Is anybody watching it on Eurosport? I love futsal, used to play it a fair bit at uni and it is a fantastic sport. Has anyone else played it or is it just me? It doesn't seem to have that much of a following in the UK yet which is a shame.
Futsal world cup
- Thread starter manic111
- Start date
It's actually pretty different, you really notice it when you play it-I'm not a fan of 5 a side, but love futsal!
To start with, it can go over head height, the ball can go out of bounds, and you can enter the keeper's areas. The goals are also taller (about the size of hockey goals). The ball is about 25% smaller than an 11 a side ball, and 30% harder.
As the ball can go out of bounds, this actually reduces the size of the pitch a fair bit from 5 a side, which means that when it's played well (that Italy game they just showed wasn't the best) you really have to hammer passes to each other as they need to get through tiny gaps. Whereas 5 a side is about a lot of hustle, the best futsal teams are all pass and move-the difference between futsal and 5 a side is a bit like the difference between Arsenal and Bolton-both can be really effective when they play well, but only one is beautiful!
To start with, it can go over head height, the ball can go out of bounds, and you can enter the keeper's areas. The goals are also taller (about the size of hockey goals). The ball is about 25% smaller than an 11 a side ball, and 30% harder.
As the ball can go out of bounds, this actually reduces the size of the pitch a fair bit from 5 a side, which means that when it's played well (that Italy game they just showed wasn't the best) you really have to hammer passes to each other as they need to get through tiny gaps. Whereas 5 a side is about a lot of hustle, the best futsal teams are all pass and move-the difference between futsal and 5 a side is a bit like the difference between Arsenal and Bolton-both can be really effective when they play well, but only one is beautiful!
They do look like a good side, watching them against Uruguay at the moment. Their pivot looks like a useful player.
It is certainly not as good a game as 5 a side, I just don't find it anything like as enjoyable. It also does really improve your technique; I was always a bit dodgy on the ball in 11 a side-my first touch was cack, and I certainly couldn't run with it. All I could do is pass and tackle. After playing two years of futsal I'm a completely different player
It is certainly not as good a game as 5 a side, I just don't find it anything like as enjoyable. It also does really improve your technique; I was always a bit dodgy on the ball in 11 a side-my first touch was cack, and I certainly couldn't run with it. All I could do is pass and tackle. After playing two years of futsal I'm a completely different player
I've been saying that we should play it over here for a while-it really does help technique, and is clearly a core component in the Brazilian style-Ronaldinho still moves like a futsaller! It's also a lot better than 5 a side, so why we play that over it I don't know, especially as futsal is the worldwide game!