Courtesy: FIFA.com


Russia and Iran reach semis on day of revenge and drama

25 Sep 2016

THE DAY REPLAYED – Paraguay and Iran served up more thrills and spills before Russia finally got the better of Spain, ensuring that two first-time finalists are guaranteed to grace Cali on 1 October. FIFA.com rounds up the action from the opening two quarter-finals at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016.

The Iranians and Paraguayans took the crowd through the full gamut of emotions during their see-saw battle in Bucaramanga. The fans could have been forgiven for dozing off during the opening ten minutes while the two teams sized each other up without doing any damage. Not long after, though, they will have been rubbing their hands together with glee at the sight of the brilliance of the Asians' first couple of strikes and the South Americans' counter-attacking prowess. They will have finished the afternoon on the absolute edge of their seats following goals in the dying stages of both normal and extra time.

In the other match, it was a case of the tide finally turning for Russia, although their supporters must have feared the worst when their long-running nemeses Spain struck back after a poor start. Was history about to repeat itself? Not if the Russians had anything to do with it. With a compact, well-balanced team and Eder Lima once again firing on all cylinders, the eastern Europeans' time looks to have come. The Spaniards managed to remain afloat until the interval but ended the encounter at sixes and sevens, their misery compounded when opposing goalkeeper Gustavo settled the contest by kicking into an empty net.

With both previous winners now out, a new king will be crowned at Colombia 2016.


Results

Paraguay 3-4 Iran (aet)
Russia 6-2 Spain


Memorable moments

Patience and perseverance pay off
The ball just would not go in for Ahmad Esmaeilpour early on. The Iranian attacker tried his luck from virtually every position and angle possible, only to be denied by the hands of Gabriel Gimenez or, failing that, a Paraguayan leg. However, he stuck at it and got his reward when his screamer whistled into the top corner to make it 1-1, and he subsequently earned his side a dramatic win by doubling his tally in the nick of time.


A true team player
Tournaments are sometimes won from the bench and in the most unexpected ways. Aicardo clearly subscribes to this adage. The Spain star was forced to miss the meeting with Russia due to injury, but he did not let his disappointment deter him from doing everything in his power to try to help his country – from cheerleading to dishing out words of advice and even providing a personal towel service to keep the team-mates alongside him fresh.


When it rains, it pours
The showdowns between Spain and Russia in recent years have all been decided by small details. What made the difference on this occasion was a string of uncharacteristic individual errors from the Spaniards, who have so regularly remained a picture of calm when the pressure has been on in the past. Ortiz set the tone with a nonchalant pass that resulted in the opening goal, Fernandao deflected into his own net for the Russians' fourth – these were far from the only examples of the two-time champions getting themselves in a tangle at the back – and the La Roja forwards were guilty of some unusually wayward finishing at the other end. It was a perfect storm and Russia took full advantage.


The stat

23 – The number of seconds left on the clock when Esmaeilpour hit his last-gasp winner. The Iranian's strike avoided another penalty shoot-out between two teams who had both clinched their quarter-final berths from the spot.

The words

"I want to thank the team for their efforts. My players fought to get us into another shoot-out but it didn't end the way we wanted. I'm very proud of them and I think they deserved better." Paraguay coach Carlos Chilavert


Next matchday

Sunday 25 September

Quarter-finals

Argentina-Egypt (15:30)
Azerbaijan-Portugal (18:00)

All times local



Courtesy: FIFA.com


Joao Matos, Portugal's bearded wonder

25 Sep 2016

"I won't shave off my beard, even if we're crowned world champions!" said Portugal's Joao Matos with a contagious peal of laughter as he chatted with FIFA.com. His 'look' is eye-catching and he knows it, with a quick glance back at pictures from him at Thailand 2012, his first trip to the FIFA Futsal World Cup, showing a very different-looking, clean-shaven, short-haired young man...

"It all started at the Futsal EURO in 2014," said the 29-year-old defender. "Quite simply, that was the last time I shaved with a razor. Since then I just use electric clippers. And I look after my beard just like you would your hair: washing it, waxing it and combing it. I don't like to see myself without a beard anymore. What's more, I must admit it's kind of like my trademark now," he added with another wide grin.

That is true to such an extent that, when we asked him if he would sign off on a hypothetical deal exchanging a Futsal World Cup win for his facial hair, the beard won the day. "I insist, I can't even see myself clean-shaven again. So, even if we're crowned world champions I'm not planning on shaving it off."

His "trademark" has made quite the impression during Colombia 2016, particularly among local fans, who ask him for selfie after selfie. In fact, it was for that reason that he was the last Portugal player to leave the parquet court at the Coliseo el Pueblo after the 4-0 win over Costa Rica in the Round of 16.

