Futsal World Cup (concacaf)

[Guicho]

Let's give our support to our Continental Zone, our represantatives are:

http://www.fifa.com/imgml/flags/s/cub.gif Cuba (http://www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup/teams/team=1883212/index.html)http://www.fifa.com/imgml/flags/s/gua.gif Guatemala (http://www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup/teams/team=1883199/index.html)http://www.fifa.com/imgml/flags/s/usa.gif USA (http://www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup/teams/team=1890409/index.html)

Here is the link for Info:
http://www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup/teams/index.html

[Guicho]

http://www.fifa.com/imgml/flags/m/gua.gif Guatemala (GUA)

Key players
Jose Rafael Gonzalez, Marlon Noj

Qualifying statistics
Guatemala only won two games of five played en route to being named 2008 CONCACAF champions. The first came in the group stage against Trinidad and the second against holders the USA in the semi-finals. Their two other group games and the final both ended in draws, with the final needing a shootout to decide the winner.

The numbers game1 - the number of CONCACAF futsal championships won by Guatemala. It is also the number of FIFA Futsal World Cups they have participated in.

[Guicho]

http://www.fifa.com/imgml/flags/m/usa.gif USA (USA)

Key players
Jamar Beasley, Patrick Morris, Denison Cabral

Qualifying statistics
The Americans lost only one game in the qualifying section, a 4-0 semi-final defeat to the Guatemalans.

The numbers game
4 - Jamar Beasley finished joint fourth top scorer in the qualifying competition with four goals.

[Guicho]

http://www.fifa.com/imgml/flags/m/cub.gif Cuba (CUB)

Facts and figures
Key players
Eduardo Morales, Fernando Chapman

Qualifying statistics
Eduardo Morales finished top scorer at the 2008 CONCACAF championship, scoring no less than nine goals at the finals.

The numbers game
0 - the number of points Cuba have picked up in their nine games on the world's biggest futsal stage.

[Guicho]

Cuba rule in island duel

The Solomon Islands - the youngest team at these futsal finals in Brazil - looked to be on their way to a special day when Elliot Ragomo opened the scoring inside the first minute. Unfortunately for the Oceania men, their early joy only acted to aggravate the Cubans.
Yulier Olivera, Carlos Madrigal, Olivera, Boris Saname and Eduardo Morales all scored for the Cubans to make it 5-1 at the interval. In the 27th minute, the Solomons' defeat was fairly well complete, with Morales scoring two more goals and and Johnnet Martinez adding one of his own.
Morales went on to add another before Mesa made it 1-0 for the men from CONCACAF. In the dying moments, Ragomo added a bit of scant consolation with his second goal of the match for the outgunned Solomon Islands

[Guicho]

Paraguay hand US a lesson

The USA came out looking to take the game to Paraguay in Rio. But after Matthew Stewart hit the woodwork early on, the rhythm of the game settled squarely with the South Americans.
José Luis Santander scored first and Fabio Alcaraz added a second before Robson Fernández made it 3-0 with the last kick of the first half. The Paraguayans then went on to kill off the game early in the second period with a goal from Carlos Chilavert and another Rene Villalba, who set up the fourth, to make it 5-0.
The result was an impressive one for the Paraguayans, even if it came against an obviously outgunned USA who were never quite up for the test.

[Guicho]

Guatemala's late show

A last-gasp goal from Erick Acevedo gave Guatemala a 1-0 win over Egypt in Group C. The central Americans were good value for their win at the Gimnasia Nilson Nelson, despite many neutrals in the noisy hall backing their African rivals.
Jose Gonzales and goalkeeper Carlos Merida both had early chances for Guatemala, but fired wide of the target. Egypt responded well, with Ahmed Hussein hitting the post, although that proved to be their only highlight of the first half.
Hema in the Egypt goal had to be alert to deny Acevedo and company on no fewer than three occasions, although he was relieved to see Jannick Ramirez's shot rebound off the post and away to safety.
Egypt began the second half brightly and saw shots from Bougy and Hussein well saved by Merida and with a minute to go, Abou El Komsan hit the post. They were left to rue that miss when Acevedo pounced to break Egyptian hearts.

