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UEFA.comGolden Boot within Eder Lima's graspRussia's Eder Lima has what may be an unassailable lead in the race for the UEFA Futsal EURO 2014 adidas Golden Boot after a quarter-final hat-trick moved him on to seven goals.Wednesday 5 February 2014by
Paul Saffer from Antwerp
Eder Lima has what may be an unassailable lead in the race for the UEFA Futsal EURO 2014 adidas Golden Boot after his hat-trick in Russia's 6-0 quarter-final defeat of Romania.
The forward scored two in each of Russia's group games, and his exploits on Monday took him to a finals tally of seven, already the highest total since the first 12-team tournament took place in 2010. That haul has only been bettered in a single UEFA Futsal EURO by one man, the late Russia forward Konstantin Eremenko, who managed eight in the initial 1996 event and a record 11 three years later.
Gašper Vrhovec of Slovenia remains in second place but did not add to his figures as his side were eliminated 4-0 by Spain on Tuesday. Five players are now on three goals, with third spot being shared by Italy's Fortino and Franko Jelovčić of Croatia, eliminated by the Azzurri; Portugal's Cardinal and Spain pair Aicardo and Fernandão are behind on assists.
There are eight semi-finalists on two goals, including Russia's Sergei Sergeev with three assists, one more than Sergio Lozano of Spain.
Leaders1: Eder Lima (Russia) 7 goals, 3 assists (3 games)
2: Gašper Vrhovec (Slovenia)* 4 goals, 0 assists (3 games)
3=: Fortino (Italy) 3 goals, 2 assists, 1 yellow card (3 games)
3=: Franko Jelovčić (Croatia)* 3 goals, 2 assists, 1 yellow card (3 games)
5: Cardinal (Portugal) 3 goals, 1 assist (3 games)
6=: Aicardo (Spain) 3 goals, 0 asissts (3 games)
6=: Fernandão (Spain) 3 goals, 0 assists (3 games)
*Team eliminated
Full statisticsCriteria1) Higher number of assists:
• Player delivering the intentional pass, cross, header or shot leading to a goal
• Player shooting and ball rebounding from woodwork, goalkeeper or defender and entering the goal
• Player passing, shooting or crossing and leading to an own goal
• Only one assist per goal can be awarded
• No assist for player winning a penalty or free-kick
2) Higher ratio of converted double (ten-metre) penalties
3) Higher ratio of converted (six-metre) penalties
4) Higher number of goals scored in fewer matches
5) Fair play record (red, yellow cards)
Past final tournament top scorers2012: Torras (Spain)*, Dario Marinović (Croatia) 5
2010: Saad Assis (Italy), Biro Jade (Azerbaijan), Javi Rodríguez (Spain), Joel Queirós (Portugal) 5
2007: Cirilo (Russia), Daniel (Spain), Predrag Rajić (Serbia) 5
2005: Nando Grana (Italy) 6
2003: Serhiy Koridze (Ukraine) 7
2001: Serhiy Koridze (Ukraine) 7
1999: Konstantin Eremenko (Russia) 11
1996: Konstantin Eremenko (Russia) 8
*Torras won Golden Boot on assists
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UEFA.comDenisov on how 1999 final inspires RussiaSpain's dominance over Russia was halted just once, in the 1999 final. Before the sides' Antwerp semi-final, their keeper from that day Oleg Denisov assesses the rivalry then and now.Wednesday 5 February 2014by
Mikhail Malkin from Antwerp
When Spain play Russia in Thursday's UEFA Futsal EURO 2014 semi-final they will renew the competition's oldest rivalry – and one that has proved rather one-sided.
Only once in eight previous editions of this final tournament have these nations not met and Spain have won six of those seven games, including the finals of 1996, 2005 and 2012, not to mention knocking Russia out of three FIFA Futsal World Cups.
The exception was the 1999 decider in Granada, where Russia won on spot kicks with a penalty by the great Konstantin Eremenko, his goal in the 40 minutes also taking him to a finals-record tally of 11 still never threatened.
That 1999 squad remains the beacon for Russian futsal and current coach Sergei Skorovich took his 2014 selection to meet them before travelling to Antwerp. Meanwhile, the man who saved two shoot-out penalties in that final, goalkeeper Oleg Denisov, has been in Belgium – the MFK Dina Moskva general secretary and journalist spoke to UEFA.com about that day 15 years ago and Thursday's semi-final.