"It doesn't matter if they want pictures because of the beard, because we play well or because we seem like nice guys," said the Sporting Lisbon player. "They pay to see Portugal play and deserve our respect. Besides, it's very nice to feel the warmth of the fans, especially when you're so far away from home.


Substance to go with style
Yet do not be fooled into thinking Joao Matos is all about appearances. Very much a family man, with the names of his grandparents, parents, siblings and son tattooed on his arms, and preparing to welcome a daughter into the world on 28 October, he is a dynamic, quick and cool-headed defender.

Indeed, the player is particularly adept at picking out team-mates, even in the tightest of spots, and has already racked up three assists so far this Futsal World Cup. "It's easy to play in a team like this," he said, modestly.

"We've got top-quality players and everybody knows what their role is and what job they need to do to make the whole team stronger," added Matos, a futsal fanatic since he was a child. "When you're a kid and you get to touch the ball hundreds of times, how could you not love this sport?"

Nor does Matos mind that in the Portugal squad, certain players are more to the fore than others. "It may be the case that Ricardinho and Cardinal carry a degree more responsibility than the rest of us, we're not going to deny it. The good thing is that the more opponents worry about them, the better the rest of us can take advantage."

It is a strategy that has worked so far, "though it has not been easy", underlined Matos. "Even against Panama we had to thoroughly work the game. I have to say that Portugal, without underestimating anybody, prepared in order to hit the best possible form at this stage [of the competition]."

The next obstacle in their path is Azerbaijan, the only tournament debutants to have reached the last eight this time around. "They're opponents that rely on certain individuals, and they have some very good ones. Their nationalised Brazilian players have an awful lot of quality, not giving them space will be important."

So, as the interview drew to a close, dare we ask if Portugal can claim the world title? "To say something like that when we've still never won anything would be a mistake," concluded Matos. "We're approaching this one game at a time. There are three 'finals' left and we can't afford to think any other way."




Courtesy: FIFA.com


No excuses from sanguine Sedano

25 Sep 2016

"Excuses are for losers."

Paco Sedano's words hung in the air at Cali's Coliseo el Pueblo. Spain had just been knocked out by Russia in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016 and disappointment was written across the face of the goalkeeper, the only member of the squad with a world title under his belt.

The memory of that triumph at Chinese Taipei 2004 offered scant consolation for the 36-year-old, although the veteran's vast experience came through in his measured remarks. "There was sadness in the dressing room, but that's sport. We had dreamed of winning the World Cup and now we have to go home," a subdued Sedano told FIFA.com, before sounding a more defiant note: "No one has died and we have to pick ourselves up. Life goes on."

His first verdict on the 6-2 loss to Russia was short and to the point: "They were better than us." When pressed, he elaborated a little: "We weren't at our best. We tried everything, but there are days when things don't come off for you. Above all we lacked sharpness with the ball."

Sergio Lozano, Aicardo and Jose Ruiz, who had been responsible for eight of Spain's 18 goals en route to the quarter-finals, all missed out against the Russians through injury. However, Sedano refused to attribute the defeat to their absence: "I'll say it again: excuses are for losers. We were without several players when we won the last European Championship, so it's not about that. They outplayed us, end of story."


The importance of perspective
This is the first time that Spain have failed to reach the semi-finals of the Futsal World Cup since the inaugural edition, Netherlands 1989. Furthermore, as any fan could tell you, they had made it to the last five finals in a row, tasting glory twice.

For this reason, the No1 was at pains to put this early exit – by Spain's standards – into context and issue a categorical defence of the La Roja regime: "This is a team that have enjoyed success in the past and you can't call everything into question because of one bad day at the office." "The whole set-up isn't going to come crashing down because of one setback," he went on, not lowering his gaze.

Accordingly, the keeper is already looking ahead with optimism: "There is a bright future for this side. It has its fair share of young players and as if that weren't enough, futsal is flourishing in Spain. That's why I'm convinced that the national team will keep challenging for trophies."

The battle for silverware looks likely to involve ever more contenders, as Sedano is well aware. Tellingly, with the Spaniards following holders Brazil in bowing out, a new champion will be crowned at Colombia 2016.

Nevertheless, the shot-stopper was also adamant that the competition has always been fierce: "We always got to the final before, but that doesn't mean it was easy. There were already other great teams and we were made to work hard."

On this note, he also downplayed the idea that there is a 'new world order' in the game. "I don't know that I'd go that far, but what is true is that futsal has grown. It's good for the sport not to always have the same winners."

Before Sedano headed off to the mixed zone to speak to the assembled press, there was still time for one last question about his future, but the Barcelona custodian was quick to bat it away. "I can't speak about that now. This is a moment to think about the team, not about ourselves personally. Right now I just want to get back to training with my club, then we'll see what happens."



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