It’s almost time! On Wednesday 19 January, the UEFA Futsal EURO 2022, the European indoor football championship, will start in the Netherlands. Sixteen strong teams compete against each other and finally a winner is crowned on February 6. Football zone looks ahead with prominent figures around the tournament.
Soufiane Touzani, ambassador of the tournament, indicates that futsal is a very tactical game: “All running lines are very well trained in advance. Of course you think: futsal is just tricks,” he tells Football zone. “But no, losing the ball kills, so this is going to be a game of chess. Many may see futsal a bit as a café sport, as something you have done in the past. While here are athletes in between, you’re going to see a real spectacle. It will be fireworks.”
Former national coach of Oranje Futsal, Vic Hermans, emphasizes in particular the killer pace of the sport: “Indoor football is really no longer just about technique, it goes very fast. The switchover takes place within a few seconds and as a team you can shoot on target fifty times in a match. It’s much nicer to watch than regular football. The sport gets less attention than it deserves.”
The record international of the current Oranje Futsal, Jamal el Ghannouti, wholeheartedly agrees: “It is very unique that we have been able to bring this tournament to the Netherlands. It will be the biggest European Championship ever, with the best teams. Reigning European champion Portugal is even in our group. You are going to see top futsal and that is only beautiful, a good advertisement for the sport.”
On Wednesday-evening, the the Dutch futsal will play its first game against Ukraine. This match can be followed live via the NOS.
The coach of Portugal, Jorge Braz, can hardly wait for the tournament to start. “It is a great pleasure to be in the Netherlands. I can’t wait to meet all the friends of futsal. I’m really looking forward to the tournament. The best players in Europe are here, the greatest artists.”
Touzani, Hermans and the current national team coach of the Dutch Futsal Max Tjaden are in unanimous agreement about who are the biggest contenders for the title. Portugal, Kazakhstan and Spain are credited with the greatest chance of receiving a medal. “Kazakhstan has Higuita in the goal, who is a keeper of Brazilian descent. It’s great to watch,” says Tjaden. “The great thing about a tournament like this, you will always see that, is that there are nice outsiders to watch.”
Justus Dingemanse is a full-time presenter and program maker at Voetbalzone and makes contributions in the form of exclusive interviews, reports, documentaries and programs.