The first family of Futsal

By Andy Hall

It is enough of an honour for a family to have one member in a UEFA competition final - but to have two twin brothers involved is a special feat.

Full part
Andreu and Joan Linares Rodríguez have played a full part in earning Spanish champions Boomerang Interviú FS a place in the third UEFA Futsal Cup final against SL Benfica. Both helped Boomerang build up their goal difference in their first two victories in second qualifying round Group A - which proved vital as they drew the decider 2-2 with domestic rivals and two-time European champions Playas de Castellón FS.

Spirits high
Attention is now focused on the first leg of the final on 24 April - 29 years and two months after their shared birthday - in Madrid's Pabellón Parque Corredor, a week before the Lisbon return. The brothers told uefa.com that spirits are high at a club where a third consecutive Spanish title and first continental crown are in reach.

'No complaints'
"At this point we have realised all of our expectations," Joan said. "We have won everything that we have entered so far. We have won three trophies, we are top of the league and in the UEFA Cup final, so we have no complaints at all."

Dramatic qualification
Still, the route to the final was not easy. Joan admits: "We had two very complicated games - against the Ukrainians [FC InterKrAZ Kyiv], who surprised us - we never expected them to give us such a hard game here in Madrid. But even harder was meeting Playas, and we only sealed qualification during the last 20 seconds of the game."

'Difficult opponents'
However, they admit that Benfica are a slightly unknown quantity. Andreu said: "The only knowledge we have is from when we played them in the Iberian Cup in February. We beat them 5-0 but they are a team that can cause a lot of problems. They are very quick, with great players, many of whom are Portuguese internationals, and when they are in form, then they are very difficult opponents."

Parallel careers
But what about their own unusual situation, as twins in the same team at the highest level? "Our career has been more or less parallel," Andreu said. "We have always been together at club level and in the national team."

Always together
Joan adds: "We started at the same time with [CLM] Talavera, then FC Barcelona and Playas de Castellón - we have been together all along. Even coming to Madrid to join Boomerang - it has never been a case of one starting out and the other following suit."

Perfect understanding
Not only that, but Joan reveals: "Being twins is different to being just brothers - there is no age gap for example. I know and understand Andreu perfectly, just one glance and we know instantly what the other is thinking and is going to do."

Technique key
So as the first family of Futsal, what are the qualities needed to emulate the twins? Joan's tips are "you need to be quick-thinking because you need to move quickly in short spaces of time, and have good technique because you need to be comfortable with both feet".

Second is nowhere
Meanwhile, Andreu suggested: "You need to be powerful physically and mentally and with a winners' mentality. Here at Boomerang, the whole concept is to win - coming second is not enough, it is a disaster for us." Hardly surprising at a team dubbed the 'galacticos of football'.