Courtesy: FIFA.com


Cardinal thriving in Cristiano’s shadow

Monday 12 November 2012

He’s 27, a prolific goalscorer and wears the No7 shirt for Portugal. Sounds familiar? Well, Cardinal might not be Cristiano Ronaldo, but he is fast becoming as talismanic a figure for the Portuguese futsal team as his star countryman for their football counterparts.

A haul of seven goals from four matches at Thailand 2012 gives an indication of his worth to Jorge Braz’s side, and his Canada-born coach has been leading a chorus of grateful adulation. “Cardinal is special; he’s one of best pivots in game,” said Braz.

“He knows he can still get even better, and he is focused on improving the little details - and that’s why he’s having such a great tournament. He’s a great person and, above all the footballing qualities he has, he’s someone who's never satisfied unless he's winning. If he can keep on improving, there’s no doubt he’s going to be one of the very best.”

If Braz’s assessment of a born winner and fiercely determined perfectionist is accurate, it would suggest that the similarities to Ronaldo do not end with their age, shirt number and nationality. And if that’s the case, it’s because the Real Madrid star has been an inspiration to a player acutely aware of the added responsibility his jersey carries.

“It’s a number I’m very proud and very happy to wear,” Cardinal told FIFA.com. “Cristiano is my idol in football. I don’t compare myself to him, of course, but I hope I can represent Portugal as he does in this shirt. And the number fits well for me at the moment – after all, that’s the number of goals I have at this tournament!”

Cardinal will be hoping that the symmetry ends during Portugal’s quarter-final against Italy, particularly as he is just two behind Russia’s Eder Lima – seven of whose goals came against the Solomon Islands – in the race to finish top scorer. It’s clear, however, that the adidas Golden Shoe has not become an obsession.

“It would be very nice, of course, but it’s honestly not my main goal,” he said. “The most important thing for me is always the team. I was to win the golden shoe, it would of course mean a lot to me. But it’s not something I'm spending a lot of time thinking about.”

Personal prizes might not be his focus, but Cardinal does concede that he is better equipped than ever to compete for such illustrious awards. “I’ve never played better than I am right now,” he enthused. “I’m in great form and feel like I’m going to score in every match I play. But I know I have to keep improving and make sure I have the best tournament possible. I feel in good shape right now but the standard of the tournament is going to keep on getting higher, so I need to keep raising my game. I hope, and I believe, that my best moment at this tournament is still to come.”

Given his form thus far, such words are sure to send shivers down Italian spines. The Azzurri players will know that they are facing a forward at the very top of his game, and a Portugal side that was hugely impressive in their 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16.

“We played really well,” reflected Cardinal. “We knew we would need to produce a good performance to dominate against Paraguay, and that was what we came up with. The balance of the team was perfect, and our determination to stay in the competition was there for everyone to see.

“Now we’re looking forward to the quarter-final, and we’re relaxed about our opponents. The only difference for us in playing Italy over Egypt is that we know the Italians better, which will help with our preparation. We know they're a good team who will give us a tough match but it’s one we can go out and enjoy. We have achieved our main objective at this tournament and now it’s just a case of playing to our maximum and going as far as we possibly can.”

With Cardinal in his current form, that could be very far indeed.





Courtesy: FIFA.com


Fernandao: Team spirit will be decisive

Monday 12 November 2012

The quarter-finals of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 will witness a repeat of the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 final on Wednesday, as European champions Spain face continental runners-up Russia. Anticipation is already growing ahead of the rematch between Europe’s strongest sides in what promises to be another cracker.

At their last meeting in February this year, the Sbornaja were seconds away from victory, only for the Iberians to fight back and secure the title. Spain’s Fernandao, the Furia Roja’s leading scorer at FIFA Futsal World Cups, is therefore understandably cautious, as he revealed to FIFA.com.

“It’ll be a very difficult game because Russia have a terrific team,” Fernandao warned. “They have a very balanced squad, effectively making two teams in one. Our chances are 50-50.”

