Courtesy: FIFA.com


Falcao stars as Brazil rally to eliminate Argentina

Brazil staged a courageous comeback to see off Argentina and reach the FIFA Futsal World Cup semi-finals. The defending champions were at a two-goal deficit with little over seven minutes of normal time remaining, but they rallied to take the game to extra time before Falcao’s second of the game snatched them a 3-2 victory that ensured they avoided suffering one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.

Brazil are always expected to beat Argentina, but the fact that Marcos Sorato’s side thrashed Panama 16-0 in the Round of 16 as Fernando Larranaga’s charges only edged past Serbia 2-1 simply enhanced the consensus that a one-sided game was in prospect.

And the opening exchanges did nothing to dampen that feeling. Brazil, indeed, exploded out of the blocks, utilising their nimble footwork and defence-unravelling one-twos to create chances. They had a great one with just four minutes gone. Fernandinho went clean through but saw his effort superbly saved by Santiago Elias, who reacted instinctively to block Gabriel’s header from the rebound.

The Brazilians fell to a two-minute numerical advantage when Je received his second yellow card midway through the half, but it didn’t prevent them taking the game to their opponents. Elias nevertheless continued to frustrate them, and when he didn’t, the woodwork came to his rescue from a 13th-mniute Neto free-kick.

Yet, against the run of play, Argentina stunned Brazil by scoring twice within a minute. Following fine work from Santiago Basile, a Maximiliano Rescia strike proved too powerful for Brazil goalkeeper Tiago to handle and broke the deadlock, before Cristian Borruto’s fierce drive doubled the lead.

Predictably, Brazil laid siege to Argentina’s goal following the restart. Elias had already made two smart saves by the time Vinicius rattled the post three minutes into the half, and the upright then denied a Simi effort before Falcao’s piledriver came back off the crossbar.

Finally, with just seven minutes remaining, Brazil’s pressure paid off when Neto’s vicious strike from distance beat Elias. And one minute later Falcao’s early shot caught Argentina off guard and made it 2-2.

Thereafter, both teams went in search of a winner, and the underdogs came closest to getting it. With four minutes remaining, a brilliant Leandro Cuzzolino strike from distance forced Tiago into a fine acrobatic save, and the same player produced another decisive stop from the Brazil keeper shortly afterwards.

Ultimately, though, the game went to extra time, where Falcao smashed home a quickly-taken corner to book Brazil a last-four date with the Colombia-Ukraine winners.

The quotes
“It was a great match. I never thought the game was lost when 2-0 down and, in fact, I decided not to say too much to my players at half-time because they were doing everything fine. Today we won because of the quality and personality of these players,"
Marcos Sorato, Brazil coach.

“I will say just one thing: my players are heroes and Brazil beat us only because they have more players playing professionally,"
Fernando Larranaga, Argentina coach.





Courtesy: FIFA.com


Colombia upset Ukraine to reach semis

The genius of Andres Reyes and some outstanding defensive play propelled Colombia to a 3-1 upset of Ukraine and a FIFA Futsal World Cup semi-final date with Brazil. A wonder goal from Reyes had the South Americans ahead and they put two last-minute goals into an unguarded net, before the Europeans grabbed an even later consolation.

The first half was shy on meaningful action, with Ukraine dominating possession but finding goalkeeper Juan Lozano equal to their rare attempts on goal.

Colombia offered little threat going forward in the first 20 minutes, but within 140 seconds of the restart they had broken the deadlock through Reyes. The diminutive No9 danced past a Ukrainian defender before burying a vicious toe-poke into the bottom corner.

Ukraine had virtually all of the ball thereafter, but Colombia defended masterfully and actually had the best opportunities on the counter-attack. Angellott Caro cut inside two men from the left and forced Ievgen Ivanyak into a fine save, and the Ukraine No1 had to be alert to deny Jhonathan Toro.

With just 90 seconds left on the clock, Ivanyak was sacrificed for an outfield player, but Caro and Jorge Abril put the ball into the empty net from distance to give Colombia an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Denys Ovsiannikov did finally get Ukraine on the score-sheet, but it proved nothing more than a parting consolation for their fans in Bangkok.

The quotes
“It’s a great win for us, and a result we believed we could get. We studied the tactics of Ukraine well and we knew what approach to take against them. We have a young group of players who are highly motivated and that has been the key to our recent success. We are happy that we have brought joy to the people back home,”
Arney Fonnegra, Colombia coach.

“When the match was still 0-0, it was an even encounter and I believed that whichever team took the lead would go on to win the match. Colombia played well defensively as they have good defenders and a great goalkeeper. They know how to defend and win matches,”
Gennadiy Lisenchuk, Ukraine coach.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Italy comeback ousts Portugal

Italy have come from three goals down to beat Portugal 4-3 and set up a semi-final meeting with either Spain or Russia. Humberto Honorio scored the winning goal in extra time to settle a thrilling match in which Ricardinho looked to have caused an upset with a sensational first-half hat-trick.

