Courtesy: UEFA.com


European clean sweep in World Cup group stage

Tuesday 20 September 2016

Europe's representatives Portugal, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Spain all secured top-two finishes in the group stage to reach the last 16.

All seven of Europe's FIFA Futsal World Cup contenders in Colombia have made it through to the knockout stage starting on Tuesday.

Europe's contenders

Group A winners: Portugal

Results: 1-1 v Colombia (Cali), 9-0 v Panama (Cali), 5-1 v Uzebkistan (Medellin)

Summary: Cardinal claimed a last-second equaliser against the hosts before Ricardinho hit six against Panama and three more versus Uzbekistan to lead the scoring charts.


Group B winners: Russia

Results: 6-4 v Thailand (Medellin), 6-1 v Egypt (Medellin), 7-1 v Cuba (Cali)

Summary: Ten different players have shared the 19 goals.


Group C winners: Italy

Results: 4-2 v Paraguay (Cali), 5-1 v Guatemala (Cali), 2-0 v Vietnam (Bucaramanga)

Summary: Italy trailed twice in their opening game but a Fortino hat-trick against Guatemala saw them through.


Group D runners-up: Ukraine

Results: 1-3 v Brazil (Bucaramanga), 4-2 v Mozambique (Bucaramanga), 3-1 v Australia (Bucaramanga)

Summary: In their two matches after narrowly beating Ukraine 3-1, Brazil went on to score 26 more goals.


Group E runners-up: Kazakhstan

Results: 0-1 v Argentina (Bucaramanga), 3-1 v Costa Rica (Bucaramanga), 10-0 v Solomon Islands (Medellin)

Summary: In Kazakhstan's sole previous World Cup 16 years ago, as an Asian side, they lost all three group games. Now they hope to avenge their 5-2 UEFA Futsal EURO 2016 semi-final loss to Spain (for which goalkeeper Higuita was suspended).


Group F runners-up: Azerbaijan

Results: 5-0 v Morocco (Medellin), 2-4 v Spain (Medellin), 3-3 v Iran (Medellin)

Summary: Vassoura got a hat-trick on Azerbaijan's debut World Cup appearance but then put through two own goals (after opening the scoring) in the reverse to Spain.


Group F winners: Spain

Results: 5-1 v Iran (Medellin), 4-2 v Azerbaijan (Medellin), 4-3 v Morocco (Bucaramanga)

Summary: There will be no third straight Brazil v Spain final as they are slated to face off in the last four. The one time they did not meet in the final since 1996, Spain knocked out Brazil on penalties in the 2004 semis.


Knockout schedule

Round of 16:
Tuesday
37: Russia 7-0 Vietnam, Medellin
38: Colombia 0-0 (2-3pens) Paraguay, Cali

Wednesday
39: Brazil 4-4 (2-3pens) Iran, Bucaramanga
40: Spain 5-2 Kazakhstan, Medellin
41: Portugal 4-0 Costa Rica, Cali

Thursday
42: Argentina 1-0 (aet) Ukraine, Bucaramanga
43: Thailand 8-13 (aet) Azerbaijan, Medellin
44: Italy 3-4 (aet) v Egypt, Cali

Quarter-finals:
Saturday
45: Paraguay v Iran, Bucaramanga
46: Russia v Spain, Cali

Sunday
47: Argentina v Egypt, Medellin
48: Portugal v Azerbaijan, Cali

Semi-finals:

27 September
49: Paraguay/Iran v Russia/Spain, Medellin

28 September
50: Argentina/Egypt v Portugal/Azerbaijan, Cali

Final & third-place play-off
1 October, Cali

Previous finals (hosts)
2012: Brazil 3-2 aet Spain (Thailand)
2008: Brazil 2-2, 4-3 pens Spain (Brazil)
2004: Spain 2-1 Italy (Chinese Taipei)
2000: Spain 4-3 Brazil (Guatemala)
1996: Brazil 6-4 Spain (Spain)
1992: Brazil 4-1 United States (Hong Kong)
1989: Brazil 2-1 Netherlands (Netherlands)



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Russia, Portugal progress as Spain, Italy fall

Monday 26 September 2016

Russia and Portugal are through to the FIFA Futsal World Cup semi-finals but Spain and Italy, along with holders Brazil, are among the casualties in the knockouts so far.


Russia and Portugal will carry European hopes into the last week of the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia, with a new name on the trophy guaranteed.

Holders Brazil, who have won four of the six editions including the last two, went out in the last 16 on penalties to Iran. While Russia and Portugal comfortably made it through and Spain beat Kazakhstan 5-2, Italy surprisingly lost 4-3 after extra time to Egypt and Ukraine were pipped in extra time by Argentina.

In the quarter-finals, Russia exacted revenge for their UEFA Futsal EURO 2016 final defeat by Spain with a 6-2 victory, picking their opponents off on the break in the second half after edging to a 3-2 lead at the interval.

Russia are set for a Tuesday meeting with Iran, who beat Paraguay in extra time. Spain's elimination means there will be new champions and indeed new finalists as along with Brazil, only Italy and non-qualifiers the United States and the Netherlands have previously made the decider.

Portugal pipped debutants Azerbaijan 3-2 to reach their first World Cup semi-final since 2000, a back-heel volleyed flick by Ricardinho his competition-leading 12th in Colombia. Awaiting them on Wednesday areArgentina, who saw off Egypt 5-0.

Knockout phase

Round of 16:
Russia 7-0 Vietnam, Medellin
Colombia 0-0 (2-3pens) Paraguay, Cali
Brazil 4-4 (2-3pens) Iran, Bucaramanga
Spain 5-2 Kazakhstan, Medellin
Portugal 4-0 Costa Rica, Cali
Argentina 1-0 (aet) Ukraine, Bucaramanga
Thailand 8-13 (aet) Azerbaijan, Medellin
Italy 3-4 (aet) v Egypt, Cali

Quarter-finals:
Paraguay 3-4 (aet) Iran, Bucaramanga
Russia 6-2 Spain, Cali
Argentina 5-0 Egypt, Medellin
Portugal 3-2 Azerbaijan, Cali

Semi-finals:

Tuesday
Iran v Russia, Medellin

Wednesday
Argentina v Portugal, Cali


Final & third-place play-off
Saturday, Cali

Previous finals (hosts)
2012: Brazil 3-2 aet Spain (Thailand)
2008: Brazil 2-2, 4-3 pens Spain (Brazil)
2004: Spain 2-1 Italy (Chinese Taipei)
2000: Spain 4-3 Brazil (Guatemala)
1996: Brazil 6-4 Spain (Spain)
1992: Brazil 4-1 United States (Hong Kong)
1989: Brazil 2-1 Netherlands (Netherlands)


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