The encounter against the eastern Europeans appears to come at the right time for Spain. After a 2-2 draw in their opening fixture against Iran, victories over Panama (8-3) and Morocco (5-1) followed. The 7-1 demolition of hosts Thailand in the last 16 paved the way into the quarter-finals and demonstrated Spain’s ability to “improve game by game,” according to Fernandao.

“We need to focus on ourselves against Russia and not think about them too much," the 32-year-old said. "This kind of match against strong sides suit us. We have enough experience to win them. At the end, the winning team won’t be the one who played better or made fewer mistakes, but the one with the better team spirit on the day."

In Thailand, the Brazilian-born Fernandao has proven exactly why he has been a mainstay in the Spanish side for more than four years. The imposing forward has so far hit three goals in four games, taking his total tournament tally to ten, after netting seven times in Brazil 2008.

Fernando’s bald head makes him an instantly recognisable figure on the futsal court, as do his height and muscular physique. Yet while that may make him less nimble than his slighter teammates, his quality is clear to see.

“It has both positives and negatives,” Fernandao said of his stature. “Of course it’s an advantage to be big and strong as it helps to win the ball in challenges. But on the other hand I commit more fouls because I use my body going in to tackles.”

In that respect, the Barcelona player believes he has benefitted from his time on international duty. “After four years in the Spanish national side I’m a different player today,” Fernandao told FIFA.com "I’ve learned a lot at big tournaments and now have more self-confidence than I did in 2008. I’ve matured in that time."

The experienced forward also had no problem explaining Spain’s game-plan for reaching the last eight. “Our philosophy is to win every game. We don’t worry too much about each match, but focus instead on winning. We came to Thailand to become world champions. We don’t want to lose or draw. Victory is the only thing that counts for us.”

Russia may have a thing or two to say about that as they try to break Spain’s lengthy unbeaten record. Since 2005, coach Venancio Lopez’s side have gone 117 games without losing in open play. If everything goes according to plan for Fernandao and Co, that run will extend to 120 and counting by the time the tournament ends.





Courtesy: FIFA.com


Colombia's modest hero of Bangkok

Monday 12 November 2012

It seems apparent to everyone who watched the match. But when FIFA.com suggested to Colombia goalkeeper Juan Lozano that he was the hero of their epic defeat of Iran on Sunday, a win that took them through to the last eight of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 on their first appearance in the competition, he was having none of it.

“No, no, please!” said the shotstopper, with a broad grin etched on his face. “This win was down to the team, not just one individual. It’s true that I played the best game of my life, or at least the most important one, but if my team-mates hadn’t gone and scored the goals, then we wouldn’t be enjoying this wonderful moment right now.”

There is no disputing that argument, though the 30-year-old Lozano neglected to say that it was his accurate long throw-out that set Yefri Duque up for Los Cafeteros’ first goal.

“The ball had just gone behind and I asked the ball boy to give it back to me quickly because I could see they [the Iran players] had their backs turned to me,” said the quick-thinking custodian, recalling the move that would put Colombia in the lead. “Luckily, my throw was a good one and Yefri put it away nicely.”

An admirer of fellow countryman Rene Higuita and Spain's Iker Casillas, Lozano had kept Colombia in the game up to that point with some excellent stops, including not one but two remarkable double saves.

“I’d be lying if I told you my hands didn’t hurt,” added the Colombia keeper, whose stout resistance was only broken 35 minutes into the game. “When they pulled that goal back I felt as if the world had fallen in on me. We recovered quickly, though, and defended really well.”

He added, almost with a sense of disbelief: “Now we’re among the top eight sides in the world.” Colombian football might not traditionally have a reputation for defensive play, but it is their strength at the back that has helped this Cafetero side go as far as they have. In restricting the free-scoring Russians to just two goals and edging out the Iranians by the odd goal in three, they have shackled two of the world’s strongest futsal outfits.

