Croatia v Thailand
Bukhara Universal Sports Complex, Bukhara
Kick-off times:
12:00 in Zagreb
15:00 in Bukhara
17:00 in Bangkok
FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking positions
Thailand (9th)
Croatia (16th)
Match
It’s the showdown the masses believe will determine who finishes second in the section. Croatia and Thailand obviously have designs of outpointing Brazil, but they have both identified test one as their most paramount. Franco Jelovcic and Dario Marinovic, club legends who will finally play at the global finals, will be key to the Mini Blazers’ hopes, while the War Elephants boast two outstanding pivots in Muhammad Osamanmusa, who recently joined Spanish champions Jimbee Cartagena, and Suphawut Thueanklang.
Quotes
“The game against Thailand will be the most important for us, because it should define which teams finishes in second place. It’s a game that will tell us a lot.”
David Mataja, Croatia pivot
“Croatia are big rivals for us. They have high-quality players and a lot of potential. We want Thai futsal to make its mark and bring honour to our nation.”
Muhammad Osamanmusa, Thailand pivot
Brazil v Cuba
Bukhara Universal Sports Complex, Bukhara
Kick-off times:
08:30 in Havana
09:30 in Brasilia
17:30 in Bukhara
FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking positions
Brazil (1st)
Cuba (78th)
Match
The awestruck Cuba players fanboyed Pito upon running into him on Tuesday, but they must quickly shed that respect if they are to avoid another pummelling. Brazil, indeed, won the sides’ two previous encounters 18-0 and 9-0. Pito and Ferrao, both exceptional pivots, and the on-fire Marcel will expect to hand out another beatdown, though Cuba have match-winners of their own in Jonathan Hernandez and Iduan Martinez.
Quotes
“I’m very confident. We have a great squad. Preparations have been going really well. Every player, every member of the coaching staff is fully focussed on us returning to the top of the podium. We can’t let this title escape us again.”
Ferrao, Brazil pivot
“I think it is going to be an epic battle. Brazil are a great team and we have to be focused until the final minute. We can’t let our guard down for a second against them, because Brazil’s top players will take advantage of any small thing.”
Iduan Martinez, Cuba winger
Paraguay v Costa Rica
Humo Arena, Tashkent
Kick-off times:
06:30 in San Jose
08:30 in Asuncion
17:30 in Bukhara
FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking positions
Paraguay (13th)
Costa Rica (31st)
Match
Costa Rica rallied from two goals down to down Paraguay 6-3 in the teams’ only ever encounter on futsal’s biggest stage, and Minor Cabalceta and Milinton Tijerino possess the class to cause another upset. Carlos Chilavert will entrust Damian Mareco and Javier Adolfo Salas with getting La Albirroja off to a solid start in a wide-open group.
Quotes
“Paraguay are a traditional team at major tournaments. They are very difficult opponents with a coach who played in Europe for many years. A lot of their players play in Europe, especially in Italy. They are very consistent in South America.”
Alex Ramos, Costa Rica coach
“Costa Rica are a physical team that are hard to play against. We are preparing ourselves because we know it will be a tough group, but we also believe we can finish first in it.”
Arnaldo Baez, Paraguay pivot
Uzbekistan v Netherlands
Humo Arena, Tashkent
Kick-off times:
17:00 in Amsterdam
20:00 in Tashkent
FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking positions
Uzbekistan (11th)
Netherlands (36th)
Match
One of the biggest games in Uzbek sporting history is set to go down. An electric atmosphere is guaranteed and, though the White Wolves have been plagued by injuries, rising stars Abror Akhmetzyanov and Fazliddin Botirov are instilling them with optimism. The Netherlands, returning to the big stage for the first time in 24 years, have an excellent goalkeeper in Manuel Kuijk and an elite inventor in Ayoub Boukhari. Will this battle of Spanish coaches Jose Venancio Lopez and Miguel Andres Moreno end in Uzbek ecstasy or an Oranje spoiler?
Quotes
“I was very happy to be called into the squad. We are studying the Netherlands carefully. We have lot of injuries, but enough players who can replace them. Youngsters Abror Akhmetzyanov and Fazliddin Botirov are playing really well.
Anaskhon Rakhmatov, who replaced Dilshod Rakhmatov in the Uzbekistan squad
“It will be a great experience. It will be packed out, 12,000 fans. It will be a tough challenge. The crowd will make a lot of noise, be against us, but it was the same when we played Finland away. In Finland everybody was in white, there was a lot of noise, but we rose to the challenge. I believe we will do the same against Uzbekistan.”
Jordy Cretier, Netherlands defender
