Futsalroos learn their World Cup fate
The Futsalroos will face five-time World Cup winners Brazil, European powerhouse Ukraine, and African bolters Mozambique in Group D of the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup following the draw which was conducted in Medellin, Colombia.
The Futsalroos will start the competition with a match against Mozambique on 11 September at the Coliseo Bicentenario in Bucaramanga. Following the match against the African nation, the Futsalroos will meet Brazil on 14 September before finishing their group matches with a game against Ukraine three days later (17 September).
“Regardless of who we drew in the group it was always going to be difficult,” said Futsalroos Head Coach Rob Varela after the ceremony which was held at the Plaza Mayor Convention Centre. “Obviously Brazil presents a massive challenge but also an exciting opportunity for the boys to pay against some of the best players in the world and I am sure they will relish that.
“Ukraine are a very good team and play a typical European style, very physical and with good ball movement, but if we perform to our capabilities I think we can be competitive in that game. Mozambique, we don’t know much about them, but being a former Portuguese colony I imagine they will be skilful on the ball. They may lack experience though, and maybe we can exploit that. Overall, we have to be happy with the draw.”
Attention now turns to squad selection and preparation heading into the first match of the competition with Varela aware of what needs to be done in order for the Futsalroos to make an impression at the tournament.
“Firstly we need to nail our preparation, that’s the physical side of it as well as the technical and tactical aspects,” said Varela. “We need to prepare well to give ourselves the best possible chance. We have never managed to get out of a group stage [at a FIFA Futsal World Cup] so it will be history making if we do that, but you have to go into the competition with that sort of aspiration otherwise there is no point in being in it.”
Whilst the quality of Brazil is well known, they are the current FIFA Futsal World Cup holders and are perennial finalists at the tournament, Mozambique are a lesser known quantity having qualified for the event for the first time. Ukraine meanwhile will enter their fifth FIFA Futsal World Cup Finals having impressed in making the Quarter Finals in Thailand 2012.
The 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup will be the seventh time that the Futsalroos have tested themselves against the best in the world, narrowly missing out on a place in the Round of 16 in 2012 after defeating Mexico but losing to eventual semi-finalists Italy and Argentina.
SBS TV will broadcast all Futsalroos matches at the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup live and exclusive as well as the Semi-Finals and the Final.
2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup – Group D – Futsalroos Fixtures
11/9 Futsalroos v Mozambique (Coliseo Bicentenario, Bucaramanga, 16:00 local (7am AEST)
14/9 Futsalroos v Brazil (Coliseo Bicentenario, Bucaramanga, 18:00 local (9am AEST)
17/9 Futsalroos v Ukraine (Coliseo Bicentenario, Bucaramanga, 16:00 local (7am AEST)
FIFA FUTSAL WORLD CUP COLOMBIA 2016 – GROUPS
GROUP A
1. Colombia
2. Portugal
3. Uzbekistan
4. Panama
GROUP B
1. Thailand
2. Russia
3. Cuba
4. Egypt
GROUP C
1. Paraguay
2. Italy
3. Vietnam
4. Guatemala
GROUP D
1. Ukraine
2. Brazil
3. Mozambique
4. Australia
GROUP E
1. Argentina
2. Kazakhstan
3. Solomon Islands
4. Costa Rica
GROUP F
1. Iran
2. Spain
3. Morocco
4. Azerbaijan
For more information, please visit www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup
