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| It was a run like this that allowed Neto to score the game-winner. |
As is the case in the 11v11 game, set pieces account for a
high percentage of futsal goals – especially in tight, highly competitive
games. In Brazil’s 3-2 Futsal World Cup championship win over Spain, three of
the five goals are well-executed set pieces, one of which includes a textbook
illustration of the coach’s mantra: follow our shots. Falcão scores with a
left-footed bomb to tie the game, but it’s a bit of skill and trickery, and a
long run, that sets up Neto’s game-winner at the death.
Third-place matches are often the ho-hum stuff of the footie
world, but Italy’s 3-0 win over Colombia in Thailand is no yawner. Italy’s
first goal from distance is a volley … hard enough with a soccer ball, much
tougher with a low-bounce, smaller futsal ball. Try it some time. Second
eye-catcher is the red card to Colombia’s keeper, who makes a nice hand save,
but unfortunately is two city blocks outside the penalty area. Finally, the
combination play on Italy’s third goal’s a thing of beauty, enough to make a
grown coach cry.
Some good goalkeeping at the end of the game enabled Spain
to advance with a tough 3-2 quarterfinal result against Russia. Watch the
beginning closely or you’ll miss Russia’s lightning-quick corner kick play and
goal. We were distracted by the Spanish fans of the female persuasion, which
required that we restart the highlight three times.
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| The World Cup's Brazil-Argentina game didn't lack fireworks. |
Are teams from the CONCACAF region this bad or were they in
Thailand for the Pad Thai? Guatemala’s the best in this region, but you wouldn’t
know it from the 9-0 whipping they endured from Russia. On the plus side, there
are lots of goals to watch and our personal highlight was the puffy blond wigs
some Russia fans were wearing. It doesn't happen here, so we’re still waiting to see a referee fumble the ball as he snatches it from the pregame pedestal.
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| It's back to the drawing board for Panama's futsal team. |
Not to belabor the point, but CONCACAF’s Panama – which we
recall beating the U.S. in qualifying with through balls and over-the-top passes to speed up front – got no such break in its match with Brazil. Aside
from conceding 16 goals and not scoring any, the Panamanians lost their cool,
twice intentionally sending Falcão to the floor. The first might’ve been
justified a bit since the Brazilian ace showboats with some nifty juggling before
being sent to ground. It’s still fun to watch, right? The second cardable
offense is crude, and not the kind they'd let slip through the Panama Canal.
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| Rita Martins |
Portuguese player Rita Martins shows why futsal flair isn’t
the sole property of men … and proves that yes, there is a pot of gold at the
end of the rainbow. Guess you'll have to watch to know what we're talking about.
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| Falcao attempts things his imagination produces. |
Finally, while you've probably seen this before, but with our tendency to refer to Falcão as “the elder statesman of
futsal” and other flip remarks, it’s important to remember that no
player in futsal or soccer has consistently had the chutzpah to try the amazing things he has, while still playing within the team. Even when Falcão
misses, it's hard to complain.
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