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Spain confirm title defence |
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
Spain will bid for a third straight FIFA Futsal World Cup victory in Brazil this autumn after completing a comfortable play-off success against Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Comfortable winA 9-1 home first-leg win had made the return in Visoko something of a formality and Spain ensured they qualified in style as they struck four goals without reply. Kike found the target on five minutes and Ortiz, Marcelo and Rafa Muñoz took the aggregate score to 13-1 after the interval for the world and European champions. European berths
Five other European sides will be in the finals draw in Brasilia on 6 July for the tournament from 30 September to 19 October. On Sunday, Russia hold a 5-1 lead ahead of their home leg against Belarus while on Tuesday Ukraine travel to Hungary 3-1 up, Romania welcome the Czech Republic with the score at 1-1 and Slovenia visit Portugal trailing 6-1. The play-offs are completed the following day in Ploce where Croatia hope to overturn a 6-3 deficit against 2004 World Cup runners-up Italy.
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Russia book their ticket to Brazil |
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
 Russia have booked their place in the finals of the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil after a 1-1 draw in Schelkovo completed a 6-2 aggregate play-off win against Belarus. Missing playersBeaten 5-1 in the first leg, Belarus came to Russia without two of their top players, with captain Vladimir Levus suspended and striker Sergei Kuznetsov injured. Naturalised Brazilians Cirilo and Pele Junior were unavailable for Russia and were replaced by youngsters Danil Kutuzov and Dmitri Lyskov, who will both play for the hosts at the UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament in St Petersburg frm 6-14 December. Useful guideHaving missed out on the World Cup four years ago but reached the previous two semi-finals, Russia were the stronger side in the second leg, but were nonetheless held to a draw. |
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Czechs edge Romania in thriller |
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
 The Czech Republic have qualified for their second straight FIFA Futsal World Cup finals after a thrilling away goals play-off elimination of Romania while Ukraine and Portugal also booked their berths in Brazil. Romania 2-2 Czech Republic (agg 3-3, Czech Republic win on away goals)At home in the second leg, Romania seemed to have the advantage after their 1-1 draw in the first match, having beaten the Czech Republic 8-4 on their UEFA European Futsal Championship debut last November. But on seven minutes David Frič put the visitors to Tirgu-Mures in front from nine metres out and within three minutes Tomáš Sluka had doubled the advantage. Now Romania needed three goals, and poured forward putting constant pressure on the away team. They pulled one back before the break through Cosmin Gherman turning in Ion Alioani's cross, and four minutes into the second half Florin Matei levelled the score on the day, combining with Alioani. However, some fine saves from Tomáš Meller in the visitors' goal kept Romania at bay and, after a late Gherman miss, the Czech Republic, who reached the second group stage on their World Cup debut four years ago, will be on their way to Brazil from 30 September-19 October. |
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Italy secure World Cup berth |
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
 Italy qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup taking place in Brazil after a 3-0 win in Croatia gave them a 9-3 aggregate victory over their hosts. Second-half strikes
Having won the first leg 6-3, Italy were always in control in the return in Ploče. Croatia coach Mićo Marić said before the match that "victory would be a fantasy and the World Cup a real dream", but despite holding their visitors to a scoreless first half, the dream evaporated as the hosts leaked goals in the second period after leaving Italy space in their increasing urgency to get back into the play-off. Defenders Douglas Corsini, a minute after half-time, and Patrick Nora, six minutes later sealed the tie and Napoli forward Sandro Zanetti completed the scoring ten minutes from time. |
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Dinamo celebrate as Spain awaits classic |
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
 MFK Dinamo Moskva's return to the UEFA Futsal Cup has been confirmed after they wrapped up the Russian Super League title at the weekend while this year's beaten finalists, ElPozo Murcia FS, have set up yet another Spanish play-off final showdown with two-time European champions Interviú Fadesa. Kelson winnerDinamo, whose only loss this season was the penalty shoot-out defeat by Murcia that cost them their UEFA Futsal Cup crown at the semi-final stage in Moscow last month, only needed one point to clinch the title after their 43rd of 48 2007/08 league fixtures on Friday against MFK Mytischi Moscow Region. Although Cirilo's 15th-minute opener was immediately cancelled out, Kelson made it 2-1 with ten minutes left, and that win was followed up a day later by a 4-1 triumph. |
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Futsal 
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