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FIFA.comUpbeat duo aim to finish on a highFriday 16 November 2012Third-place matches have a reputation for being entertaining affairs, but they can also be accompanied by a sense of anti-climax for the teams involved. When players have spent an entire tournament dreaming of gold, battling for bronze rarely produces the same surge of adrenalin.
For Italy and Colombia, though, there is evident and genuine enthusiasm for the prospect of fighting it out for a place on the podium. In their case, what is on offer is not consolation for missing out on a match they expected to be involved in, but the chance to cap in style a tournament that can already be declared a success.
Italy, after all, have already met their pre-tournament expectations, while Colombia have greatly exceeded theirs. Los Cafateros even gave Brazil a scare before being edged out by three goals to one, leaving coach Arney Fonnegra to speak with entirely justified pride about his team’s showing.
“I was disappointed by the result, but pleased with the performance of my players, who were able to match for 20 minutes the best team in the world,” he said. “And although we were a bit unlucky, I would rather highlight the great reaction my players showed after conceding an early goal.”
Italy, too, gave as good as they got against Spain in the first half before ultimately succumbing a defeat that had been widely predicted. There was certainly enough cause for encouragement for their coach, Roberto Menichelli, to strike a cheerful note in his post-match comments to FIFA.com.
“We have done some great things in this Futsal World Cup and I’m very satisfied with the performances of my players,” he said. “Unfortunately, Spain and Brazil just have that little bit extra and that tends to make the difference. I actually thought Russia might be able to cause an upset this time but Spain proved too strong even for them.
“Overall, we’re definitely happy with the way we have played here, and our tournament isn’t over yet. We have this third-place match still to play and, believe me, we want that bronze medal. To go home having won that would be a real achievement. We finished third at the EURO, and doing so again at a World Cup would be an even greater accomplishment.”
Menichelli knows, however, that success is far from guaranteed against a Colombian side already clutching a number of notable scalps. The South Americans’ success has been built on the brilliance of goalkeeper Juan Lozano and an unashamedly defensive game-plan, and the Italy coach believes he knows exactly what to expect.
“We’ll be facing a team who are a very tight unit, and a team that has defended extremely well throughout the tournament,” he said. “That said, we shouldn’t forget that they also have some talented individual players.”
Fonnegra made a point of giving those players a license to express themselves against the Brazilians, and it led – if not to victory – to the outstanding goal of the semi-finals, scored by Jhonathan Toro. And, like his Italian counterpart, the Colombia coach foresees no problem in getting his players fired up for the challenge of finishing third.
“What will I say to motivate my players, who are sad after losing? That the sun always comes out the next morning,” he said. “The assessment of this tournament is already positive for us, but there is a big difference between finishing third and finishing fourth.
"Now that we are so close to winning a medal, we have to aim to grasp it. Italy are of course a very strong team, but I will tell my players to play with freedom, while also showing the discipline and seriousness that the third-place match deserves.”
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FIFA.comGabriel: The final will be a classicFriday 16 November 2012Brazil’s FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 semi-final is not a game A Seleção’s Gabriel will forget in a hurry. He scored twice in the 3-1 victory over Colombia and ‘assisted’ the other - an own goal by Jhonathan Toro - with a ferocious shot.
The triumph sparked timely celebrations for Gabriel, who turns 32 today. “Today’s win, along with reaching the final and scoring, was something of an early birthday present for me,” he told FIFA.com after the final whistle.
Sunday’s final is a repeat of the showpiece match for years ago and it is an encounter with extra significance for Gabriel, who has been plying his trade in Spain since 2004. Friends will become foes for him and compatriots Ari and Wilde, as six members of the Spanish national side are their club colleagues at Barcelona.
“We know each other very well as we play together in Spain, but that won’t actually benefit either side much," said Gabriel. "Spain have some fantastic players and I’m expecting it to be a nervy game. We’ll need to be fully focused as even a small mistake could cost us the title."
