Courtesy: FIFA.com


Powerhouses and dark horses face last-eight test

23 Sep 2016

The first two quarter-finals of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016 offer a striking contrast on paper: Paraguay-Iran is an unexpected clash of ambitious outsiders, while Russia-Spain is one of the sport’s classic fixtures. FIFA.com takes a look at Saturday’s intriguing pair of matches.


Match of the day
Russia-Spain, Coliseo el Pueblo, Cali, 18:00 (local time)

It does not take a genius to work out which side has deprived the Russians of glory four times in the final of the UEFA Futsal Championship, most recently in February of this year, or who defeated them in the quarter-finals of the 2012 Futsal World Cup in Thailand. There is no doubt that Spain could be described as Russia’s bogey team in recent years, but Sergey Skorovich’s men have racked up four practically perfect performances at Colombia 2016, and go into the much-anticipated last-eight duel full of confidence.

They know better than anyone, however, that they will require more than self-assurance to oust La Roja, whose clinical finishing and guile at major competitions is well documented. The Spaniards will rely on their individual talents and first-rate tactics, and hope that their vast experience in the latter stages of this prestigious tournament can see them through to the semi-finals.


The other match
Paraguay-Iran, Coliseo Bicentenario, Bucaramanga, 15:30 (local time)

Bucaramanga welcomes two teams that emerged victorious from the lottery of a penalty shoot-out in the previous round. Paraguay shattered the dreams of hosts Colombia, while Iran shocked futsal heavyweights and reigning champions Brazil. While the South Americans and Asians have both shown they have the composure to deal with high-pressure moments, they have very different ways of going about their business.

Paraguay operate on enthusiasm and physical strength, backed up by solid technique. Iran, meanwhile, rely more on playing as a unit, and on the experience and confidence that come with winning 11 continental championships.


Player to watch
Alireza Samimi (Iran)

Brazil are unlikely to forget the name of Alireza Samimi in a hurry. Whether he was saving volleys, one-on-ones or long-range shots, the Iranian goalkeeper put in one of the greatest performances of his career, precipitating the historic elimination of the five-time world futsal champions. Clearly growing in stature as the tournament progresses, Samimi will be keen to keep another set of South American forwards at bay on Saturday.


The stat
1 – This is the first time in five attempts that Paraguay have reached the quarter-finals of the Futsal World Cup. La Albirroja have previously fallen three times at the second-round hurdle, in 1989, 2008 and 2012.


The words
“We’ve maybe won more trophies than Russia, but they’ve got to be regarded as favourites when you compare the performances of the two teams since the beginning of the tournament. The Russians have really been quite impressive. That said, I’m confident in my team. We’ve already overcome greater challenges in the past,” Spain coach Venancio Lopez.


Match schedule
Saturday 24 September
Paraguay-Iran (15:30, Bucaramanga)
Russia-Spain (18:00, Cali)




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Another Futsal World Cup legacy: training the coaches

23 Sep 2016

As part of the framework of the Legacy Programme at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016, a Futsal Coaching Course, jointly organised by FIFA's Technical Development Department and the Colombian Football Federation, took place in Cali between 12 and 16 September.

The FIFA instructor who led the course was the Brazilian Paulo Cesar de De Oliveira, better known as PC Oliveira, who guided Brazil to the title when they hosted the tournament in 2008. Attendees at the seminar included 38 head coaches and assistants, 26 representatives from clubs that play in Colombia's Liga Argos, and 12 delegates from the six South American countries that failed to qualify for the Futsal World Cup.

"FIFA have held four futsal courses: one on sports management, one on the basics, one for referees and this high-level one for coaches," Oliveira told FIFA.com. "In addition to developing futsal, the objective is for the coaches to be messengers and to take this back to their clubs, cities, regions, provinces and countries."


Creating the message
Oliveira emphasised that the important thing is forming the message: "FIFA recommends a systemic way of thinking because the structure of learning is collective. Aside from the technical and tactical aspects, as well as the teaching material, FIFA strives to respect the style and history of each country and region. Today those things are non-negotiable."

The course was made up of four theoretical and practical sessions. "We established collective sections for the six moments of a match: defence, attacking transition, attack, defensive transition, playing with the goalkeeper, and strategy," Oliveira said. "We also established individual sections for each position. At the end each coach had to choose their system, all the while taking into account the limitations of place, structure and the players."

