France on the brink of history as giants flex their muscles
https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tourna ... istan-2024
Heavyweights Kazakhstan and Portugal are cruising towards Uzbekistan 2024 places, while France are close to reaching their first FIFA Futsal World Cup.
France are close to qualifying for their first FIFA Futsal World Cup
Giants Kazakhstan and Portugal are on the cusp of reaching Uzbekistan 2024
Italy have two-time world champions Spain under pressure
France are on the verge of reaching their first FIFA Futsal World Cup™, while heavyweights Kazakhstan and Portugal are also within touching distance of Uzbekistan 2024 qualification. As fellow giants Spain are being pushed hard by Italy, FIFA looks at how things stand after four of six matchdays in the elite round of UEFA qualifying.
How it works
The five group winners will qualify for Uzbekistan 2024 automatically, while the four best runners-up will enter the elite round play-offs, from which the remaining two tickets to the global finals will be clinched.
Group A
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points
Kazakhstan 4 4 0 0 12
Romania 4 2 1 1 7
Azerbaijan 4 1 0 3 3
Netherlands 4 0 1 3 1
Kazakhstan, semi-finalists at Lithuania 2021, seized 12 points from a possible 12, though they didn’t have it easy. Thanks to some outstanding performances from Leo Higuita, Douglas Junior, Leo and Birzhan Orazov, however, they ground out wins over the Netherlands (2-0), Romania (4-3) and Azerbaijan twice (4-2 and 3-2). Romania, for whom Andre Sasse has shone, need a minor miracle to finish first, but are are in a commanding position to claim the section’s spot in the elite round play-offs.
Group B
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points
Poland 4 3 0 1 9
Ukraine 4 2 1 1 7
Serbia 4 1 2 1 5
Belgium 4 0 1 3 1
It was billed as a battle between Serbia and Ukraine, but it’s Poland who lead the way. After losing 2-1 at home to the Serbians first time out, Tomasz Kriezel and Mikolaj Zastawnik propelled the Poles to three straight victories. Ukraine, for whom Ihor Korsun has dazzled, registered thumping away wins in Belgium (10-2) and Serbia (6-1), but only one point from their other two games has them two points off the pace. Serbia have disappointed thus far,
but in Jovan Lazarevic and Dorde Rosic have the quality to help them finish second or even top.
Group C
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points
France 4 3 1 0 10
Croatia 4 2 0 2 6
Slovakia 4 1 1 2 4
Germany 4 1 0 3 3
Abdessamad Mohammed inspired France to seven points from their first three games, before they had to face the pool favourites in Zagreb without their talisman. Croatia went ahead but, after Mamadou Toure equalised, Souheil Mouhoudine hit a last-gasp winner. France now require just one victory from their last two outings, against Germany and Slovakia, to qualify for their first global finals, while the battle for a play-off berth is wide open.
Group D
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points
Spain 4 3 1 0 10
Italy 4 2 1 1 7
Slovenia 4 1 1 2 4
Czechia 4 0 1 3 1
Just how crucial will Raul Campos’s last-gasp goal, which nicked Spain a 1-0 win over Italy, prove? The Nazionale have benefitted from 11th-hour drama themselves, though, having scored three late goals in a 3-1 win over Slovenia, a winner 10 seconds from time in a thrilling 6-5 win over Czech Republic, and a last-minute equaliser against the same side. Alex Merlim, Marcelo and Italy still have Spain to host, while a play-off place is certainly within Slovenia’s reach.
Group E
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points
Portugal 4 4 0 0 12
Georgia 4 2 1 1 7
Finland 4 1 1 2 4
Armenia 4 0 0 4 0
There’s no stopping Portugal. The reigning world champions, who also conquered the last two EUROs and the first Finalissima, swept to four wins from four run-outs, Tomas Paco and Pany Varela particularly magnificent for Jorge Braz’s team. It appears a race for second place, with the key contest Finland’s hosting to Georgia.
FIFA Futsal World Cup participations
Spain (9)
Italy (7)
Russia (7)
Portugal (5)
Ukraine (5)
Netherlands (4)
Czech Republic (4)
Belgium (3)
Kazakhstan (3)
Serbia (2)
Azerbaijan (1)
Croatia (1)
Denmark (1)
Hungary (1)
Lithuania (1)
Poland (1)