The Portugal No10 has been one of tournament’s most impressive players, but even the high standards set in previous matches were surpassed this evening. The first glimpse of the futsal masterclass that was about to unfold came inside two minutes, when Ricardinho danced inside the challenge of Marcio Forte and drilled a powerful right-foot shot just inside the left-hand post.

If that was good, his second was even better, with the Japan-based forward somehow adjusting his body-shape to crash home an overhead kick after Stefano Mammarella had saved Arnaldo’s initial effort. Italy were reeling and, just eight seconds later, Ricardinho completed his hat-trick, sweeping the ball high into the net from Cardinal’s low cross from the left.

It was difficult to see a way back into the match for Gli Azzurri at this stage, although they were given some hope when Cardinal – Portugal’s top scorer prior to this match – was sent off for a second bookable offence. However, even during the period in which they had an extra player, the Italians couldn’t find a way past the excellent Andre Sousa, and it took a penalty to bring them back into contention.

Saad Assis won it by luring Marinho into a clumsy challenge, and it was Assis himself who dusted himself down to take the kick, sending the keeper the wrong way with a well-struck left-foot shot into the top corner. As the half progressed, and with Portugal containing them fairly comfortably, Italy went with five outfield players, sending on Gabriel Lima in the goalkeeper’s jersey. And it was a move that paid near-immediate dividends, with Lima himself storming forward to fire powerfully beyond Andre Sousa with two-and-a-half minutes remaining.

Then, just as time looked to be running out for Italy, Lima fed Humberto Honorio, whose low cross was converted at the back post by Rodolfo Fortino. That forced the game into extra time and, having set up the equaliser, Honorio struck the decisive goal, drifting in from the right, shimmying past a challenge and firing left-footed into the bottom corner.

The quotes
“This was a match of many emotions and, first of all, I must congratulate Portugal, who played very well and gave us many problems. It was only with great determination that we succeeded in turning the game in our favour, and I can only compliment my players on their technical and mental strength. It is when the situation is at its most difficult that you must show your personality on the pitch, and it was only by doing this that we overcame the difficulties posed to us,”
Roberto Menichelli, Italy coach.

“It’s hard to find the words to express how we feel. To lose a three goal lead is of course a very bad outcome for us, and I can’t explain why it happened. We are very, very sad to be going out of the tournament in this way, and I feel we deserved more than to be going home after the quarter-finals. Overall, I think it’s been a pretty good tournament for us but we had hoped for a little more,”
Cardinal, Portugal forward.




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Spain to face Italy after edging Russia

Spain have survived the first major test of their title credentials by coming from behind to beat Russia and set up another all-European clash in the semi-finals against Italy. Much was expected of this rematch between the two UEFA Futsal EURO finalists, but while the Russians hadn’t conceded at Thailand prior to this match, but they were ultimately just edged out by an disciplined Spanish side.

Sergey Skorovich’s side could not have wished for a better start though, after Sirilo fired them in front with just a minute and 14 seconds on the clock. Spain, however, refused to panic and were level two minutes later when Ortiz toe-poked the ball beyond Gustavo and into the far corner of the net to end Russia’s run of defensive invincibility.

The European champions grew in strength as the half progressed and with 14 minutes played Fernandao edged them ahead, chipping a pass down the left for Aicardo and charging forward to receive the return crash a first-time left-foot shot just inside the far post. The Russians would have been happy to get to half-time just a goal down at this stage, but their hopes were dashed a minute before the break when Lozano put Spain 3-1 up from close range after his initial shot had rebounded back off the left-hand post.

Russia pushed forward in the second half in search of a way back into the match but with Spain’s defence well organised, and keeper Juanjo faultless whenever called upon, it took the introduction of a fifth outfield player with seven minutes remaining to tease an opening. Skorovich’s side used the extra player to work the ball wide to Eder Lima, and though Juanjo parried the forward’s shot, the ball rebounded back into the net off the legs of Alemao.

Drama persisted until the final whistle but despite some near misses from the Russians, Spain emerged triumphant and now march on to face another familiar foe in the last four.

The quotes
"The result is fair. We played a very good first half, the second one was more balanced, but in the end the scoreline is fine. Juanjo played a fantastic match, but we won as a team. I would like to congratulate Russia for a great match today and a great job at the World Cup. It’s a pity that we had to face each other in the quarter-finals,"
Venancio Lopez, Spain coach.