UEFA.com: What secrets did the 1999 squad share with the Russia players before they left Moscow for Antwerp, and have they helped them?Oleg Denisov: Every one of us has his own secrets to share. I personally said we have as big a chance as ever to repeat the success of 1999. Some Russia players might have their last chance to become European champions and I suggested taking this opportunity. I believe it was a good meeting for them and it has helped them somehow. We have given them a sort of impetus. If I am not wrong, such a meeting with the veterans, as we are usually called now, took place for the first time in 15 years.UEFA.com: How much has futsal changed, what are the biggest differences?Denisov: Our futsal was much closer to football, it looked like football much more. Now futsal moves further and further from football as many new specific combinations and set plays have been implemented in futsal. We had our own tricks in futsal in our day and we tried to use them. The biggest difference is on a tactical basis.UEFA.com: Are Russia unlucky to have won nothing since 1999?Denisov: It is just a pity. We want this sad trend to end now, 15 years since the last big win. There were some objective reasons. A change of generations began – our generation stopped playing one after another. We should have waited for a new generation to emerge.
We also had many Brazilians and other players from abroad coming to the Russian league. This may have raised the standards of the league, but on the other hand it perhaps stopped younger players developing in the right way – it was certainly like that at the start. It was an issue with the national team as well, but it seems the right balance has been found now.UEFA.com: Did you expect Russia to play so well in the finals, especially in the last eight against Romania?Denisov: Yes, I did. I was sure Russia were favourites. At least, no less than Spain. One of these two will win the final. The matches I have seen here only make me more confident. Spain started not that well and some doubts could have appeared, but afterwards they showed who they are. Portugal and Italy can be competitive against Spain and Russia only if it is their lucky day – but it still can happen.UEFA.com: Would it be better for Russia and Spain to play in Saturday's final?Denisov: They could have met in the final only if one of them had finished second in their group. Overall, I don't think it's bad that Russia and Spain will meet before the final. It's good for futsal's development. If it was like "Russia and Spain can meet only in the final", then all the last EUROs would have ended with the same match: Russia-Spain. It would be very unlikely to help promote and develop futsal at European level.UEFA.com: Futsal fans still remember the legendary Konstantin Eremenko, who died in 2010 – everybody truly respected him. You were team-mates with Dina Mosvka and Russia. What was he like as a player and as a person?Denisov: Everybody saw what a great player he was. He stepped in as MFK Dinamo president after finishing his playing career and made Dinamo one of the leading clubs in Russia and Europe. He was a true leader. He was never afraid to be a pacesetter, to act as an example for others, to drag them all along. He was not afraid to be responsible for the result. There are not many people like that, not just in sport and futsal. That's what made the difference. We have some players in the Russia team who never freeze in any tournament situation, but probably we haven't had them in recent finals.Courtesy:
UEFA.comSuspended Ortiz readies Spain for RussiaSpain's key defender Ortiz will miss the semi-final against top scorers Russia through suspension but he explains how the holders can stop the threat of Eder Lima and Cirilo.Wednesday 5 February 2014by
Gonzalo Aguado from Antwerp
For the first time since the 1999 UEFA Futsal EURO final loss to Russia, Spain are playing in a final tournament without five-time European champion Kike at the back, but he has a ready-made replacement.
Aged 30 and part of the squad at the last three EURO triumphs, Ortiz had long been the man to rotate with Kike, so the international retirement of the great Murcia FS defender last year was unlikely to disrupt Spain too much. Indeed, Ortiz has played a crucial role in their run to the semi-finals in Antwerp, but on Thursday will be unavailable against old rivals Russia after receiving his second yellow card of the championship in Tuesday's 4-0 quarter-final defeat of Slovenia. Still, the Interviú Madrid man will be willing his team-mates on from the stands and spoke to UEFA.com about his ban and what Spain need to do to better Russia.