Explaining the reasons behind the tactical shift, coach Arney Fonnegra told FIFA.com: "In my experience, every time we have gone out to play an attacking game in tournaments like this, we have been eliminated. Some will compliment us; others will criticise our defensive system. But our concept is clear and our conscience is clean."

What is Lozano’s view on that? “The gaffer is absolutely right,” came the answer. “In this game you have to defend well first and then attack. It’s not the team that plays the best football or scores the greatest goals that wins, but the one that keeps clean sheets and takes its chances."

The durable Ukrainians are up next for the South Americans, and there is every likelihood that Lozano and Co will elect to keep things tight once again, as the keeper explained: “They play a more similar game to Russia than Iran, though all three like to take the game to you. One thing I am sure of is that we’ll need to play a near-perfect match to beat them.”

An international since 2005, Lozano dedicated his side’s win over Iran to his mother, who passed away 18 months ago. He also had dedications to make to his father, brothers, neighbours and the country as a whole: “I bet Colombia is really excited about our performances because it’s not every day that one of the country’s teams does something like this.”

And as he went on to say, Lozano has no intention of leaving Thailand just yet: “Even if we go out in the quarters we’ll have had a great tournament, but we are confident in our own abilities. We haven’t finished yet and we want more. The semi-finals are no longer a fantasy and it’s a 40-minute game where it’s the cleverer side that wins. All I can say is we want to be among the top four teams.”

The question is, will there be a happy ending for the hero of Colombia’s epic voyage?




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Rivals reunited in the last eight

Monday 12 November 2012

Quarter-final day is beckoning at Thailand 2012, and the line-up for the last eight includes more than one match worthy of being the final itself. Brazil’s showdown with old rivals Argentina pits the holders against the shock winners of South America’s qualifying competition, while Russia and Spain are reunited nine months after battling it out for the European title. Thrills can also be expected from another all-European clash between Italy and Portugal, while Ukraine’s meeting with Colombia showcases two of the tournament’s dark horses.

Match of the day
Spain-Russia, Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 14 November 2012, 21.00 (local time)
It needed extra time to separate these futsal giants in February’s UEFA Futsal EURO final, and a match every bit as dramatic and closely-fought looks a near-certainly. The battle for continental glory eventually ended with Spain victorious, and that alone marks them out as favourites according to Russia coach Sergey Skorovich.

However, while his opposite number attempts to skilfully shift the burden of expectation, Spain’s Venancio Lopez will know only too well that the Russians are well capable of exacting revenge. Skorovich’s team do, after all, boast Thailand 2012’s leading marksman in Eder Lima, and have enjoyed a near-flawless campaign thus far, scoring 30 goals without reply.

Other highlights
One of international football’s oldest and fiercest rivalries will be reprised at the Huamark Indoor Stadium when Argentina and Brazil go head-to-head. The reigning champions will be favourites against an injury-weakened Albiceleste side but Fernando Larranaga’s side will at least be boosted by the return from suspension of Cristian Borruto.

Continental bragging rights will also be up for graps when Portugal play Italy, and with the likes of Cardinal, Saad Assis and Ricardinho all in sparkling form, goals should be guaranteed in the first of Nimibutr Stadium’s quarter-finals.

Stopping teams from scoring has become Colombia’s speciality, meanwhile, although they will need yet more heroics from goalkeeper Juan Lozano if they are to cause another shock against in-form Ukraine.

Player to watch
All eyes will be on Falcao after he made a goalscoring return from injury in the last 16 just two weeks after his Thailand 2012 campaign seemed to be at an end. Scoring against Panama enabled the Seleção legend duly to become just the fourth player to find the net at four different editions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup, and he will be desperate to continue his comeback – and add to his 35 goals at this tournament – against opponents he knows extremely well.

The stat
2 – The number of confederations represented in the quarter-finals, with five of the remaining teams representing UEFA and three hailing from CONMEBOL. Only once before in the history of the FIFA Futsal World Cup, at Spain 1996, has the last eight been comprised entirely of teams from two continents.

