave them a two-goal cushion on the stroke of half-time.
With five minutes to go Panama were literally handed a lifeline. Hamid Ahmadi’s handball in the box gave them a penalty and Carlos Perez made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick.
Understandably, Panama were pushing for the equaliser but in doing so left gaps at the back, which Iran were able to exploit. Taheri grabbed his second of the evening with a powerful shot, but the side from CONCACAF refused to give up.
They made it 4-3 with just 39 seconds on the clock when Alquis Alvarado netted and there was still drama to come when Mostafa Nazari saved in the final second to ensure Iran made it through to finish as Group F’s second placed team.
However, there was some consolation for Panama as they too qualified for the knockout phase as one of the best third placed teams.
The quotes“This game was as physical as we expected. We had our chances to win by a bigger margin, but we were not able to score partly because of Panama defence. I believe all teams have learn how to defend, and it's harder and harder to score goals,"
Ali Sanei, Iran coach.“We didn’t even dream about this, advancing to the next round in a World Cup in our first time of being here. The chance of qualifying was a pressure my players did not expect to face, and that is why we were not up to our usual level. The important thing then was not to let the scoreline get too big. Now we are ready for anything,"
Agustin Campuzano, Panama coach.Courtesy:
FIFA.comPowerhouses prevail, Panama scrape throughThursday 8 November 2012Shocks were conspicuous by their absence on day eight as the concluding matches in Groups B and D adhered closesly to the expected script. That was good news for a quartet of title contenders, with Argentina, Iran, Italy and Spain all marching on to the last 16 after impressive wins. For Australia and a duo of newcomers in Mexico and Morocco, on the other hand, it spelled the end of the road at Thailand 2012.
Defeat did not end the adventure of another band of newcomers though, with Panama guaranteed of going through as one of the best third-placed teams despite going down 3-2 to Iran.
ResultsMexico 2-5 Italy
Australia 1-7 Argentina
Iran 4-3 Panama
Morocco 1-5 Spain
Goal of the dayMexico-Italy, 2-3, Morgan Plata, 33’ 50”
While many of the best futsal goals emanate from intricate team play, this one was all about individual brilliance. Morgan Plata picked up the ball midway inside his own half and embarked on a memorable solo run that culminated in him skipping inside a challenge and scooping the ball delicately over the advancing keeper.
Memorable momentsSongs of praise for the Huamark HawkThis has been a tournament full of eye-catching comebacks, and another was produced during Italy’s 5-2 victory over Mexico at Huamark Indoor Stadium. Not by the players though. Instead, the falcon that had landed on the pitch during Egypt’s meeting with Czech Republic was back, and this time its incursion on to the field of play considerably more mischievous. The bird’s favourite landing spots on this occasion were inside the two penalty areas, from where it seemed to tease the respective goalkeepers, inviting each to attempt a catch. Members of Italy’s backroom staff and tournament volunteers did attempt to seize this elusive rascal, but the fans were very much on the falcon’s side, cheering and chanting in support each time it evaded capture.
A magnificent missAlthough finding the net is the object of football, there are occasionally misses every bit as memorable as the greatest goals. Pele’s dummying of the Uruguay keeper in 1970 is a legendary example, but another was provided today by Alan Calo in Argentina’s 7-1 victory over Australia. Having baffled his marker with an outrageous piece of skill, the Albiceleste No14 then evaded the keeper and shot just over – all with one foot, in one electrifying movement. Though the game wasn’t short on goals, it was the replay of Calo's near miss on the big screens that drew gasps and a collective exclamation of ‘Wow’ from the wide-eyed crowd.
Germans join the partyIt’s rare to have a World Cup without Germany, but the failure of their team to qualify hasn’t deterred a group of fans from paying a pilgrimage to Thailand 2012. Others at the Huamark Indoor Stadium may have wondered if this noisy group of students had wandered into the wrong tournament when they began chanting for their homeland and waving the national flag. But in each match, these good-natured Germans quickly devoted their energies to backing the underdogs, roaring on Mexico and Morocco at every opportunity. “We’ve come along to bring some extra atmosphere,” they told FIFA.com, their mission evidently accomplished.
Stat of the day100 - Cristian Borruto’s opener against Australia was Argentina’s 100th goal at the FIFA Futsal World Cup. La Albiceleste are the fifth team to reach this landmark after Brazil, Spain, Russia and Italy.
The words“What's really amazed me has been the rhythm and precision some of the teams play with. With Italy, for example, it was a real pleasure just to be on the same pitch.” Mexico coach Ramon Raya on lessons learned in El Tri’s debut FIFA Futsal World Cup
The next gamesFriday 9 November 2012 (local times)
Group E
Serbia-Czech Republic,17.00
Kuwait-Egypt, 19.00
Group F
Solomon Islands-Guatemala, 17.00
Colombia-Russia, 19.00
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