Courtesy: UEFA.com


Cardinal's sweet Portugal comeback

Cardinal came into UEFA Futsal EURO 2014 without a club and having not played since June due to injury, yet scored on his comeback. He tells UEFA.com how he did it.

Monday 3 February 2014

by Nuno Tavares from Antwerp

Scoring at a UEFA Futsal EURO finals is nothing but special but the image of Cardinal on his knees celebrating his goal for Portugal in the 5-0 win against the Netherlands on Thursday displayed more than just the rush of the moment.

The only player competing in Antwerp without a club, the 28-year-old forward played his first competitive match since June against the Dutch, following surgery on his left ankle. Cardinal's hard work and coach Jorge Braz's faith in his full recovery were fully rewarded with his 48th international goal, putting Portugal on track for a place in the quarter-finals.

"It was a very special moment for me because I was sidelined for a long time, I had to endure several months away from the game," Cardinal told UEFA.com." It was very emotional and I can only describe scoring that goal as a unique feeling. I will never forget it."

Cardinal will play an even more important role for Portugal in Monday's quarter-final against Ukraine following the news that Joel Queirós will be sidelined due to a foot injury, but few would have predicted such a scenario just a few months ago.

"I had a club [Rio Ave FC] at the start of the season but due to my serious injury it was decided to end my contract," he said. "I arrived at this EURO without a club, which is not normal, but I knew that if I was fully fit, as is the case now, I wouldn't have any problems in finding a new club. Luckily that has happened already but I will wait for the end of the tournament to announce where I am going to play."

Braz has been crucial in Cardinal's revival and the former Sporting Clube de Portugal and MFK CSKA Moskva star only has words of praise for him. "Braz was always on top of my injury and I spent the last three weeks before the team for the finals was announced training with them. He could see I was in a very good physical condition, so he decided to pick me, which proves the kind of confidence he has in me. It felt really good because of all the hard work I put during those weeks."

Portugal's mission in Belgium has received an important boost in the form of impressive support from their fans. Cardinal is quick to thank the extra help and just hopes he and his colleagues are able to give something back. "Our fans have been fantastic. Sometimes it even feels like we are playing at home and all I can do is to thank them for all the help they have been giving us. We only plan to go back to Portugal on 9 February and, if possible, we will do so as European champions."



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Romania's Lupu optimistic about Russia

Captain Robert Lupu told UEFA.com Romania can take "a lot of confidence" from having run their opponents close in 2013 as they prepare for a quarter-final against Russia.

Monday 3 February 2014

by Wayne Harrison from Antwerp

He has again captained Romania to the last eight of a UEFA Futsal EURO, and now Robert Lupu is heading into the Tricolorii's encounter with Russia in optimistic mood, heartened by the way his team performed against the same opponents in qualifying.

The 31-year-old is playing in his third continental finals, having featured at Portugal 2007 and then led Romania to their first knockout stage participation five years later in Croatia, where their campaign ended in an 8-3 loss to Spain. Now – for the second time in less than 12 months – they face the side the holders defeated in the last final.

Lupu was in the starting five that stung Russia inside 70 seconds in a main round fixture last March, only for Sergei Skorovich's men to respond through Sergei Sergeev and Aleksandr Fukin. The way Romania measured up to the 1999 winners has given Lupu and his squad-mates hope for Monday's assignment at the Sportpaleis.

Speaking to UEFA.com after training for the first time at the venue, which is hosting the rest of the competition following the staging of the 12 group matches at the Lotto Arena, he said: "It was a good tactical game for Romania and it is one we can take a lot of confidence from. We can certainly think positively going into the tie.

"The team is in good physical shape and we are very happy to be in the quarter-finals – that was our objective. If futsal can provide us with more happiness in the future, perhaps even in this game, it will be very good for us."

The City'US Târgu Mureş forward scored in Romania's 6-1 defeat of Belgium last Tuesday, a result Nelu Stancea's men followed up with a 1-0 loss to Ukraine, a setback that ultimately led to them finishing runners-up in Group A.

"We performed very well tactically in our two games," he explained. "In the first match our objective was to win, which we did, and in the second we wanted a draw. We didn't get it, but maybe we were unlucky."

Russia, inspired by four-goal adidas Golden Boot leader Eder Lima, showcased their attacking talent while scoring 11 times against the Netherlands (7-1) and Portugal (4-4). Romania conceded just twice in the group stage, and looked relatively solid throughout, but Lupu knows they cannot let their guard drop.

"We must defend very well and concentrate for 100% of the time, for the full 40 minutes – we can't lose our focus even for one second," he said when asked what the key will be to overcoming Russia. "This is what separates the great teams from the good ones."






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