UEFA.com: How does it feel to miss the semi-final?Ortiz: I've calmed down a bit since receiving that yellow card against Slovenia. At the end of the day it's me who will miss one of the most important games of the year and there is no solving that now.UEFA.com: What did you make of the performance against Slovenia?Ortiz: We played a great game. Maybe in attack we didn't have the fluidity we had in past tournaments but we were solid as a team in defence and in general did things well with clear ideas. Winning 4-0 is a very good result.UEFA.com: Russia are the 17-goal top scorers here. How will Spain keep out their pivots Eder Lima and Cirilo without you?Ortiz: The coach will have to see who will take charge as one of the pivots. I imagine that Aicardo, [Sergio] Lozano and José Ruiz will be the ones to fill in. Every one of us knows what we have to do.
Cirilo is a left-footed player who almost always turns in order to strike with his left. He is very strong and if you get too close to him he can turn you. He's a great player. Lima is very similar but perhaps a little lazier when it comes to defending. Instead of turning to the left, he can do it to the right. They are two players with very similar characteristics.
We have spoken a lot about how Russia break out in the 1-3 formation with Robinho as the last player. I don't think they will use that system against us, however, as we have very quick players. It would be a big risk for them.UEFA.com: Spain, Russia, Italy and Portugal: the four favourites have made the semi-finals …Ortiz: It's strange, there is normally a surprise or two in a tournament like this, but here the four favourites are in the semis and we'll all fight to get to the big showpiece.UEFA.com: Spain started with a 3-3 draw against Croatia – is it getting harder to win these tournaments?Ortiz: We are having a few setbacks in this competition and we see that, the more time passes, the harder it is to win a tournament like this. Players have improved a lot and the teams are physically very strong. Year after year they are improving tactically too. We have also had a few problems with injuries.
The great strength of our team is its mentality. We have a winning mentality. The players who came before us left a really good legacy and we are going to try to maintain that.Courtesy:
UEFA.comPortugal confident of lifting Italy cursePortugal have never beaten Italy competitively, a stat Jorge Braz is confident of altering in the last four if his side "continue to be the same team" that has performed so well in Antwerp.Wednesday 5 February 2014by
Wayne Harrison, Nuno Tavares &
Paolo Menicucci from Antwerp
If Portugal are to reach their second UEFA Futsal EURO final they must overcome the team who, above all others, have proved their nemesis in competitive play.
The Selecção das Quinas have never defeated last-four opponents Italy at a major tournament in seven previous attempts, most recently squandering a three-goal lead through a Ricardinho hat-trick when losing 4-3 after extra time in the quarter-finals of the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Earlier that year, Jorge Braz's men succumbed 3-1 at the same juncture in Croatia.
When extended to all meetings with the Azzurri, Portugal's record hardly inspires confidence, reading: P17 W1 D8 L8. Perhaps significantly, though, Portugal won their last encounter, triumphing 4-2 in a Brescia friendly 12 months ago.
Ricardinho, who scored twice that day, told UEFA.com: "We know that facing Italy means we will have to beat them for the first time in a competitive match, but we also know that we are no longer jinxed against them because recently we managed to prevail in one of two friendlies we had there."
The Interviú Madrid forward − injured when Portugal went all the way to the 2010 decider, which they lost to Spain − has been at his creative best in Antwerp, providing a finals-leading five assists for a team that finished runners-up behind Russia in Group B before eliminating Ukraine on Tuesday.
Braz has certainly been enamoured with his squad's displays in Belgium. Perform like they have done thus far and, his opinion, they will banish their Italian hex. "If we continue to be the same Portugal team that has played in this European Championship then we have every chance of getting to the final," he said.
Italy, meanwhile, stand on the cusp of a third continental final. Winners in 2003 on home soil, they lost out to Spain four years later in Portugal. In total, this is their eighth appearance at this stage of the competition. "I'm happy that we confirmed ourselves among the best four in Europe," said coach Roberto Menichelli, whose side were surprised 3-2 in their tournament opener by Slovenia before easing past Azerbaijan 7-0 and edging Croatia 2-1.
"I don't think too much about the semi-finals we lost at EURO and the World Cup [both in 2012 against Spain]," he added. "We are there again and I'm happy. We must look ahead and try to beat Portugal, knowing they are a very good side who have great individual players but also play well as a team. Jorge Braz is doing a great job. They play better than a couple of years ago and are continuing to improve."
Pondering Thursday's Sportpaleis fixture, Daniel Giasson said: "This game will be spectacular. Portugal are not only Ricardinho and Cardinal − they are a great team, but so are we."
Posted by
Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
