Deco illustrates Madrid motives

Earlier this season, uefa.com spoke to FC Barcelona and Portugal star Deco about Futsal and how instrumental it was in his rise to the highest rung of world football.

Big help
"I play Futsal and it has helped a lot," the Brazilian-born playmaker said. "I played from the age of nine until I was 16 when I had to stop to go on with my football career. It improves my speed and dribbling skills." The key element here was the use of the present tense. While Deco had to give up playing Futsal regularly to follow his football dream, he admits that the lessons learned are still with him and being put to use in the UEFA Champions League.

Top thinkers
At this week's second UEFA Futsal Conference in Madrid, the example of superstars like Deco and Brazilian internationals like Ronaldinho, Robinho and Ronaldo has often been cited. For all the expertise being imparted by the game's top thinkers and administrators, there is nothing like seeing it in the flesh. From the ability to control and play the ball in tight circumstances, to being able to find a team-mate or finish from improbable situations, Futsal itself is the best promotion of the game and what it can offer those going on to play the eleven-a-side 'older brother'.

Artful Deco
As a case in point, UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh showed the 170-strong delegation, gathered from each of UEFA's member associations, a video of Deco playing Futsal during a Barcelona training session. With the diminutive Portuguese stuck on the sideline in his own half and surrounded by 'opponents', Roxburgh froze the action and asked the audience: "what happened next?". Various suggestions were mooted but no one came close to the right answer. In one instant, Deco played the ball into the air, knocked it over the head of his marker before running round him. He then touched the ball forward before unleashing it beyond the unsuspecting goalkeeper.

Spread the word
Such a moment of magic followed by a goal can occur in seconds wherever the ball is during a Futsal match. You cannot afford to lose concentration, whether playing or watching, and those gathered in Laz Rozas were urged to do all they could to take the game to the uninitiated. Chief among them was UEFA Futsal Committee chairman Petr Fousek, who spoke with certainty about what was required. "It is very necessary to see Futsal live, to fall in love with it," he said. "If you bring people to the halls, and show them the game they will go for it." Deco certainly did.