Higuita called it “crazy”. Kazakhstan threw punches from Tashkent. Spain unloaded them from Andijan. After they’d both handed out beatdowns, La Roja’s goal difference was +13 to the Hawks’ +12 and they sneaked through as Group D winners at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™.
Over in Group C, Jo hit four for Angola, only for Alan Brandi to one-up him and inspire Argentina to glory in a goal-fest, while Ukraine overpowered Afghanistan to seize second place and a last-16 showdown with the Netherlands. The latter result also sent Croatia through as one of the best third-placed teams.
Kazakhstan 10-0 New Zealand
Kazakhstan goals: Rinat Turegazin (9), Akzhol Daribay (12), Arnold Knaub (15, 16, 21, 23, 37), Leo (21, 30), Logan Wisnewski OG (31)
Player of the Match: Arnold Knaub (Kazakhstan)
Kazakhstan were fired up for a shootout with Spain. Arnold Knaub was in deadly form. He scored five. The Hawks hit 10. Yet, cruelly, it was not enough, with Spain finishing Group D on top with a +13 goal difference to their +12. Kazakhstan now face an extremely tough game in the last 16: either Portugal or Morocco. You can bet ‘Iron Man’ and Co will be equalled fired up for that as they were today.
Quotes
“I said after the draw against Spain that it was going to get crazy between us and Spain. It got crazy. It was going one way then the other. We got very close, but it wasn’t to be. Now it’s Portugal or Morocco. We’ll be 100 per cent up for it. Kaka has a great gameplan for everyone.”
Higuita, Kazakhstan goalkeeper
“We’re disappointed with the game today but credit to Kazakhstan, they were class. This whole experience has been incredible though. The Spain game is one we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. This whole tournament has been a dream.”
Oban Hawkins, New Zealand winger
Stat
Knaub become the first player to score five times in a FIFA Futsal World Cup game since Azerbaijan’s Fineo and Ricardinho of Portugal did it at Colombia 2016. It helped Kazakhstan equal their biggest-ever victory in the tournament: a 10-0 defeat of Solomon Islands eight years ago.
Libya 0-8 Spain
Spain goals: Miguel Mellado (9, 16, 28), Adolfo Fernandez (10), Francisco Cortes (15, 29) Catela (19), Jesus Gordillo (32)
Player of the Match: Miguel Mellado (Spain)
Spain knew Kazakhstan would go for broke. Fede Vidal even predicted they would score double figures. They did. Fortunately his charges scored enough – just enough – to edge through as section winners. Catela and Cortes both dazzled, while the pick of the men in white was Mellado. Spain, no matter which best third-placed team they play, will be heavy favourites in the last 16.
“We held our own well, but the fact that Spain had to come here to score goals showed that physically we weren’t up to their level. They didn’t even let us play under their pressure. Overall, though, I’m happy with our tournament.”
Ricardo Iniguez, Libya coach
“We finished first. I’m very happy. We have to congratulate the players because the first game was very complicated and in the next two, the players were great. Spain’s target is to be in the final on 6 October.”
Fede Vidal, Spain coach
Stat
Spain’s victory was their biggest in the competition in 20 years. A Javi Rodriguez treble inspired a 10-0 win over Chinese Taipei in 2004.
Angola 5-9 Argentina
Angola goals: Jo (1, 2 & 10), Angel Claudino OG (32), Aderito (33)
Argentina goals: Alan Brandi (7), Cristian Borruto (13), Alan Brandi (17), Kevin Arrieta (18), Lucas Tripodi (31), Angel Claudino (33), Alan Brandi (34, 34 & 35)
Player of the Match: Alan Brandi
Argentina’s pivot power is awe-striking. Cristian Borruto bagged a brace in the first game, Matias Rosa repeated the feat in the second, and today’s exhibition belonged to Alan Brandi. The latter, however, netted as many as five. Angola can be proud of giving the titans a real go. They led 2-0 early on and Jo went on to hit a hat-trick, but this Argentina team were a hurdle too big.
Quotes
We knew it would be really tough against Argentina, but we wanted to get a better result. I’m very happy to score goals. It was a great experience, we learned a lot. We have a lot of young players and I believe we will be back stronger in four years’ time.”
Jo, Angola winger
“I’m really pleased to score five goals in a World Cup game. It’s never easy to do that and Angola are a talented side. The most important thing was to go through with nine points. We’ll enter the knockout phase confident.”
Alan Brandi, Argentina pivot
Stat
Borruto moved on to 16 FIFA Futsal World Cup goals – one shy of entering its all-time top 10 marksmen. His Argentina team-mate Brandi is one behind.
Ukraine 4-1 Afghanistan
Ukraine goals: Yevhenii Zhuk (15), Danyil Abakshyn (16), Mykhailo Zvarych (37), Ihor Korsun (38)
Afghanistan goals: Mehran Gholami (26)
Player of the Match: Danyil Abakshyn (Ukraine)
Oleksandr Kosenko’s side started out with a result he described as “disastrous”. Six days later and Ukraine are in the last 16 and facing a game against the Netherlands in which they’ll be the favourites. Majid Mortezaeis men could have played it safe. Two-one down – a result that would have progressed them as one of the best third-placed teams – they nevertheless went for broke and now face a nail-biting wait to see it they will make the cut. The beneficiaries of Afghan adventure were Croatia, whose place in the knockout phase was printed.
Quote
“It was fantastic. It’s a very exciting moment to qualify for the knockout stage. We are improving from the first game and we have already achieved our first goal, which was to get out of the group stage. It wasn’t easy, we had a tough game, but we stuck together, gave it our best and finished up happy.”
Ihor Korsun, Ukraine fixo