He is a man who knows what he is talking about. In addition to winning numerous titles at club level, he was part of Brazil’s triumphant FIFA Futsal World Cup campaign on home soil four years ago. Nevertheless, Gabriel believes the penalty shootout victory that gave Brazil a fourth world crown will be of little importance come kick-off.
“Games against Spain are always tough. The final will be a classic. They have a great team and defend very well. Little details could be the decisive factors. We need to get to grips with our opponent and come up with a good strategy against their strong defence in order to come out on top again on Sunday.”
While it remains to be seen whether Gabriel will be his country’s matchwinner once more, his keen eye for goal - he has scored three so far in Thailand - is one of the qualities that make him such a key player for Brazil. Yet the semi-final hero insists personal glory comes low down on his list of priorities.
“It doesn’t matter who scores the goals. It was me in the last four, but in the final it could well be someone else. I don’t usually score many goals in a single game because I see myself more as a provider for others,” said Gabriel modestly. “Anyway, the most important thing is that the team wins, irrespective of who scores.”
There was no sign of reserve, however, when asked what becoming a world champion for a second time would mean to him. “Of course it would be incredible if we win again,” he grinned. “It could be my second World Cup title, but it would be the first time for some of the players in our squad. That’s why we’re all going to give everything to be celebrating at the end. We hope we can control the game and that we can stay focused over the entire course of the match.”
Colombia’s players can testify to the fact that Gabriel does not err often. If he did, he would not be a step away from a second world title as an integral member of the defending champions’ team, nor would he play for the best club in Spain. As role models for success go, the newcomers in Brazil’s squad could hardly wish for a better lead to follow.
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FIFA.comStars set to shine on final daySaturday 17 November 2012After 17 days of futsal action and 50 matches, the final of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 will be contested this Sunday, when Spain and title-holders Brazil battle it out for futsal’s ultimate prize. However, before the finalists can take to the pitch, Italy and Colombia will face off to decide who will walk away with third place. Gli Azzurri will be aiming for a second bronze in a row, while for tournament newcomers Colombia, every victory represents another little bit of history.
The finalSpain- Brazil, Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 18 November 2012, 19:30 (local time)
The final promises to be a feast for futsal lovers everywhere, with two of the best teams in the world bringing star-studded line-ups to this heavyweight clash. Brazil make their sixth appearance at a FIFA Futsal World Cup final and will be hoping to add to the four titles they already hold, while opponents Spain, who are the only other side to have won a FIFA Futsal World Cup, will be contesting their fifth final.
Spain’s journey through the tournament has been largely untroubled. After topping Group B, ahead of Iran, Panama and Morocco, they knocked out tournament hosts Thailand in the Round of 16 and overcame a dangerous Russia in the quarter-finals. A semi-final victory over Italy completed their run to the decider.
Brazil started out in Group C alongside Portugal, Japan and Libya and moved comfortably past Round of 16 opponents Panama. Their toughest test came against Argentina in the quarter-finals, when they needed extra time to complete a dramatic comeback. A Seleção then dispatched semi-final opponents Colombia to keep their title hopes on track.
Match for third placeItaly-Colombia, Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 18 November 2012, 17:30 (local time)
This is the second time in a row that Gli Azzurri have just missed out on the final, so coach Roberto Menichelli will keen to secure bronze to maintain the game’s progress in Italy. Colombia, however, have proved remarkably resilient at Thailand 2012 and are sure to provide stiff opposition for the Europeans.
Indeed Los Cafeteros have been the revelation of the tournament. After qualifying from Group F, they eliminated pre-match favourites Iran in the Round of 16 then sprang one of the shocks of the tournament in the quarter-finals by beating Ukraine. Reigning champions Brazil proved too strong in the last four, but the Colombians will be desperate to cap a historic debut with a podium finish.
And while his side have surpassed all expectations, coach Arney Fonnegra insisted they would not be resting on their laurels: “We’ve got a shot at third place and we must try to get it,” he said. Italy can consider themselves warned.
