The big names have cruised through the group stage at the Futsal European Championship 2005 in Ostrava, the Czech Republic, as reigning European champions Italy and world champions Spain both reached the semi-finals without undue difficulty. The Squadra Azzurra chalked up an impressive set of results with maximum points from their three group matches.

Coach Alessandro Nuccorini's men opened in a blaze of glory with an 8-3 victory over Portugal before easing back in the second half of a supremely comfortable 5-0 success over Hungary to conserve energy for the rest of the tournament. The tactic paid off as Italy gained a measure of revenge for defeat in the FIFA Futsal World Championship Chinese Taipei 2004 Final with a 3-1 victory over Spain in the final group encounter. The Italians also beat the Spanish at the group stage in the global showdown last year.

In another echo of the world event, the Iberians stuttered at the start of their Ostrava campaign, struggling to overcome Hungary 4-2 in the opening match. The Spanish appeared heavy-legged and were 2-1 behind at one stage before a Javi Rodriguez brace turned the match on its head. Coach Javier Lozano's troops stepped up a gear or two against Portugal but the side was below par in the prestige duel against Italy, with a number of key players rested including star keeper Luis Amado.

The 8-3 defeat at Italian hands meant Portugal were immediately thrust into a backs-to-the-wall situation although they emerged with credit from the defeat to neighbours Spain. A 5-3 victory over Hungary was ultimately meaningless for boss Orlando Duarte and his men as the semi-finals were already beyond reach. Hungary rate as one of the surprise packages of the tournament, featuring a rising star in keeper  

Zoltán Balázs and threatening a shock result against the world champions at one point. The Hungarians earned plaudits for a brave display against Portugal but were overwhelmed by the Italians as the rigours of the battle with Spain exacted a heavy toll.

Ukraine bounce back as Russians forge ahead
Coach Gennady Lissenschuk's side rode a roller-coaster through the group stage, looking down and out after an opening 2-1 defeat against the Czech Republic but coming back strongly to beat a sprightly Netherlands 4-1.

Ukraine, runners-up at the last European showdown, went into the decider against Russia knowing their neighbours were practically certain of a semi-final berth after two wins in two games. Lissenschuk's men duly completed a 2-1 success, reaching the last four for the third time in a row and vindicating the coach's decision not to call up his Schachtjor Donezk contingent. A number of question-marks hung over the Russians ahead of the event and heads were still shaking as the East Europeans made heavy weather of a 4-2 opening victory against the Netherlands. The clouds lifted as the Russians powered to a 4-1 win over the hosts, making the 2-1 reverse against the Ukraine a great deal more palatable.

Hosts' dreams dashed but Dutch earn applause
The Czech Republic saw their dreams of a place in the semi-finals in front of the partisan home crowd in Ostrava cruelly dashed, despite the best possible start with a 2-1 opening victory against Ukraine. The Czechs showed tactical cunning and possessed a fine keeper in Jan Klima, so that even a clear-cut 4-1 reverse against the Russians appeared only a temporary setback.

However, the hosts crashed out of the tournament in a shock 4-3 defeat against the unfancied Dutch, dominating the second half of the decisive encounter but failing to produce more than a single goal. With hindsight, star Roman Mares' knee injury in the opening game gnawed away at the hosts' fragile self-belief, while coach Striz' persistence in rotating Klima and Petr Krayzel in goal, a policy used to good effect at the start of the world championships, merely upset the apple cart in Ostrava.

By contrast, the Netherlands had already raised a few eyebrows in their first two matches, coming back from two goals down to level the scores in the 4-2 defeat to Russia and only losing the plot towards the end as lack of experience told. The team coached by former world-class star Vic Hermans looked out of their depth in falling 4-1 against the Ukraine, but the stunning 4-3 victory over the hosts was the icing on the cake of a praiseworthy campaign. "I'm surprised we made such a good impression. My players have learnt a huge amount," Hermans declared.

Semi-finals:

Spain - Ukraine
Italy - Russia