'Ninth team' ready to roll

Valuable insight
The experienced official had the honour of being involved in December’s final in Chinese Taipei when Spain were crowned global champions after a 2-1 victory against Italy. Filppu is a well-respected figure in the game, and in the past has given uefa.com a valuable insight into the intricacies of Futsal refereeing.

Last finals
He confirmed the finals in Ostrava running from today until Sunday would be his last international national-team event, although he may yet feature once more in European football's governing body's competition for the top club sides. "This will be my last big tournament. I will keep myself fit until the end of this year and I hope to finish my career in a UEFA Futsal Cup qualifying tournament next autumn."

Good friends
His absence will be felt on the international circuit. Referees are part of a special fraternity and such a bond was shown when Filppu was in the refereeing team for that FIFA final. He said: "My Czech colleague sent me a phone message saying that 'he has to be proud when his friend is a part of the final.'" Of the whole Far East experience, he added: "We were a good group of referees, especially we Europeans."

Quality on show
It will be a solely European affair in Ostrava and a feast of Futsal is expected with the dozen officials, rightly regarded as the 'ninth team', an essential part of the whole competition. Filppu will naturally not be drawn on who might lift the trophy but said: "I hope that all the matches are exciting and more or less equal. The participating squads are very good and skilful and the tournament is perhaps of the highest quality ever." The same can certainly be said for the 12 men in the middle.