[Guicho]

Russians roll over Cuba

In an intriguing contest with old Cold War overtones, Russia showed no mercy to the CONCACAF islanders. Winning 10-5 on the day in Brasilia, the Europeans offered up superior technique and tactics to their Caribbean counterparts, who fought gamely despite being overmatched.
Yosniel Mesa seemed to indicate early that is was going to be a tough day for the Cubans, scoring an unfortunate own goal in the fourth minute to gift the Russians an early lead. Three minutes later, Vladislav Shayakhmetov and Konstantin Maevskiy made it 3-0 as the game looked to be getting away from the Cubans. Dmitry Prudnikov and Sirilo then added a pair of goals in the eighth and ninth minutes respectively to make the score 5-0.
The Cubans, to their credit, pulled the train back on the rails. Carlos Madrigal scored in the 15th minute and Mesa added one- in the right goal this time - to make the score 5-2 at the break.
The second half saw a flurry of activity and goal-mouth action. First Damir Khamadiev hit home for the Russians in the 29th minute and Sirilo added another to make it 7-2, before Mesa pulled one back for Cuba.
It was all for naught, though, as the Russians pulled away in the fading minutes and the final score read a lopsided 10-5. The result sees the Russians pick up their first win and are tied with Cuba (behind Brazil) in second place in Group A.

[Guicho]

Joy of six for Italy

Italy, the runners-up at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Chinese Taipei four years ago, looked impressive at the Maracanazhino today as they came from behind to beat USA 6-1 in the Group B encounter.
With Sandro Zanetti and Adriano Foglia once again looking threatening in attack, it was somewhat surprising when Andy Rosenband put the USA ahead with just five minutes on the clock. However, the Europeans went into the half-time interval ahead thanks to goals from their influential striking duo.
It was largely the same story in the second half. USA did have chances to equalize, but when Patrick Nora's deflected shot found the back of the net, their hopes of sharing the spoils ended. Grana's second penalty in as many games, plus goals from Edgar Bertoni and Saad Assis completed the rout.
Italy and USA meet Portugal and Thailand respectively in their penultimate Group B games on Sunday.

[Guicho]

Ukraine open in style

Ukraine entered the FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008 fray in the best possible way on Friday in Brasilia, winning out 6-2 against an outmatched Guatemala.
Valeriy Zamyatan opened the scoring for the East European after 13 minutes even though the Central Americans were the ones asking most of the early questions. Eduardo de Leon managed an equaliser for the Guatemalans two minutes into the second half, but parity didn't last for long as Sergiy Cheporniuk hammered home two minutes later to make it 2-1 to Ukraine.
Two goals in three minutes (26' and 29') from Yevgen Rogachov sealed the deal for the Ukrainians who went on to win by a justifiable 6-2 scoreline after Mykhaylo Romanov and Valeriy Legchanov added late insurance and Erick Acevedo pulled back a bit of consolation for the Guatemalans .
The 1996 fourth-place finishers, Ukraine, now sit in second place in Group B, tied with Guatemala, but with a game in hand. Argentina top the section with six points from two wins.

[Guicho]

Current standings:

http://www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup/standings/index.html

[MoRado]

good job guicho, keep updating us man!

[Jorgito]

Gracias por la info bro.

[michiganfb]

http://www.fifa.com/imgml/flags/m/usa.gif USA (USA)

Key players
Jamar Beasley, Patrick Morris, Denison Cabral

Qualifying statistics
The Americans lost only one game in the qualifying section, a 4-0 semi-final defeat to the Guatemalans.

The numbers game
4 - Jamar Beasley finished joint fourth top scorer in the qualifying competition with four goals.