Player to watchA player well worth keeping an eye on is Brazil's Fernandinho, whose seven goals put him second on the list of top scorers. Moreover, he has an equal number of assists to him name, underlining the threat he poses. Spanish goalkeeper Juanjo will need to be at his best to deny the prolific No10.
The stat4 – The final of Thailand 2012 will be the fourth time Brazil and Spain have competed for the title of futsal world champions. Their first was at Spain 1996, when Brazil defeated the tournament hosts, only for the Spaniards to exact their revenge four years later in Guatemala. The final of Brazil 2008 was the closest fought to date, with the South Americans winning on penalties.
The words“The game against Brazil is a repeat of the last final. We know we’re a good team but we also know our limits. It’s going to be very close,” Spain goalkeeper Juanjo.
The scheduleItaly-Colombia (Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 17:00)
Spain-Brazil (Bangkok, Indoor Stadium Huamark, 19:30)
(All kick-off times are local)
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FIFA.comJuanjo: We're out to set the record straightSaturday 17 November 2012Though Spain had just beaten Italy 4-1 in the semi-finals of Thailand 2012, first-choice keeper Juanjo strode out the dressing room to meet FIFA.com as if he was still out on court: on his toes, focused and ready for anything.
Yet his features did reflect the relief that goes with a job well done, now that La Roja are safely in the final for the fifth consecutive edition of the showpiece competition. There, they will once again face holders Brazil, who defeated them in a shoot-out in the 2008 decider.
“There’s no doubt this gives us the chance for revenge for the last World Cup, an opportunity for us to set the record straight,” said the custodian. “We know they’re a great side, but this team is ready to, at the very least, try and beat them,” he added humbly.
Patience pays offThere is no false modesty in Juanjo’s words, since keeping a low profile is one of the main traits of the 27-year-old from Cieza. Another is patience, with the gifted shotstopper having waited a long time to step out from the shadow of Spain predecessor Luis Amado, who recently retired from international duty with two FIFA Futsal World Cup triumphs and one runners-up place under his belt.
“Of course it’s not easy and you feel the pressure,” admitted Juanjo, back-up to Amado at Brazil 2008. “After everything that Luis won and how much he shaped the goalkeeper’s role in futsal, I knew I’d have to live with getting compared to him. But fortunately things are going well for me and I’m hoping to stick around for a long time.”
His extraordinary display in the 3-2 quarter-final win against Russia aside, when he was regularly called upon to perform heroics, Juanjo is known for being able to stay alert despite often having relatively little to do. “I can’t take all the credit, it also has a lot to do with my team-mates,” said the keeper, on the widespread praise received for this very quality.
“But of course, any personal recognition boosts your morale and encourages you to keep improving. It feels good,” added the No12, who does not intend to switch to the No1 shirt despite his current first-choice status.
Peaking at the right time“Why should it have surprised me?” answered Juanjo, when asked if he had expected Spain to put in quite such a solid display in their semi-final. “This team always rises to the occasion in big games. Perhaps we didn’t find our best form against Iran, but we did against Russia and Italy. Whoever’s watched this team over the past ten years knows we’ve been in all the finals, and all the while staying true to our identity.”
In the keeper’s view, one of the main factors in this sustained success lies in the squad’s mental strength. “Playing with the pressure of always being contenders is a burden, because you can’t afford any slip-ups and there are more and more teams capable of beating you,” said Juanjo, who made his senior Spain debut in 2006. “It’s not easy to stay at the top, but here we are, back in another title decider.”
When pressed on giving his insider verdict on the two teams’ comparative strengths, La Selección’s No12 does not beat around the bush: “They’re great going forward and score lots of goals, but I think we’re stronger physically and we go into the game with more momentum, since we’ve just played two of the other title contenders.”
Nor does the keeper expect Sunday’s final in Bangkok to be a particularly free-flowing contest. “I’d love it to be open, but it could well be a very tight game, due to the respect the two teams have for each other,” said Juanjo, before signing off by saying just how much winning the trophy would mean to him.
