2010 UEFA Futsal Championship: Stylish Spanish kings of Europe

ESP FUT 4-2 POR FUT

The Spanish national futsal team has claimed its third European title in a row, winning the final of the UEFA Futsal Championship against Iberian rivals Portugal in Debrecen. A 3-0 lead for Spain was in fear of being cancelled out with late Portugese efforts. A goal from the Spanish player Daniel in the last of the 40 minutes sealed a Spanish win, though, as their stay with the 11-a-side team as current European champions continues.

Meanwhille, in the earlier 3rd-place playoff, Azerbaijan lost to the Czech Republic 5-3. The finals, hosted by Hungary, saw 11 nations from the qualifying stages join the hosts over 2 weeks to contest the event at arenas in two cities (Budapest and Debrecen).

England did not have a strong performance, not even qualifing for the finals and failing to escape their group in the 1st Qualifing Round, and are in fact one of the lowest-ranked national futsal teams. Futsal is a variation on football that is 5-a-side, shorter matches, smaller balls and goals, rolling substitutions, and usually much more goals. The next edition of the FIFA Futsal World Cup is scheduled for 2012.

2010 UEFA Futsal Championship: Full Results

Group A (standings):
1) AZE
2) CZE
3) HUN

Group B (standings):
1) ITA
2) UKR
3) BEL

Group C (standings):
1) SRB
2) RUS
3) SVN

Group D (standings):
1) ESP
2) POR
3) BLR

Quarter-Finals:
AZE (p)3-3 UKR
ITA 3-3(p) CZE
SRB 1-5 POR
ESP (p)0-0 RUS

Semi-Finals:
AZE 3-3(p) POR
ESP 8-1 CZE

3rd-Place Play-Off:
CZE 5-3 AZE

Final:
ESP 4-2 POR

Final Standings:
1) ESP
2) POR
3) CZE
4) AZE

UEFA Awards:
Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Shared (Biro Jade (AZE), Javi Rodriguez (ESP), Joel Queiros (POR), Saad Assis (ITA)) (5 goals)