Jamar Beasley is the brother to current USA national player Demarcus Beasley (PSV, Manchester City, Rangers).

I'd like to see Guate futsal keep the success going. They are helping create more national pride and interest in futbol in general.
Also, they are helping get more little chapines interested who might grow up and be players!

[jcvf90]

good job dude, keep the info coming.

[Guicho]

Thailand thrive on timely goals

Thailand broke open a close game by scoring two goals a minute apart to record a 5-3 Group B win over the United States in the FIFA Futsal World Cup on Saturday.
The result kept Thailand in the hunt for the final phase while the US were eliminated at Maracanazhino.
USA had the game's first clear chance, but goalkeeper Surapong Tompa stopped Denison Cabral's penalty kick with his face.
The Thais took control by scoring twice within a short span as Eakapong Suratsawang connected off a counter-attack in the 14th minute and Prasert Innui (after a set piece from a corner kick in the 16th minute.
The Americans closed the gap as Mike Apple found the back of the net just before the halftime whistle in the 20th minute. Apple turned playmaker, setting up Cabral's equalizer two minutes into the second half.
But Thailand again took over the game for good, again with two quick goals, off a counterattack and a set piece, Lertchai Issarasuwipakorn in the 29th minute and Panuwat Janta in the 30th minute.
Sermphan Khmthinkaew gave the Thais a two-goal bulge in the 39th minute before the US's Pat Morris closed out the scoring in the final minute.

[Guicho]

Portugal cruise against USA

Portugal thrashed the already eliminated USA 8-1 at the Maracanazinho, and moved a step closer to the next round in the process.
The Iberians found themselves 2-0 up inside the opening three minutes using the same formula, an assist from Arnaldo and a goal from Leitao. They looked completely dominant; pacy, precise and with a real cutting edge.
Although Portugal kept up the pressure, they soon found it tough to create chances and gave the USA a chance to get into the game. However, the Americans could not take their opportunity and the game fell away from them even further when Goncalo fired home just 30 seconds into the second half.
Arnaldo, Jardel, Bibi, Cardinal and Leitao all grabbed goals in the final 20 minutes as Portugal produced a wonderful exhibition of football and there was even time for Leitao to complete his hat-trick. Sandre Namouski's 36th minute goal was scant consolation for the US.
Portugal now meet Thailand in Brasilia on Wednesday hoping to qualify for the second round, while USA head home after suffering four defeats in their four matches played at this year's tournament.

[Guicho]

Japan undo plucky Cuba

Japan face a battle with Russia on Wednesday to see who will emerge as the second placed team in Group A following the former's 4-1 victory over Cuba.
The Asians almost took the lead as early as the eighth second when Yusuke Inada forced a good save from Wilfredo Carbo. The veteran keeper, the oldest player in the competition, also denied Inada two minutes later as well as Rikarudo Higa and Yusuke Komiyama inside the opening 15 minutes.
Despite Japan's domination, it was Cuba who took the lead against the run of play in the 16th minute; Yampier Rodriguez with an inch-perfect lob over the goalkeeper. The goal rocked Japan who were fortunate not to concede another when Boris Saname's shot rattled the post shortly before half-time.
Carbo again frustrated his opponents with some fine goalkeeping, but was powerless to stop Nobuya Osodo's shot in the 24th minute which crept between his legs. Two minutes later, Japan were in front through Kotaro Inaba and the Japan No11 played a key role in Japan's final two goals.
First Inaba's thunderous effort was spilled by Carbo into the path of Yuki Kanayama, who made it 3-1 and then he turned goalscorer with six minutes remaining when Inada provided the assist.

[lguti9]

Guate beats China 10-1 in Futsal

Go Chapines :D

[Bolivianfuego]

I saw USA vs. Portugal last night, probably repeat.... but man the US looked terrible, beyond their keeper.

It was like a fish outta' water. We need to stop playing that garbage Indoor soccer here in this country with walls and standardize the game to mimic that of Futsal everywhere else.