Pakistan Information & News

Brazil won a record fourth title in the Futsal World Cup, defeating two-time defending champion Spain 4-3 in a shootout Sunday after the teams played to a 2-2 tie in regulation and overtime.

The Brazilains were led by substitute goalkeeper Franklin, who saved two penalty kicks. Franklin replaced starter Thiago just for the shootout. A penalty-kick specialist, Franklin stopped shots by Torras and Marcelo to give Brazil its first title since 1996.

Ari missed a penalty kick for Brazil, but Marquinho, Wilde, Cico and Lenisio converted their shots. Spain scored in the shootout behind Kike, Ortiz and Alvaro.

Brazil was trying to win the title for the first time since beating the Spaniards in 1996. Brazil won the first three futsal world titles since FIFA began organizing the event in 1989.

Spain, playing in its fourth straight final, and Brazil are the only nations to have won the World Cup in futsal, which is played in two 20-minute periods on a surface about the size of a basketball court.

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EURO 2008 Final Spain have beaten Germany 1-0 with Liverpool’s Fernando Torres sealing the win with a first-half goal to secure the first International trophy for Spains La Furia Roja in 44 years. The game started at a decent pace with both sides trying to take the initiative early-on in the game. Thomas Hitzlsperger had his chance easily saved by Iker Casillas in the Spanish goal early in the first-half, with Michael Ballack fizzing a cross across the goal-mouth soon after, but there were no German players there to meet the cross. Spain almost took the lead in the 15^th minute after Andrés Iniesta’s cross was deflected towards goal by Christoph Metzelder, with Jens Lehmann diving superbly to his right to stop the ball going in. Spain started to take the ascendancy in the match, with Fernando Torres hitting the post in the 22nd minute with a nice headed attempt that had Jens Lehmann beaten. Joan Capdevillas follow-up shot went wide of goal. Each of Germanys attempts were broken down well by the organised Spanish defence, whereas the German defence didn’t seem to fare so well against Spain’s attacks, with Torres and Capdevilla making breaks into the German defence and causing some discomfort to Lehmann and his back-line. Torres opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after Torres beat Philipp Lahm for pace on the edge of the penalty area, and capped off a superb move by sliding the ball past Jens Lehmann’s right hand to make it 1-0 to Spain. Spain continued to take the game to Germany with a neat passing move resulting in Iniesta playing David Silva in, who volleyed high over the bar in the 34^th minute. Michael Ballack was injured in a clash of heads with Marcos Senna, with the German captain having to receive treatment. Both Ballack and Casillas received yellow-cards for confronting the referee as the half came to a close with Spain having spent the majority of the first period in control. Spain continued their dominance in the early stages of the second-half with Torres still causing problems. Ballack forced Casillas into a diving save in the 59^th minute after Kevin Kuranyi replaced Thomas Hitzlsperger as Germany tried to get into the match. Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas was replaced by Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso in the 63^rd min with Santi Cazorla replacing David Silva shortly after. Sergio Ramos has a stunning attempt to double Spain’s lead but his header from a free-kick was saved well by Lehmann. The resulting corner kick saw Iniestas shot being cleared off the line by Torsten Frings much to the relief of the German head coach Joachim Low. Torres continued to cause problems for the German defence with the pace of the Liverpool striker totally outwitting German central defender Christoph Metzelder. Torres was replaced by Daniel Güiza in the 78^th minute with Germany also making their last change of the match a minute later with Löw replacing Miroslav Klose with Mario Gomez. Spain continued to press Germany but couldn’t quite find the second goal with Senna coming close to latching on to a cross from Daniel Güiza that could have sealed the match with just ten minutes remaining. Xavi Hernandez delivered a cross in the 85^th min which led to a free kick being awarded after a tackle by Kevin Kuranyi on Senna but Xavi Hernadezs strike went over the German crossbar. Spain head coach Luis Aragones will now retire having helped Spain to win the first major trophy 1962 when they hosted the tournament in 1964 and last won the trophy.

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EURO 2008 Semi Final match at a rainy Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna on Thursday evening with Xavi Hernandez Daniel Guiza and David Silva giving La Furia Roja a 3-0 lead and a place in the EURO 2008 Finals against Germany and the game started at a decent pace with Spain taking the early advantage of possession in the match. Liverpools Fernando Torres had the first opportunity for Spain in the 6^th minute with the striker making Igor Akinfeev save from close range after being put through by David Villa. Villa had a sharp shot from outside the box easily saved by Akinfeev in the 11^th minute as Spain created the early chances. Spain had a faint appeal for a penalty turned down in the 15^th minute with referee Frank De Bleeckere ruling in favour of the Russians after Torres appeared to be pulled back. The target of many Premier League clubs Andrei Arshavin had one or two good moments for Russia but the Spanish were in control of this Semi-Final in the first 20 minutes. Spain always looked the more likely side to open the scoring having the majority of possesion and chances without really stretching Akinfeev in the Russian goal. Then against the run of play it was Russia who almost opened the scoring Roman Pavlyuchenko seeing his rasping curler from outside the area go just wide in the 31^st minute. Leading EURO 2008 goalscorer David Villa was forced to leave the pitch through injury in the 34minute, and was replaced by Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas who really made a difference after coming on as a substitute against Italy in La Rojas Quarter Final match. Pavyluchenko had a sliding attempt at Iker Casillas goal seconds after Fabregas came on but his shot went wide much to the relief of the Spanish keeper and fans. Spain finished the half as they started it with the lions share of the game and despite causing the Russian defence problems the match went into half time goalless, but with chances on both sides. Spain took the lead early in the second half. Xavi Hernandez broke the deadlock for Spain in the 50^th minute deflecting Andre Iniestas cross past Akinfeev to make it 1-0. Fernando Torres came close on a couple of occasions in the second-half combining well with Arsenals Fabregas to almost double the score. Daniel Guiza replaced Fernando Torres in the 69^th minute and almost immediately made an impact scoring Spains second goal in the 73^rd minute. Smart passing play from Spain on the edge of the penalty area saw Fabregas chipping the ball into the danger area with Daniel Güiza latching onto the ball and lifting it over Akinfeev to make it 2-0. Spain sealed the match with a superb team move in the 81^st minute. Iniesta found Fabregas on the left with a wonderful pass, who crossed perfectly for Silva to make it 3-0 and seal a place in the EURO 2008 Finals against Germany.

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