Oliveira believes it was "very enriching" to have held the seminar during the Futsal World Cup. "By going along to watch matches at this level it allowed us to go over both theoretical and practical questions, but also to witness situations that were not part of the course, but could be discussed afterwards."


Local influence
Geovanny Escobar agrees. The 36-year-old is coach of Real Antioquia, the most recent champions in the Liga Argos, a 20-team competition that is continually progressing: "Having a course right in the middle of the World Cup is excellent. In Colombia we work very empirically, so watching a match like Italy against Guatemala, for example, makes it all practical. There's no better way of remembering it."

The former wide-player, who retired from the game a year ago, continued: "Here we have the belief that our way of working is world class, but we're wrong. These courses help organise ideas and open our eyes to details we didn't even see before. It's like looking at futsal from a different perspective."

Like what, for example? "The need to be systematic in the game in order to be more productive, like Spain," he said. "Colombian players play very simply; they're comfortable. We need to work on our players sharing responsibility."

Given the number of Colombian coaches who took part at the course, Escobar hopes it will "help futsal grow across the country". He continued: "It would be ideal if we could make our players more competitive. There's a lot of talent here that us coaches haven't known how to make the most of."


High level
Jorge Sere, a former goalkeeper who excelled at Nacional de Uruguay, where he won the Copa Libertadores, a Copa Intercontinental and a Uruguayan championship, has been a futsal coach since 2004. The Uruguayan is currently head coach of his country's women's national team.

"This course is at a higher level than I can apply in women's futsal," said the 55-year-old. "After incorporating the concepts, I need to see what and how I can take this to a place where the working conditions are limited or almost impossible to implement." For example? "In order to put together a team I have 20 sessions with girls who might have gone nine or ten months without playing. It's difficult.

"The great thing about this course is that it opens your mind," he continued. "It's important that an instructor with the standing of PC emphasises that what he says isn't the be all and end all; it's his opinion. That's good for me, because I need to add my own touch to the things that are worth copying."

Given his background, Sere paid special attention to the goalkeepers, both at the course and during the matches they watched in Cali. "Whether or not to involve the goalkeeper in play depends on the individuals. I was able to verify that where we're lagging behind in Uruguay, both for men and women, is with throw-outs. The good news is that it's something that's easy to work on."

Oliveira had the final word: "The aim of this course was to create a South American model of work, while respecting any different characteristics. Exchanging ideas is crucial in order to develop, and those exchanges can't only happen every four years. We need to strengthen this path."




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Gustavo, Russia's Petr Cech

24 Sep 2016

Although Gustavo’s luminous shirt already helps him stand out from the rest of the Russia team, it is his numerous impressive saves – and headgear – that have caught the eye at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016.

Russia’s goalkeeper wears a protective helmet in every match and training session. It serves as a preventative measure for a 37-year-old who has already suffered two serious head injuries during his career.

“The first injury was about four years ago; I got a knee to the head and it fractured my skull,” Gustavo recalled, pointing to the area near his eyebrow where the break happened. “I was in hospital for a month,” he added. Doctors advised him to wear headgear for the next six months, after which time the 1.79-metre tall shotstopper returned to playing hatless. “About a month later, I hit the ground with my head and hurt myself again.”

Now the father of two sons never leaves the house without protection – but not on medical advice. “Shortly after my second injury we had a family meeting and everyone, especially my Mum and Dad, asked me to wear the helmet constantly from that point on,” he said. After all, every good son does what his mother says – even when he is an international athlete and one of the world’s best futsal goalkeepers.


Spain the perennial adversaries
Upon hearing this story, it is difficult not to draw parallels with Petr Cech, who also plays in protective headgear and is among the best goalkeepers in the world.

“I like that comparison, but I hope it’s due to talent as well as just the helmet,” Gustavo grinned. He can rest assured that his skills are certainly a factor in these observations. The Russia shot-stopper conceded just three goals at his first Futsal World Cup in Thailand four years ago and helped his team boast the tournament’s strongest defence in the process. By conceding just six goals in four matches this year in Colombia, Gustavo has once again played a major role in getting the Eastern European side to the quarter-finals.

Just like four years ago, the team awaiting them in the last eight is Spain, one of the only sides to get the better of the Porto Alegre-born goalkeeper in Thailand. Although the Iberians will have to manage without their top goalscorer Lozano, who tore his cruciate ligament in the Round of 16 win and has already travelled home for treatment, while Russia can pick from a full-strength squad in good form, Gustavo is careful not to sound too optimistic or bombastic, however.