“It’s my greatest dream, particularly since I didn’t play in [Spain’s win in] 2004 and we lost the final in 2008. And beating Brazil to do that, well, that would make winning the title an even more beautiful achievement.”
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FIFA.comShortlist revealed for adidas Golden BallSaturday 17 November 2012A meeting of the FIFA Futsal Committee, chaired by Manilal Fernando, was held this morning in Bangkok. Several important issues regarding Thailand 2012, future editions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup and the general development of futsal were discussed, with a few of the key points outlined below.
adidas Golden Ball contendersThe FIFA Technical Study Group presented its five-strong shortlist for the player of the tournament award, a list which comprises two players from Brazil (Fernandinho, Neto), two from Spain (Kike, Torras) and Portugal’s Ricardinho. The winner will be determined on the final day by votes from the TSG and the assembled media.
Referees announcedIt was revealed that Peru’s Hector Rojas will take charge of the final, while the third-place match between Italy and Colombia will be overseen by Jose Katemo of Angola.
Doping testsA total of 96 doping samples were conducted up to and including the quarter-finals, all of which were analysed at a WADA-accredited laboratory in Bangkok. All samples proved negative.
Bidding for 2016It was announced that six nations - Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Iran, Puerto Rico and Spain - have submitted bids to host the next edition of the FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2016. A final decision on where the tournament will take place will be taken by the FIFA Executive Committee in May of next year.
Developing women’s futsalWith a third women’s international competition due to take place in Portugal next month, the Committee also made a firm pledge to review elite futsal competitions for female players.
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FIFA.comOne final, two coaches, five questionsSaturday 17 November 2012Ahead of their meeting in Sunday’s final of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012, FIFA.com put the same five questions to the respective coaches of Spain and Brazil. Here is what Venancio Lopez and Marcos Sorato had to say.
What do you think of your rivals in the final?Lopez (ESP): As everyone knows, Brazil are a great side. They’ve won four world titles and picked up a lot of experience on the way, but on top of that they always come up with solutions to the problems they face in every game, which is harder than it seems. Even so, I’m expecting a tight match and I think we’ve got a chance.
Sorato (BRA): I think Spain are the best team in the world right now and I can hardly find a flaw in them. We really respect them because they do everything well, whether in attack, defence or with set-pieces. They’ve also got players who can turn games just like that. They’re the best all-round team there is at the moment, though I still think the final is too close to call.What is your team’s strong point?Lopez (ESP): Our winning mentality. You can see our mental strength in our play and on the court, and that’s the reason why we’ve performed so well in every aspect of the game and in every single match.
Sorato (BRA): Being able to match the expectations people have of us in a tournament where you can’t put a foot wrong in the knockout games. Brazilian players have always had talent but we’ve worked hard on improving in defence and on performing in every area of the game.What was the key moment in your run to the final?Lopez (ESP): The game against Russia. Whoever lost that was going home, obviously, and it could easily have been us. We turned in a great performance though against a side that was strongly fancied for the title.
Sorato (BRA): The match against Argentina. That fightback was crucial. It showed the team’s ability to react and proved to me that we’re ready to face whatever challenge the tournament has to throw at us.What has been the surprise of the tournament?Lopez (ESP): Colombia reaching the semi-finals, no doubt about it. They’ve defended really well, they’ve got very skilful players and they’re young, which means they’ve got every chance to keep on improving.
Sorato (BRA): Colombia, no question. I knew they had the skills, but you have to hand it to them for going so far with what is, to all intents and purposes, an amateur side. It goes without saying that the coach and the players deserve a lot of credit.What legacy do you think Thailand 2012 will leave for futsal?Lopez (ESP): The quality of the matches has been excellent and they’ve shown that futsal’s a sport that’s well worth watching. Looking at the bigger picture, though, the most important thing is that futsal’s value in training players for football has now been recognised.
Sorato (BRA): The need to support the game at grassroots level and bring on specialist futsal players. Brazil and Spain have worked on that area more than anyone else and continue to dominate the sport. That’s why I think it’s important people learn that lesson and work towards that goal with the support of FIFAPosted by
Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
