Italy
Thursday 3 July 2008
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Italy (©FIGC)
Italy have emerged in recent years as the leading challengers to Spain's dominance in the continental game and shared with their rivals the best record in UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament qualifying.
Qualifying
Always a strong team at this level, Italy came together last October in a two-game friendly series against Croatia, drawing 2-2 and winning 8-4. At the Autumn tournament in St Petersburg two months later, they began by losing 2-1 to Ukraine but restored pride by defeating the Czech Republic 5-2 and the Netherlands 4-1. Spain were to win that tournament, but Italy beat them 3-1 in an away friendly in February, followed the next month by two identical wins in Slovenia. Suitably prepared, in qualifying in Martina Franca they sailed past France 8-0, Turkey 5-0 and Moldova 12-0.
Senior achievements
One of the first nations to play the international game, Italy have played in every UEFA European Futsal Championship and have never failed to reach the last four. However, their real breakthrough came on home soil in 2003 when they eliminated champions Spain in the semis and then beat Ukraine 1-0 to claim the title. A year later they reached the FIFA Futsal World Cup final but, having beaten Spain in the second group stage, lost 2-1 in the decider to the same opponents. It was a similar story in the 2007 European final, the scoreline in Porto 3-1.
Key players
Like Italy's senior team, the U21 team benefits from a number of Brazilian-born talents, notably Gabriel Lima. Given his debut at this level when he was 18, Lima has football experience in Sweden and Denmark and is gifted with both ball skills and leadership ability. Last year he joined Marca Trevigiana from Aosta C/5 and his nine goals last season earned him a move to TFL Arzignano. Lima scored five times for Italy in qualifying.
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