Russia national futsal team

Russia

Association	Russian Football Union
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Sergey Skorovich
Captain	Sergey Zuev
Top scorer	Konstantin Eremenko (122)
FIFA code	RUS
FIFA ranking	4
Home colours Away colours
First international
Soviet Union 5 – 4 Italy (25 April 1991) Russia 6 – 4 Belgium (18 September 1992)
Biggest win
Russia 31 – 2 Solomon Islands (Brasilia, Brazil, 6 October 2008)
Biggest defeat
Russia 0 – 7 Brazil (Brasilia, Brazil, 4 October 2008)
World Cup
Appearances	5 (First in 1992)
Best result	3rd place, 1996
UEFA Futsal Championship
Appearances	6 (All) (First in 1996)
Best result	Champions (1999)

The Russian national futsal team (Russian: Сборная России по мини-футболу) is the national futsal team of Russia. The team is controlled by the Football Union of Russia and affiliated with UEFA. Sergey Skorovich is currently managing the team.

Russia qualified for four World Cups, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008 and for every edition of European Championship.

History

Beginning

Russia's FIFA Futsal World Cup history began inauspiciously in 1992, when a poor defensive record of 16 goals conceded in three matches meant elimination at the group stage. A dramatic turnaround in Spain four years later saw the Russians claim an impressive third spot with a 3-2 success over neighbours Ukraine in the deciding match. Russia's most recent appearance on the world stage came at the 2000 finals in Guatemala, where they took fourth after a 4-2 defeat to Portugal in the third-place play-off. At the UEFA Futsal Championship in late 2007, a new generation picked up the thread of previous FIFA Futsal World Cup performances and finished third, gaining revenge over Portugal for a defeat at the same stage in 2000.

Recently

Russia was drawn in a group of three nations in qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008, but after France withdrew at the last minute, the berth in the next round was decided in a single eliminator against Serbia. The Russians duly won 3-2 to book a play-off spot with Belarus, one of the surprise packages at the group stage, but the experience of three appearances at the FIFA Futsal World Cup finals told in the end as the Russians eased to a 6-2 aggregate win. Much of the credit goes to keeper Pavel Stepanov for conceding only four goals in three matches. At the final tournament, Russia was drawn in Group A along with Brazil, Japan, Cuba and Solomon Islands. Losing against Brazil and winning the other three games, Russia finished second and qualified for the Second Round. This time Russia was drawn in Group F together with Spain, Argentina and Paraguay. After losing to Spain in the opening match, Russia went on to win against Paraguay and draw with Argentina to scrape through to set up a semi-final against Brazil. However, Russia was unable to past Brazil and eventually they had to content with the fourth place after losing out to Italy in the Third place playoff final.

Competitive record

World Cup record

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1989	Did Not Qualify
1992	Round 1	9	3	1	1	1	20	16
1996	Third Place	3	8	4	2	2	29	17
2000	Fourth Place	4	8	4	0	4	37	24
2004	Did Not Qualify
2008	Fourth Place	4	9	4	1	4	62	31
2012	Quarterfinals	5	5	4	0	1	32	3
Total	5/7		33	17	4	12	180	91

European Championship record

Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1996	Runner-Up	2	4	3	0	1	17	10
1999	Winner	1	5	4	1	0	23	14
2001	Third Place	3	5	3	0	2	14	9
2003	Round 1	6	3	1	0	2	5	6
2005	Runner-Up	2	5	3	0	2	15	10
2007	Third Place	3	5	3	0	2	13	12
2010	Quarter-final	5	3	1	1	1	8	5
2012	Runner-up	2	5	3	1	1	14	8
Total	8/8		35	21	3	11	109	74

Star Players

• Konstantin Eremenko, 1992–2000
• Alexander Verizhnikov, 1996–2000
• Arkadiy Belyi, 1996–2000
• Temur Alekberov, 1996–2000
• Sergey Zuev, 2002-
• Pavel Stepanov, 2004–2008
• Vladislav Shayakhmetov, 2004-
• Pula, 2007-
• Cirilo, 2007-

External links

• Association of mini-football of Russia (rus)