Belgium out to upset revamped Azzurri

While hosts Italy were winning the 2003 UEFA European Futsal Championship, Belgium were exiting with just a single point. Since then Belgium have not played in the finals but they return today with a Group B fixture against an Azzurri side aiming to reclaim the trophy in Hungary.

Long journey
Italy were runners-up in 2007 and reached the semi-finals two years before that, Belgium qualifying on neither occasion. However, Benny Meurs, who took over as Belgium coach following the 2003 finals, has been moulding a young and talented team and is hoping to upset Italy and fellow Group B rivals Ukraine in Debrecen. "This has not just been a month or a few months in preparation but almost seven years; it's the first time we've qualified in seven years so we are very glad we are here," Meurs said.

Underdogs
With Salhi Saad and Jonathan Neukermans suspended for the opening game, Meurs knows that Belgium are clear underdogs. "For a small futsal country to have an opening game against one of the top teams in the world, it's an amazing story," he said. "If you ask me if we have a chance of winning, I'd say normally no, on paper we don't have a chance, but it's sport and the whole team is ready and it's very exciting to be starting the tournament."

Bertoni absence
The Azzurri were dealt a blow at the weekend with an injury to 2003 veteran Edgar Bertoni. Coach Roberto Menichelli, who stepped up to replace the long-serving Alessandro Nuccorini last year, said: "The absence of Bertoni is important; he is a talisman. It is a problem for us, but I have a group of very united and strong players, in terms of character as well as ability. We will be able to make up for Edgar's absence; I'm sure of this."

Italian renewal
Menichelli has introduced several young players into the Italy set-up recently, not least Cristian Rizzo, who will become the first 18-year-old to play in a Futsal EURO finals game if he is used. "The Italian team has been undergoing a process of technical renewal for the last ten months and this European Championship represents a stage of this journey," Menichelli said. "The game with Belgium is a very difficult one. The Belgian federation has done a good job to get the national team back in the European Championship. I give them credit for this."