Thursday 22 July 2004, 00:00

Eight converge on Costa Rica with Taipei on the brain

Eight of CONCACAF's finest futsal nations will converge on Costa Rica this week to decide which two sides will take part in the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship Chinese Taipei in November/December.

Two groups of four will battle it out over eight days (23 -31 July) at the Palacio de los Deportes in Herédia, Costa Rica.

The host Ticos - who qualified for the last FIFA Futsal World Championship four years ago in Guatemala and have established themselves as five-a-side powers in the zone - will head up a competitive Group A alongside Mexico, Surinam and Trinidad & Tobago.

Group B will see the United States, who reached the showpiece event's semi-final at the inaugural competition in Holland in 1989, up against two-time finalists Cuba, Guyana and Central American up-and-comers Panama.

Ticos look to take the cake in Group A

Costa Rica, who are hosting the CONCACAF championship for the second-consecutive time, will be firm favourites to reach their third FIFA Futsal World Championship.  With a heavy focus on the indoor derivative of the game in the football-mad Central American nation, they will be in good shape to emerge unscathed from the group phase.  Led by coach Carlos Quiros, the quick-passing side who became the first from Central America ever to qualify for the global Futsal championships back in 1992, will be a tough nut to crack.

Though undisputed footballing kingfishers in the region, Mexico have yet to reach the same level of success indoors.  But reaching the semi-final of the CONCACAF championship in both 1996 and 2000 will have El Tri hoping for better things this time around. With a reputation for inconsistency, the side led by Josue Rodriguez eliminated El Salvador by an aggregate score of 17-9 to reach this stage.  And as the scoreline suggests, they will score goals and more than likely, concede a few too.

Rounding out the group are Surinam and Trinidad & Tobago.  Stanley Lamsberg's Surinamese who finished third at the recent Caribbean zone qualifying competition will be looking to upset the apple cart and improve on their fifth-place finish at the CONCACAF championship four years ago.  For their part, Trinidad & Tobago will be hoping to impress on their first foray into the continental championship.  And Clayton Morris' men will prove no pushovers as they hosted and won the Caribbean zone competition in St. Augustine.  A 5-0 drubbing of Guyana in the final was surely a message of warning to the rest of the region's contenders.

Cuba and the States square off

With a contentious relationship in the political arena, little Cuba and the United States will both be the teams to watch in Group B.  Cuba have qualified for the last two FIFA Futsal World Championships, while the States missed out on the most recent gala in Guatemala in 2000.

U.S. head coach Keith Tozer has selected a final squad consisting of 12 Major Indoor Soccer League players.  Though the type of indoor game played in the States varies greatly from traditional futsal, the coach is convinced his side will be ready to go.

"We are looking forward to this tournament," he said recently.  But he is also fully aware of the stiff competition ahead.  "All of the teams will be tough. Panama has a Brazilian coach and has travelled to Brazil to gain international experience, which means we will open against a tactically and technically solid team. Guyana also has a Brazilian influence on their coaching staff, and Cuba, who we lost to in 2000, is one of the most experienced teams in the region."

Cuba - who kept the States from reaching Guatemala 2000 - will be brimming with confidence.  Their full national team recently pulled off a draw in Costa Rica during qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.  And without a doubt, the five-a-siders will be looking to do even better.  Led by Clemente Reinoso and with a smooth-flowing style, the islanders will be a tough opponent for anyone.

Rounding out the group are Guyana and Panama.  Mark Joseph's Guyana are at the continental Championship for the first time in their history and will be looking to cause a sensation after finishing second at the Caribbean qualifiers. Their recent tour of Brazil will surely help their cause.  Panama, led by new boss Marcos Babau Assumpçao Carneiro will be looking to keep up the trend of vast improvement in the traditionally non-football Central American nation.

The competition will consist of six consecutive first round doubleheaders. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals on 30 July, with the Group B winner taking on the Group A runner-up and the Group A winner facing the second-place finisher from Group B.

The two finalists will meet on 31 July, and both earn berths to the FIFA showpiece event in Chinese Taipei.