The year in Futsal

By Greg Demetriou

Spain's stunning victory at the FIFA Futsal World Championship finals in Chinese Taipei brought to an end another fantastic year of progress for Futsal in Europe.

Revenge gained
The successful defence of Spain's global title came after a 2-1 final victory against Italy, the team who had beaten them by the same scoreline in last year's UEFA European Futsal Championship semi-finals. All five European contenders made it to the last eight but it was the Spanish who really caught the eye, summed up by Javi Rodríguez being voted the tournament's second best player although the Azzurri could claim the third best in Vinicius Bacaro. Both, however, finished behind top-ranked player, Brazilian Falcão.

High hopes
The thrilling climax came after a busy 12 months on the international stage, although the club scene has continued to thrive. With the finals of the European Championship in February there is no sign that the world's fastest growing indoor sport is resting on its laurels. Indeed, at the start of 2004, UEFA Futsal Committee chairman Petr Fousek revealed to uefa.com that the game's leading lights were seeing real progress being made, and not just in terms of the standard of play. "It all bodes well for the future - for the development of the game as a whole, from attendances to attracting sponsors," he said.

Czech finals
Fousek is especially looking forward to the European Championship finals in the Czech Republic, claiming it "promises to be a great competition", especially with Spain and Italy due to meet again in the group stage. In all, 33 nations entered this year, but only eight would make it. After a preliminary stage, the qualifying round was held between 27 January and 1 February.

Potential shown
While the leading nations were predictable qualifiers, the achievement of the Netherlands and Hungary in reaching the finals was particularly notable. And, although they did not win through, teams like Slovenia, Belarus and Bosnia-Herzegovina also showed their potential. However, proof of the élite's dominance was underlined earlier in the year when Italy's Adriano Foglia was voted the world's best.

Dramatic ending
In the 2003/04 UEFA Futsal Cup, defending champions Playas de Castellón FS were aiming for a hat-trick of titles but were to find domestic rivals Boomerang Interviú FS in their way in the second qualifying round. The two met in a decisive match on 21 March. Needing just a draw to progress, Boomerang were 2-1 down as the game entered its final minute. However, with 25 seconds remaining, Javi Limones scored a dramatic, and decisive, equaliser.

Final class
Boomerang did not look back and were unstoppable in the final against SL Benfica, also making their first appearance at this stage following the elimination of two-times previous finalists, Action 21 Charleroi. After two thrilling legs, on 24 April and 1 May, Boomerang's 7-5 aggregate success ensured a third consecutive Spanish triumph.

Popular event
Qualifying began for the 2004/05 UEFA Futsal Cup in September, with a preliminary round required due to the increased numbers taking part. The following month, the 31 remaining sides took part in the first qualifying round, and unsurprisingly defending champions Boomerang were among the eight winners who will compete at the next stage in March.

Coming together
Before that will come the European Championship finals in Ostrava, during which a special Futsal workshop will be staged where representatives of the 18 European countries that have no national team as yet, will be present. With some of the finest Futsal minds from across the continent also involved, the two-day event will do much to increase the game's profile.