Relive all the action from the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup by

Clicking here for more details.

 

 

 

 

BRAZILIAN FUTSAL KINGS REIGN SUPREME

Brazil's National Futsal Team have reclaimed their world number 1 ranking after being crowned world champions in Bangkok at the latest FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Meanwhile, the previous number one, Spain unofficially become the world's second best team after holding the top ranking for the past two years.

Brazil concluded their dominance of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012, winning all seven of their matches in the tournament, beating Spain 3-2 in the final at the Indoor Stadium, Huamark.
The unofficial world rankings were updated regularly throughout the tournament.
The victory was Brazil's fifth World Cup title and the match was a repeat of the 2008 encounter, which Brazil also won.

The match finished 2-2 after normal time and it took a goal from Neto 19 seconds from the end of extra time to win the match for Brazil.

Falcao was at the heart of Brazil's fightback. The current world champions were trailing with time running out, until the inspirational midfielder equalized with three minutes of normal time remaining to take the match into extra time.

FUTSALROOS AT THE WORLD CUP

The past
Between 1989 and 2004, Australia took part in five consecutive FIFA Futsal World Cups. But the Futsalroos do not have fond memories of the tournament, after being eliminated at the group stage each time. Their record of two wins, one draw and 12 defeats, with 24 goals scored and 85 conceded in the process, hardly makes for happy reading. In 2008 a quarter-final defeat in the AFC Futsal Championship against Thailand meant they missed out the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil later that year.

The present
Eight years after their last appearance on the world futsal stage, coach Steven Knight's charges will be determined to make amends at Thailand 2012. It came as something of a surprise, although it was by no means undeserved, when Australia secured their passage to this year’s finals at the AFC showpiece in United Arab Emirates at the end of May. As hosts, Thailand were already guaranteed participation and when they reached the semi-finals of the AFC event, an extra qualifying space opened up. Thus, when Australia faced Kuwait in the quarter-finals, a draw at the end of normal time was enough for both teams to book their ticket to Thailand 2012.

The future
Three of Australia’s 2004 crop of players are still part of the current team. The trio of goalkeeper Peter Spathis, striker Danny Ngalufe as well as Lachlan Wright provide Knight with a core of experience. Daniel Fogarty, the side’s top scorer at the AFC Futsal Championship and captain Gregory Giovenali are two further key members of the Futsalroos’ squad, which are made up entirely of amateurs. “It’s so exciting. An amateur side will play at the World Cup,” said Giovenali. “The whole team deserves credit, as does the coach, who worked wonders.”

Facts and figures
Key players
Chris Zeballos, Daniel Fogarty, Gregory Giovenali

Qualifying statistics
Following respective 3-1 and 6-0 victories over Qatar and Korea Republic, as well as a 9-0 defeat against Iran, Australia reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship 2012, where they met Kuwait. A 2-2 draw at the end of the regulation playing time was enough for both teams to qualify for Thailand 2012 and, after scoring an extra-time winner, Australia progressed to the semi-finals where they lost 3-0 to Japan. They faced Iran again in the match for third place, only to be beaten 4-0.

 World Cup Squad List 2012

Goalkeepers
1	Peter SPATHIS
12	Gavin O BRIEN
13	Angelo KONSTANTINOU
Anchors
4	Gregory GIOVENALI
7	Tobias SEETO
Flankers
2	Aaron CIMITILE
3	Jarrod BASGER
5	Nathan NISKI
11	Danny NGALUAFE
14	Keenan DUIMPIES
Pivots/Targets
6	Daniel FOGARTY
8	FERNANDO
9	Chris ZEBALLOS
10	Lachlan WRIGHT
Coach
Steven KNIGHT