The words
“It’s very likely that our game-plan against Ukraine will be similar to the one we used against Iran. In my experience, every time we have gone out to play an attacking game in tournaments like this, we have been eliminated. Some will compliment us; others will criticise our defensive system. But our concept is clear and our conscience is clean. The dream is not over yet,” Arney Fonnegra, Colombia coach.

The schedule
Argentina-Brazil (Bangkok, Huamark Indoor Stadium, 16.00)
Colombia-Ukraine (Bangkok, Huamark Indoor Stadium, 18.30)
Portugal-Italy (Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 18.30)
Spain-Russia (Bangkok, Nimibutr Stadium, 21.00)
(All kick-off times are local)





Courtesy: FIFA.com


South American clásico to light up Thailand

Monday 12 November 2012

On 14 November, a new chapter will be written in the shared football history of Brazil and Argentina, when the fierce South American rivals go head-to-head in Bangkok at the Thailand 2012. At stake is no less a prize than a berth in the last four of the global showpiece.

This will be the duo’s sixth encounter since the competition was first held at Netherlands 1989, with the pair only having avoided each other at Spain 1996 and Brazil 2008. The record books are overwhelmingly in Brazil’s favour, as the reigning world champions amassed victories in all five of the teams’ previous meetings, four of which came by a three-goal margin.

That being the case, surely A Seleção must be considered favourites ahead of Wednesday’s quarter-final? “History has nothing to do with it because this game is special,” Brazil coach Marcos Sorato told FIFA.com, minutes after his charges had thumped Panama 16-0 in the Round of 16.

“Argentina defend well, counter-attack well and have quality going forward,” added Sorato. “It’s true that they’ve lost an important player in Matias [Lucuix], but I still expect us to come up against a very competitive side. I’d say the chances of winning are 50-50.”

His Albiceleste counterpart Fernando Larranaga, meanwhile, despite being on the Argentinian bench for each of the last three defeats by Brazil at FIFA Futsal World Cups, was in bullish mood when speaking to FIFA.com. “The teams know each other really well,” he said, after the 2-1 Round of 16 win over Serbia. “It’s all-or-nothing now, so we’ll be going out to win the game. We’ve got no other option.”

Je, Brazil’s second top scorer here in Thailand with six goals, was on the same wavelength as coach Sorato. “I think that this one could go either way too,” said the pivot.

“These games are special; there are other things at play aside from football. I particularly remember our two matches at the Copa America 2011, when we drew 2-2 in the group phase but then beat them 5-1 in the final,” added Je, who scored in both games. “But they didn’t have their European-based players then, which will level things up.”

Between the sticks for the Argentinians in those two duels was Santiago Elias. “Brazil are the favourites, but these are the games I really enjoy playing in,” said the custodian after the narrow win over Serbia.

“As well as the rivalry, against Brazil you get peppered with shots all the time,” he continued. “You don’t get chance to let your mind wander and that’s what keepers like, whereas when you play some other teams they might only create one chance and then score from it.”

So, what will be the key to victory in this clásico? “Not making mistakes,” said Sorato. “Argentina have some top-class individuals and they defend well, which could prove a dangerous combination. But we’ve got our strengths too,” added the supremo, whose charges have the tournament’s most prolific attack thus far (36 goals scored in four games).

Elias too was simple and to the point with his analysis: “We just need to stop them scoring, nick one or two ourselves and then see the game out,” said the custodian, whose side have conceded just six times in their four games. That tally is equalled by Italy and only bettered by Brazil (two conceded) and Russia (zero).

All the ingredients are therefore in place for another memorable clásico between the continental arch-rivals. And whether A Verde e Amarelo extend their winning run against La Albiceleste at this competition or the men in blue-and-white stripes finally turn the tables, the fans in Bangkok are sure to be in for a treat.






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