Goalkeeper Manuel Kuijk and national coach Max Tjaden of Oranje Futsal remain optimistic about getting through the group stage, even after the 4-1 loss against top favorite Portugal. Kuijk and Tjaden are both satisfied with the game played against the reigning European champions and know that a victory in the last group match against Serbia will probably be enough to push through. “I think we did a good job,” Kuijk told Football zone.
The goalie, who stood out with excellent saves, is realistic about the game against Portugal. “I think we did well, we knew in advance that we were playing an excellent opponent,” the 27-year-old goalkeeper told Football zone. “We participated for a long time, but I think the result says it all. You can see that they do everything 100 percent, we had to do the same in return. That worked, but unfortunately we couldn’t score enough.”
Tjaden can relate to the words of his first keeper. “We have been able to arm ourselves with verve against Portugal,” said the national coach. “We let the game come to us, but the international top players Pany Varela and Zicky Té made it difficult. Once we stopped them, others came free, their whole team is world class. That’s up to them, in the final of Argentina also had a hard time with the world championship.”
Despite the defeat, Kuijk is still confident in a good outcome. “If I win, I expect we will continue immediately. Portugal will not want to take the risk of putting down a bad result against Ukraine.” The selection saw a part of the first half of Serbia-Ukraine (1-6) and has been warned despite the heavy defeat of the Serbs. “Serbia is of course also just a good team,” says Kuijk. “We have to face them. I am disappointed here, but it just has to happen on Friday. So there is nothing wrong yet, we have played two good games. We don’t have to be afraid of anyone.”
Tjaden shares that confidence. “We are going to force the quarterfinals on Friday with or without an audience. Said Bouzambou told the Portuguese that they have to go full throttle on Friday, so that will be fine. We knew in advance that it would come to the first and third game. losses may the mathematicians get to work and we hope for the best I hope there can be an audience the more friends and family in the stands the better it will go But then I speak for myself I don’t know how the players in it to stand.”