"We worked very hard and we wanted to win but, as always, Spain go through and we head home. We started the game quite well but then we started to make mistakes and you can’t make those mistakes against a team like Spain because they will score goals,"
Sergey Skorovich, Russia coach.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Falcao shines on day of fightbacks

Wednesday 14 November 2012

It was a day of comebacks at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 quarter-finals, as reigning champions Brazil overcame a two-goal deficit to beat continental rivals Argentina in extra time. Auriverde icon Falcao was once again the hero of the day, netting twice to secure Brazil's victory.

Italy had an even greater mountain to climb against Portugal, but nonetheless fought back from 3-0 down to earn a 4-3 extra-time victory to reach the last four. Nevertheless, Portugal's Ricardinho was man of the match in Bangkok's Nimibutr Stadium following his hat-trick.

Colombia, for their part, set up an all South American semi-final against four-time world champions Brazil thanks to a 3-1 triumph over Ukraine. In a repeat of the UEFA European Futsal Championship final, Spain came from behind against Russia to seal the final spot in the last four.

Results
Argentina 2-3 Brazil
Colombia 3-1 Ukraine
Portugal 3-4 Italy
Spain 3-2 Russia

Goal of the day
Portugal-Italy, 2-0, Ricardinho, 19'03"
This was the kind of goal that highlights why futsal is such a popular sport among fans. Portugal's Ricardinho not only hit a hat-trick against Italy, he also scored a sensational goal to make it 2-0. Arnaldo drove forward on the left wing and forced Stefano Mammarella into making a fine save. However, the ball looped up in the air, and Ricardinho reacted quickest, positioning himself to meet the ball high and direct a spectacular overhead kick into the net.

Memorable moments

Tears of joy
Futsal legend Falcao provided one of the most poignant moments of the tournament so far after breaking down in tears having scored Brazil's winner against Argentina. The forward, who was suffering a facial paralysis due to the inflammation of a nerve, watched his side go 2-0 down as a first-half substitute. Yet Falcao gritted his teeth and was welcomed on to the court to rapturous applause in the second half. He swiftly became his side's saviour, netting twice to turn the game on its head and cement Brazil's place in the semi-finals. "There are matches that go down in history," a visibly moved Falcao said afterwards. "Today is one of those historical days, at least for me."

Pure emotion
Italy did the seemingly impossible and came back from 3-0 down to defeat Portugal. Rodolfo Fortino equalised with just 46 seconds left on the clock, before Humberto Honorio scored the winner in extra time. At the final whistle, there was no holding back as the Italians celebrated their unlikely triumph and a place in the last four.

Impressive debut
Considering Thailand 2012 is Colombia's first FIFA Futsal World Cup, their passage into the semi-finals is all the more remarkable. Given the scale of their achievement, the jubilant scenes continued long after the match had ended in Bangkok's Huamark Indoor Stadium as the players and the entire technical team embraced at length. The inaugural edition in 1989 aside, Iran (1992), Ukraine (1996) and Portugal (2000) were the only other competition debutants to have gone as far.

Stat of the day
54 - Brazil versus Argentina is considered among the biggest clásicos of the futsal world. They have met 58 times, six of which have come at FIFA Futsal World Cups. And Brazil boast the far superior record, having triumphed on a staggering 54 occasions.

The words
"We worked very hard and we wanted to win but, as always seems to happen, Spain go through and we head home,"
Russia coach Sergey Skorovich.

Next up (semi-finals)
Friday 16 November (all times are local)
Brazil-Colombia 19.30
Italy-Spain 17.00




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Falcao: I couldn't hold back the tears

Wednesday 14 November 2012

Shortly after scoring Brazil’s decisive third goal against Argentina in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012, the emotion was simply too much for Falcao. “Today’s among the two or three happiest moments of my career,” the Auriverde icon told FIFA.com after the 3-2 win over La Albiceleste. “After everything I’ve been through, it was really special and I couldn’t hold back the tears.”

The Brazilian futsal superstar certainly had plenty of reasons to let his feelings show. Prior to the tournament, all eyes were on A Seleção’s veteran No12 ahead of his fourth and final FIFA Futsal World Cup, only for the 35-year-old wide-man to be forced off the field just three minutes into his side’s opener against Japan due to a calf injury. It was an injury that, for a few dramatic hours at least, threatened to end his Thai swansong almost before it had begun.

That sombre outlook swiftly grew lighter the following day. Medical tests proved the injury was much less serious than first imagined, with Falcao predicted to be available for selection once more by the competition’s semi-final stage, should the holders get that far. Yet the evergreen goal-getter was back even sooner than that, returning in time to feature – and find the net – in the Round of 16 win over Panama.

All seemed to be in place for the continental clásico against arch-rivals Argentina, only for an inflamed nerve to trigger the onset of facial paralysis. Fortunately for Brazil, Falcao had no intention of letting the discomfort prevent his involvement at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, with the wide player’s fine double key to sending the world champions through to the last four.