“I was really confident in Thailand four years ago,” he explained. “We hadn’t conceded a goal in four matches and then we lost 3-2 to Spain in the quarter-finals and had to go home.” Indeed, the 37-year-old has few happy memories of facing La Roja, having lost to the same opponents in the final of UEFA Futsal EURO 2016 in February.

Nevertheless, anyone who has watched the Russians during their stay in Colombia this year will believe that things could turn out differently this time. The team have been extremely focused on a single goal. “We want the title,” their custodian said. “It’s my big dream, my last major ambition, and probably my last chance given that it’s my last World Cup.”

With Gustavo determined to give everything for a quarter-final victory, fans can look forward to seeing the goalkeeper with the luminous shirt and protective headgear flying across the penalty box on Saturday evening.



Courtesy: FIFA.com


All in the details for superstitious Chilavert

24 Sep 2016

"I wouldn't rule out Iran beating Brazil. I'm serious," were the words of Carlos Chilavert, shortly after his Paraguay side had clinched their place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016. La Albirroja had just knocked out the host nation and, with a view to possible opponents, Chila had an eerie feeling that the Iranians would sink A Seleção - a prediction that came true the following day as they pulled off one of the biggest feats in Futsal World Cup history.

"We knew that Iran were a good team, one that I particularly like," said the Paraguay coach to FIFA.com. "I'd even say that I was surprised by their results in the group stage [Editor's note: Iran finished third in Group F], as I expected more from them. To a certain degree, the result against Brazil doesn't surprise me that much."

What is it about Iran that catches his eye? "They're organised, they like to get on the ball a lot and they're brave. But they have the same problem as us: finishing. I saw that against Spain [when Iran lost 5-1 in their opening group game]: they created a lot but couldn't put chances away."
Chilavert also clearly recalled the last time Paraguay tackled Iran. "It was in the semi-finals of the Uberaba Grand Prix and they beat us 2-0. That said, it is the case that I took a young team to that tournament, so I think this game will be different," added the 40-year-old supremo.


A changing mentality
He has several good reasons to think that way with Paraguay, even in defeat in their opening group game versus Italy, fully demonstrating their main qualities: disciplined marking, solid transitions and a level of firepower that, paradoxically, dwindled against Colombia.

"We had enough patience to create a lot of chances, we simply couldn't get the ball in the net," said Chila of the 0-0 Round of 16 draw, that his side won in a shoot-out. "We just lost our way a bit in some first-half lapses and we allowed counter-attack situations that could have cost us dear. But it would have been harsh had we been knocked out. It was one of the team's best performances."

It is a team that appears to bear the stamp of the former defender, who cut his teeth on the fiercely competitive Italian futsal scene. "I don't know if it bears my stamp, but yes, they have gained consistency. Before we'd play well but we'd lose games by fine margins. I'd go so far as to say that it was more of a mental issue than a footballing one.

"Perhaps some of my former team-mates still find it hard to believe me when I tell them I can see things more clearly from the sidelines," said Chilavert, who appeared at two Futsal World Cups as a player, with a chuckle. "But I keep insisting to them: even if we're going to take risks, we can't give anything away. And they must learn how to read games for themselves."


Snappy dressing
At one point in our conversation Juan Salas appeared, the pivot who racked up some unbelievable misses against Colombia. "If we'd have been knocked out, I'd have made you catch the bus back to Paraguay!" shouted Chilavert in jest to his player and erstwhile national-team colleague, who replied: "I did it because I like to see you suffer!"

And it is that synergy and group harmony that is one of the foundation stones of Paraguay's campaign so far. Look no further than Chilavert's decision to switch keepers for the shoot-out, with replacement Carlos Espinola saving twice to put La Albirroja into the last eight.

"Carlos and Gabriel [Gimenez] have known each other for ages," he explained. "We did the same thing in the final of the 2012 qualifying tournament, but in reverse, with Espinola starting and Gimenez coming in for the shoot-out against Argentina. Why did I make the change against Colombia? It was pre-agreed with them and the keeping coach. It has to do with how much practice they've had and how confident they feel."

Confidence too is a theme within the whole team, with that belief also fuelled by non-futsal factors, such as Chilavert ditching his tracksuit in favour of a sharp suit after the opening-game loss to Italy. "It suits me, doesn't it?" said the coach with a wide grin, as the interview concluded. "I'm superstitious and the change has worked so far. It feels a bit strange but it's brought me luck, so the suit stays!"



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