Photo: Vladimir Drugandžić/Cropix
The 2012 UEFA Euro Futsal championships are being hosted in Croatia this year. Croatia qualified automatically as hosts and won both of their group stage matches: a defensive 2-1 victory over Romania in the tournament opener and a 5-4 win over the Cazech Republic on Saturday to top the group. Topping the group ensures that Croatia cannot meet three-time defending champions Spain until the Final. But first, the mini Vatreni will face Ukraine in the quarterfinals at the Spaladium in Split on Monday night. Should Croatia win and Serbia defeats Russia, the two nations will once again face each other in Euro competition to start 2012.
Serbia defeated Croatia in the Euro water polo championships group stage; on their way to the title. They also defeated Croatia in the Euro handball semifinals. The Final will be held at Arena Zagreb on Saturday, February 11th.
Croatia 5-4 Czech Republic (Highlights)
@Ante………During the Worlds qualifiers in Azerb, we finished third in our group while the first two teams advanced. We won and tied (beat Azer and lost to Ukr). Urkaine and Azerb played the last group match with Urkraine already assured first place. The only way Azerb could advance was if the lost by less than 2 goals, which they did, losing 4-2. Our guys bitched about the result being arranged before the match…..sounded like sour grapes to me.
So, now fast forward to today…..our guys are still pissed about it and the fans in Split were aware and that is why they threw some trash on the Ukraine flag. I don’t think our team did anything to the Ukraine flag, but our fans sure did.
I wouldn’t mind seeing this in the Olympics either. I think for it to become an Olympic sport it must gain intermediary status be played in a certain # of countries.
I’ve always believed basketball should be in the winter Olympics
What happened between Croatia and Ukraine in Azerbajdan? The Croatian coach didn’t want to shake the Ukrainian coach’s hand and Croatian’s team captain refused to trade flags at the beginning of the game. Some reports say they threw it in the trash and the Ukranian savez is looking to disqualify Croatia for their behavior.
Mali nogomet je najbolji!
This sport looks like an absolute blast to play; don’t know much about it, but it’s cool that one of the main tactics is the goalie leaving his defensive post to form an offensive power play – reminds me when I was a kid playing soccer on a concrete playground.
This is a perfect Olympic sport – and if the Olympics are smart, they’d make it a Winter sport; just like I think some other indoor sports should be in the Winter Olympics considering the significant disparity in the amount of summer olympic sports to winter olympic sports.
agreed…..them making it out of the group stages is a HUGE accomplishments. Anything beyond this is great. The generation from 10 plus years ago was better.
don’t expect them to make the finals, if this was anywhere outside of Croatia they would have exited the groups 😀
Great highlights.
not sure how many of you like this game but its amazing to play…especially at the international level! i played in several huge tournaments…two world cups and a pacific rim tournament….there was mention futsal may be an olympic sport one day and i hope it does…good luck to our vatreni!