9th World University Futsal Championship
Palma De Mallorca, Spain, October 4th to 10th, 2004
Gold for Ukraine
A record number of four hundred and fifteen (415) goals were scored with an average of 8.7 per game. The event was a great success with excellent facilities and accommodations.
The Opening Ceremony in Castle Bellver
Futsal in Palma (ESP)
On October 4th, the 10th World University Futsal Championship kicked-off in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, a city well known to the FISU Family as the 1999 Summer Universiade was hosted there and, more recently, the 2004 World University Triathlon Championship. The maximum number of sixteen teams competed in this event. Two very good teams competed in the final with the experienced Ukrainian team beating a talented young Brazilian team 3-1. Russia claimed the bronze medal beating the hosts Spain by 3-2. A total of forty-eight games were played for the first time in the Futsal Championship. A record number of four hundred and fifteen (415) goals were scored with an average of 8.7 per game. The event was a great success with excellent facilities and accommodation. The Organizing Committee, primarily from the Municipal Sports Department, IME, worked with great enthusiasm and commitment to ensure that the event ran smoothly for the competitors.
The Athletes' Oath
Opening
The Opening Ceremony followed FISU regulations and respected FISU protocol. It was held at the Castle of Bellver, a beautiful, historic building overlooking Palma. The speakers at the ceremony were Mrs. Francisca Bennasar, the 1st Vice-Mayor of Palma, who welcomed all the participants on behalf of Mayor Catalina Cirer; Mr. José Luis Aguado, Deputy-Director General of the Higher Council of Sports; Joan Antoni Mesquida, vice-rector of the UIB, the University of the Balearic Isles and Mr. Pedro Dias, FISU EC Member and CISCA Chairman for this WUC. The ‘Gaudemus Igitur’, the FISU Anthem, was performed by the choir of the University of the Balearic Isles. After the flag raising the Choir interpreted two more songs: ‘Canticorum iubilo’, by Händel and ‘La Balanguera’ by Amadeu Vives.
Portugal scores against Great Britain
Four Pools
The sixteen teams were divided in four pools. The standard of the top teams was very good with countries entering well-organized and highly technical teams. The top four teams - Ukraine, Brazil, Russia and Spain -were very impressive and performed at a very good level. This is endorsed by the fact that nine teams were managed or coached by the country’s national futsal coach. At least nine teams had international players in their squads. Twenty-six internationals were identified in the player audit. There is a big difference between the major futsal playing countries and the more recent additions to the futsal family but the championship will have provided good experience and new targets for the emerging futsal countries. Four teams took part for the first time, Czech Republic, Serbia and Montenegro, France and Switzerland. Thirty-eight countries have now taken part in the FISU World University Futsal Championships. The top individual scorer was Tomas Sluka from the Czech Republic with 13 goals, closely followed by Sabri Selden from Turkey with 12 goals. The Czech Republic amassed 45 goals, becoming the top goal scoring team. The highest scoring game with a total of 26 goals was Czech Republic 21 vs. Switzerland 5 in the second group game.
A big crowd turn-up for the gold medal game
Gold Medal Game
The golden game between the Ukraine and Brazil was a game between experience and youth. The Brazilian team was a young team with a lot of talent, but it lacked the experience of the Ukrainians had, especially for a championship final. The Ukrainians played their game in the first half scoring two goals. Vitaliy Nesteruk scored the first goal after ten minutes. The last two minutes of the period Artem Kovalyov drilled in the second goal establishing a 2:0 lead over Brazil. Half way through the second period Kovalyov scored once more putting a 3:0 on the scoreboard. With a three points lead the Ukrainians consolidated their position and went into defence, preventing every offensive manoeuvre of the Brazilians. The latter had three genuine scoring opportunities but failed to use them and lost the game 3:1 whereas Ukraine took the gold and Brazil settled with the silver.
Jaime Yarza, FIFA Futsal Development Manager
FISU and FIFA
The recently appointed FIFA Futsal Development Manager, Jaime Yarza and Chairman of the UEFA Futsal Committee and FIFA futsal committee members Tom van der Hulst and Petr Fusek attended the event. Discussions were held regarding progressing the FIFA/FISU links in order to develop futsal through the FISU network and increasing our co-operation. The FISU will pursue the good will and desire to co-operate with the FIFA and plan a strategy that both organizations approve and support.
Organizing Committee
I.M.E. José Luis Berbel Institut Municipal de l'Esport Cami de la Vileta, 40 07011Palma de Mallorca - Spain phone: (34.971)739941 fax: (34.971)453414
Final Ranking
1. Ukraine - gold medallist 2. Brazil - silver medallist 3. Russia - bronze medallist 4. Spain 5. Portugal 6. Czech Republic 7. Poland 8. Slovenia 9. Serbia & Montenegro 10. Slovakia 11. Israel 12. France 13. Hungary 14. Turkey 15. Switzerland 16. Great Britain Indiviual and Team Awards Best Goalkeeper: Gennady Garagulia (RUS) Best Player: Gabrel Kranjera (BRA) Top Scorer: Tomas Sluka (CZE) Fair Play: Team Great Britain
The gold medallists: Ukraine
Results
Results Day 1 Slovenia vs. Turkey: 5-5 Brazil vs. Hungary: 10-1 Spain vs. Israel: 7-0 Slovakia vs. Poland: 1-1 Russia vs. Czech Republic: 4-4 Ukraine vs. Portugal: 1-0 Switzerland vs. France: 2-3 Serbia and Montenegro vs. Great Britain: 15-0 Results Day 2 Portugal vs. Serbia & Montenegro: 5-2 Israel vs. SLovenia: 0-3 Czech Republic vs. Switzerland: 21-5 Hungary vs. Slovakia: 2-5 Ukraine vs. Great Britain: 18-0 Brazil vs. Poland:: 4-1 Russia vs. France: 12-0 Spain vs. Trukey: 12-0 Results Day 3 Brazil vs. Slovakia: 2-0 Hungary vs. Poland: 2-6 Great Britain vs. Portugal: 0-20 Ukraine vs. Serba & Montenegro: 4-1 Czech Republic vs. France: 14-6 Russia vs. Switzerland: 18-1 Spain vs. Slovenia: 3-1 Israel vs. Turkey: 5-3 Results of Day 4 France vs. Great Britain: 1-1 (4-3 after penalties) Turkey vs. Slovakia: 5-6 Russia vs. Portugal: 6-4 Slovenia vs. Brazil: 0-6 Switzerland vs. Serbia & Montenegro: 1-8 Israel vs. Hungary: 2-2 (3-2 after penalties) Czech Republic vs. Ukraine: 3-3 (2-3 after penalties) Spain vs. Poland: 6-1 Results Day 5 Hungary vs. Switzerland: 7-2 Great Britain vs. Turkey: 4-12 Poland vs. Czech Republic: 3-4 Portugal vs. Slovenia: 5-0 Israel vs. Serbia & Montenegro: 3-5 France vs. Slovakia: 2-3 Spain vs. Ukraine: 2-2 (3-4 after penalties) Russia vs. Brazil: 4-7 Results Day 6 Switzerland vs. Great Britain: 5-1 Hungary vs. Turkey: 11-4 Israel vs. France: 6-3 Serbia & Montenegro vs. Slovakia: 6-0 Poland vs. Slovenia: 5-3 Czech Republic vs. Portugal: 3-4 Spain vs. Russia: 2-3 (Bronze Medal Game) Brazil vs. Ukraine: 1-3 (Gold Medal Game)
