Futsal 2015 review – Successful year crowned by European Championship qualification
The MLSZ’s offical page said, the Hungarian national team qualified for the 2016 European Championship in Serbia and the women’s national team won the Visegrád Four Nations Tournament. Here’s our Futsal 2015 review.
As we wrote, in September the national futsal team achieved great success by qualifying from the play-off against Romania for the 2016 European Championship which takes place in Serbia in February. At the draw held in Belgrade at the beginning of October it transpired that Hungary will face two very strong opponents at the tournament; world-ranking leaders Spain, as well as Ukraine, who are also among the international elite, will be Hungary’s opponents. The last time, when the Hungarian national futsal team participated at the continent’s major tournament was six years ago, as hosts in 2010.
In December, in Győr, the national team kept their qualification hopes for the 2016 World Cup in Colombia alive, successfully reaching the play-off round. Hungary beat group rivals England and Belgium, whilst suffering a close defeat against Ukraine in an action-packed match at the Magvassy Mihály Sportcsarnok. The team went through in second place behind Ukraine, and a play-off in March awaits.
In his evaluation of the year, MLSZ Futsal Committee President Zoltán Drucskó praised the successes achieved, whilst not forgetting the further tasks that lie ahead for the sport.
“I believe that we have had a successful year, not just on the pitch but off the pitch too. Our revised coaching course has already closed its third successful year and after a long time futsal is once again being broadcast on TV, both on international and championship level. All these results and this breakthrough can provide a basis for development which, in the long-term, can also ensure that futsal, alongside the 11-a-side game, can be one of Hungary’s most successful and popular team sports. There are, of course, many things that need to be done, but with further hard work together with the teams our sport has a beautiful future”, he told mlsz.hu.
According to mlsz.hu, many young players have found their way into the national team squad during the year; it is sufficient to mention the names of Ádám Hosszú of Dunaújváros, Bence Klacsák and the Horváth brothers, as well as Péter Komáromi of Berettyóújfalu, who have become integral members of the national team squad. From among the national youth teams the U19 side participated at the Visegrád Four Nations tournament, whilst the U21 team took to the field at an international competition and also in many friendlies. The national women’s team played many friendlies during the year, its greatest success being victory at the Visegrád Four Nations tournament.
ETO Futsal and MVFC Berettyóújfalu have dominated the men’s Hungarian championship for years and performed well in the UEFA Futsal Cup, this year the title-holders ETO reaching the last 16 of the continental tournament and taking part as hosts in the prestigious elite round of the competition.
According to national team coach Sito Rivera, qualification for the European Championship isn’t the only progress that was made in 2015:
“We have a great year behind us; we reached expectations, and made great strides professionally. The greatest success of the year was undoubtedly the national team beating Romania – rated much higher than us – in the play-offs and deservedly qualifying for the European Championship. With the youth teams it is highly important that the players gain international experience. It is important that the players can see what is required at international level, thus, national team matches where youngsters can train with the squad, are essential.
Our women’s team once was once again successful in achieving first place at the Visegrád Four Nations tournament. For this team, it is also important that we play against tougher opposition each year. All in all, it could be said that in all three areas, that is, the men’s senior-, the women’s senior- and the youth teams, progress has been made and in the coming year such unbroken development is our aim”, he told mlsz.hu.
Supporters can already purchase tickets for February’s European Championship in Serbia via the tournament’s official ticket portal, as well as on matchdays at the Belgrade Aréna ticket offices. We would like to bring it to supporters’ attention that due to substantial interest it may be difficult to obtain tickets at the venue. We would therefore advise purchasing tickets online, if possible.
Copy editor: bm
Source: http://mlsz.hu/
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