Alesio prepares Azerbaijan for next step

Azerbaijan will compete in a final tournament for the first time when they face hosts Hungary in the opening game of the 2010 UEFA European Futsal Championship on 19 January in Budapest and coach Alesio knows they have a chance of a decent run.

Blend
The Brazilian technician led Azerbaijan through qualifying unbeaten and in November further confirmed his affect on the sport in the former Soviet republic by coaching national champions Araz Naxçivan to next April's UEFA Futsal Cup finals. Both club and country combine home-grown talent with naturalised Brazilian ability and Alesio points to that blend as the reason for Azerbaijan's new status.

Home talent
"I'm the coach now, and we have some Brazilian-born players as well," Alesio told uefa.com. "That is why the team became stronger. We also have other players in the side that are just as strong as the Brazilian-born players."

Surprise
The 41-year-old, whose playing career took him to Spain and Russia with coaching jobs at MFK Spartak Moskva, TTG-Java Yugorsk and Kairat Almaty, admitted of Azerbaijan's qualification: "It was a surprise for us as well, but we will certainly do our best to put in a good performance."

Group rivals
After playing the hosts in Group A, Azerbaijan take on the Czech Republic, the only one of the three to have played in the last finals in 2007. "I don't really know how [Hungary] play, but I will watch them and learn more about their style," Alesio said. "I know quite a bit more about the Czech Republic. I know they have a very good team, every part of their side is strong. This is a good opportunity for us, but that also applies to Hungary and the Czech Republic."