The context in which Falcao struck his two goals can only add to his legend within the sport of futsal and beyond. Having gone behind for the first time at Thailand 2012, Brazil were trailing 2-0 at the interval. “I’m not surprised we had a game like that against Argentina,” said the man of the moment on the hard-fought success. “There are no favourites when we play them. So to beat them like that in a World Cup makes this a really special victory.”

Falcao popped up to make it 2-2 just two minutes after team-mate Neto had reduced the deficit to 2-1, then fired his side’s third in the opening period of extra-time – both goals coming from sweet left-foot strikes. “This win should give us a boost for what’s coming ahead,” continued the winner of the adidas Golden Boot at Chinese Taipei 2004 and Brasil 2008. “Everybody knows we’re contenders and everybody expects us to reach the final, but nothing’s easy at this level. That’s why I say that the confidence we get from today will help us reach the final.”

When quizzed whether there were any negatives to be drawn from the performance against Argentina, Falcao was emphatic in his response. “None at all,” he said. “At a World Cup you’re going to find yourself in all kinds of situations, so it’s normal we’d go behind at some point. But, if you want to be the champions you have to learn to handle all those situations. As well as strong character, this side showed significant attacking power. That’s what we should focus on.”

Barring A Seleção’s path to a sixth final in seven editions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup are tournament surprise packages Colombia, who were defeated 5-1 by Brazil in the play-off for third place in April’s CONMEBOL qualifying competition. “To be honest, I thought we’d be facing Ukraine, but Colombia have done enough to deserve to be in the semis,” said Falcao. “They’ve got quite an open style of play, though they have defended well here. We’ll be analysing video footage of them, but we should really put our faith in our own ability.”

As the conversation draws to a close, and with tiredness clearly showing in Falcao’s face, his features still light up when he recalls the rousing ovations he received from the supporters in Bangkok. “I’ve got a responsibility not just to futsal but to sport as a whole,” he concluded. “I play for myself, but I put my team and the fans before anything else. I always do everything I can to make everyone happy. But today I needed a special day, and that’s what I got. For that I’m thankful.”




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Fortino: My head was spinning

Thursday 15 November 2012

When Rodolfo Fortino netted Italy's equaliser 46 seconds from time in his side's FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 quarter-final tie against Portugal, the tournament rookie could not hide his delight. With arms outstretched and his mouth wide open, the striker ran towards the team bench to celebrate a stunning comeback with his team-mates.

"When I scored, my head was spinning," the 29-year-old told FIFA.com while watching the subsequent match between Spain and Russia from the stands. "I thought of my family and my team-mates, with whom I've worked so hard for this success."

Fortino's strike handed Italy the momentum in a see-saw encounter, keeping their hopes alive by sending the game into extra time - whereupon they ran out 4-3 victors. It was a remarkable turnaround given the Squadra Azzurra's precarious position, after going 3-0 down to a Ricardinho hat-trick with barely 11 minutes on the clock.

"At half time we looked each other in the eyes and said, 'We weren't ourselves in the first 20 minutes'. We knew we could and had to improve," said Fortino. "We needed to go out there and show our true colours with a good performance. Luckily we were able to do that."

Indeed, after the break coach Roberto Menichelli's team turned on the style to record an impressive comeback. A Saad Assis penalty, followed up by efforts from Gabriel Lima and Fortino, ensured the match went into extra time, setting the stage for Humberto Honorio's dramatic winner.

"It was an extraordinary game. I can't remember playing a match where we were 3-0 down and still managed to turn it around, but that's futsal," said Fortino, whose six goals so far make him Italy's second-top scorer in Thailand. "I think we deserved to reach the semi-finals. We were ecstatic and were hugging each other in the changing rooms. We were all crying tears of joy, it was very emotional."

On Friday, the third-best team at Brazil 2008 go up against European champions Spain. The Iberians were arguably a touch fortunate to beat Russia in a rematch of the UEFA Futsal EURO final, having depended heavily on the heroics of goalkeeper Juanjo in their 3-2 success.

Fortino and Co have learned their lesson from their own last-eight encounter and are now focusing on getting the better of La Roja in the semi-finals. They have a score to settle too, after losing to the Spaniards at the same stage both at the continental championships earlier this year and at Brazil 2008.

"We learned a lot from the Portugal game and in the semis we'll play the same way we did in the second half against Portugal," said Fortino as the conversation concluded. "But It'll be even harder against Spain. I'm expecting a more difficult game than at the EURO. At this stage of the tournament there are no more easy matches. We know that, alongside Brazil, they have the strongest team at the World Cup, and we really respect whay they've achieved."

The compliments will stop once the match gets underway on Friday afternoon in Bangkok's Huamark Indoor Stadium, however, where Fortino and Co will be concentrating solely on reaching the final. And should Italy succeed, more emotional scenes could well be on the cards.






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