The year in Futsal

By Greg Demetriou

It has been a year of firsts for Futsal.

Pushing forward
In 2002 we have had the debut of the UEFA Futsal Cup and the inaugural UEFA Futsal Conference. There have also been great strides taken in the UEFA European Futsal Championship, which will take place in Italy early next year and will for the first time be staged in two venues.

Rapid growth
The Futsal Cup was a direct product of the rapid growth of Futsal across Europe during the 1990s and the popularity of the European Futsal Championship for national teams. As a result, UEFA decided it was time to introduce a full-scale club tournament although there had previously been nine unofficial European club competitions.

Thrills and spills
After a qualification round, eight teams competed for the cup in Lisbon last February. Spanish side Playas de Castellón won the trophy with a 5-1 victory over Belgium's Action 21 Charleroi. It was a tournament of thrills and spills where hosts Sporting Clube de Portugal's run to the semi-finals ensured thousands of fans turned out to support them and Spain forward Joan finished as top scorer with eleven goals.

'Special feeling'
Castellón were deserved champions and the significance of their success was not lost on coach Faustino Pérez. "I am very happy and it is a very special feeling to have won the first one," he told uefa.com.

Two-legged final
Seven months later, the first qualifying round of the 2003 UEFA Futsal Cup took place, with 30 teams from across Europe involved. The sides - winners or runners-up of their domestic competitions - were divided into mini-tournaments and the eight winners progressed to the second qualifying round. This will be played next spring in two mini-tournaments of four teams with the winners of each group progressing to a two-legged final. Among the sides in action will be holders Castellón, Spanish rivals Interviu Boomerang and 2002 beaten finalists Charleroi

Leading contenders
Qualifying also took place at the end of the year for the 2003 European Futsal Championship with 29 nations hunting for seven places. The qualifying round was notable for the continued excellence of sides like holders Spain, Russia and Ukraine although Slovenia, Belgium and the Czech Republic also made it through proving that there is room for emerging nations.

Intriguing ties
For the finals, Spain and hosts Italy and were kept apart in Groups A and B and are tipped to be the leading contenders in Caserta and Aversa next February. Italy have been drawn with 1999 winners Russia, Slovenia and Czech Republic but it is Group B that particularly promises some intriguing ties as Spain will take on Portugal, Belgium and Ukraine.

Surprises in store
Spain coach Javier Lozano cannot wait for it to begin, although is not taking anything for granted despite the calibre of his side. "I think the tournament will be one of surprises and it is not good to be too confident at this stage," he said.

Impressive event
However, perhaps the biggest success of the last 12 months has been the UEFA Futsal Conference in Coverciano, Italy. Held in November, it featured representatives of 49 of UEFA's 52 member associations and was the biggest coming together of experts in the sport, which is targeting possible inclusion at the 2006 Olympic Games.

Bright future
"The conference is the next step for Futsal in Europe," said Petr Fousek, chairman of the UEFA Futsal committee. "I am sure this event will open new doors for the development of Futsal and increase the chances of further development." After 12 months like this, 2003 will have a lot to live up to.