Tuesday sees the start of the Americas Futsal Grand Prix 2005 organised by the Brazilian Futsal Confederation (CBF) in the picturesque Brazilian city of Brusque. Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia and Venezuela will all be hoping to lift the coveted trophy come Saturday 24 September.

Paulo César de Oliveira, coach of a very strong host nation side, is relishing the task ahead: "We have selected the very best players available and will be going all out to take the trophy. However, that's not our only objective, as we are also looking to build a balanced team for the future." César de Oliveira and his fellow coaches are only too aware of the stern challenges looming on the horizon, including the Pan American tournament and the 2007 FIFA Futsal World Championship qualifiers. The finals of the latter are also just round the corner in 2008, although the exact venue has yet to be decided. 

For Brazil however, there is a very real need to find a successful formula in the here and now. Having been denied victory at the hands of Spain in both Guatemala 2000 and Chinese Taipei 2004, added to the shock defeat against Argentina in the Copa America Paraguay 2003, the CBF saw fit to secure Oliveira's services in an attempt to get back to winning ways.

Argentina find themselves in quite different circumstances as they arrive in Brusque. They have given the cold shoulder to their foreign-based players, only selecting players from the local league. Albiceleste coach José Fernando Larrañaga spoke to FIFA.com about his side's chances. "It's a real test for us going to a big tournament without 'foreign' players. It's the only way we can find out if we can completely overhaul the squad or if we'll need to keep depending on foreign clubs to release their players."

The Argentine tactician is also pleased to be sharing a group with Paraguay and Colombia. "We would obviously love to come up against Brazil, and maybe we will, but before that happens we've got to face two very good teams. Like ourselves, Paraguay haven't called up their international players, but they're still a tough opponent thanks to their improving domestic league. Colombia on the other hand are taking all the big guns. They've even selected John Jairo Pinilla, who in my opinion is one of the most technically gifted players in the world," Larrañaga explains.

Pinilla himself is the perfect example of how seriously Colombia are taking the Grand Prix. The player is currently strutting his stuff in the Italian league and was in fact due to play a game last Sunday. However, the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) stepped in and managed to have the game moved forward, thus allowing Pinilla to make the trip to Brazil a day early, ready for Wednesday's opener with Argentina. 

Confidence is high in the Colombian camp on the back of Pinilla's arrival. The Cafeteros held three training sessions a day in the Coliseo El Camping in Bogota in the run up to the tournament. Coach Jairo Díaz has this to say: "We come into the tournament in great shape and we're eager to test ourselves against the best."

In marked contrast, Rubén Subeldía and Cesar Robido, coaches of Paraguay and Uruguay respectively, will have to do without their internationally based players. They have opted to call up several players fresh from playing for their clubs in the Southern Zone of the South American Championship (Zona Sur del Campeonato Sudamericano ) in Asuncion, Paraguay. In fact, half the players in each squad took part in that very tournament and although international level is obviously a step up, the idea is to blood these players on the highest stage.

Last but not least, Larrañaga is full of respect for Venezuela. "Their professional league is getting more and more competitive and in general they are modernizing their facilities. They have good young players, and if they can improve tactically then it won't be long before they're a force to be a reckoned with in the region."

The Grand Prix sees the six national teams separated into two groups. Each team plays each other once in the first round, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the semi-finals. The third-placed sides will then play off to decide fifth and sixth place.

Group A
Brazil
Uruguay
Venezuela

Group B
Argentina
Paraguay
Colombia

MATCH SCHEDULE (local time)

Day 1 - 20/9/2005
18:30 Venezuela - Uruguay
20.00 Paraguay - Colombia

Day 2 - 21/9/2005
18:30 Argentina - Colombia
20:00 Brazil - Uruguay

Day 3 - 22/9/2005
18:30 Argentina - Paraguay
20:00 Brazil - Venezuela

Day 4 - 23/9/2005
5th and 6th place play-off
17:00 3rd Group A - 3rd Group B

Semi-finals
18:30 1st Group B - 2nd Group A (Game 1)
20:00 1st Group A - 2nd Group B (Game 2)

Final Day - 24/9/2005
3rd and 4th  place play-off
20:00 Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2

Final
22:00 Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2