\u201cThat\u2019s my only regret,\u201d rued Falcao as he blew the lights out on the most extraordinary career futsal has and, probably, will ever witness.<\/p>\n
The Brazilian thrill machine was referring to pulling a shot wide following a mind-blowing dribble \u2013 he somehow eight challenges in seven seconds \u2013 against Spain in 2004. Now, however, Falcao has another regret.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, however, there\u2019s a new addition to Falcao\u2019s regret list. Brazil and Argentina eked out victories in their Uzbekistan 2024 semi-finals to set up the mother of all FIFA Futsal World Cup\u2122 finals, and bring Falcao to a realisation. \u201cI would have loved to play in a World Cup final between Brazil and Argentina,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
Falcao speaks to FIFA about the rivalry between the South American superpowers, his heroics in the fixture at Thailand 2012, Brazil\u2019s star performers at this tournament, the best Argentinian he\u2019s ever seen and what he expects from Sunday\u2019s final in Tashkent.<\/p>\n
Brazil had lost to Spain in two straight World Cups. Can you explain how it felt to beat Spain, in front of a packed Maracan\u00e3zinho, in the 2008 final?
\nMy first World Cup was in 2000. We lost to Spain. Then in 2004, in another great game, we ended up losing. In 2008 we were obligated [to win] because we were playing at home, we were coming off two defeats. So that title in 2008 was very important for my generation. Then in 2012, in Thailand, as well. These two triumphs were very important for us.<\/p>\n
You had to wait until your third World Cup to win the title. What was it like waiting for that coveted title?
\nIt was a long wait. [The World Cup] is only every four years. In 2000 we were extras to the national team. In 2004 we were already the principal players. In 2008 it was life or death. A lot of players \u2013 myself included \u2013 said they were going to quit the national team if we lost because it was a generation of frustration, defeat. So it was really important to win, and it also gave us strength to win in 2012.<\/p>\n
Were you more nervous playing in big World Cup games or watching them?
\nWatching you can\u2019t do anything. You\u2019re just a supporter. When you play you have those butterflies in your stomach, that sense of duty. You\u2019re nervous for days inside the hotel until the game starts. When the game starts, you can switch off from that a bit. Being off the court, you\u2019re one of millions supporting. Playing you\u2019re directly responsible for the happiness or sadness of a lot of people.<\/p>\n
What do you think about the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina?
\nWhen it\u2019s within normal limits, it\u2019s very important and beneficial to sport. When it goes over the limit, it gets boring and ugly. I myself have been to Argentina on occasions. I only have good memories. I was always really well-treated in Argentina. The year I stopped playing I went to Argentina to play in Brazil-Argentina. Every time I went on everybody stood up to applaud me \u2013 \u06f7,\u06f0\u06f0\u06f0 or 8,000 people in the arena. So the memories I have are really nice. This Brazil-Argentina final, whoever wins will have eternal bragging rights, and for whoever loses it will be the opposite. But I think Brazil-Argentina, within normal boundaries, it\u2019s really cool and the whole world admires this rivalry. Now, for the first time in the history of any sport related to football, we\u2019ll have a World Cup final between Brazil and Argentina. It\u2019s a final I wish I\u2019d played in. Unfortunately it didn\u2019t happen. So for this generation, both for Brazil and Argentina, enjoy the moment.<\/p>\n
In the quarter-finals at Thailand 2012, Brazil were 2-0 down to Argentina with just seven minutes remaining. What do you think of that amazing comeback?
\nI think it\u2019s the most memorable game of my career. I got an injury in our first game, Brazil against Japan. I didn\u2019t know if I\u2019d recover. I came on in the game against Panama, in the previous game, and scored a goal, but if you look at the footage you can see that I was limping a little. The coaching staff didn\u2019t count on me, and I also didn\u2019t count on playing. Then Argentina went 1-0 up, Argentina went 2-0 up. When there were 10 minutes remaining, I felt that game adrenaline. My team-mates were asking me [how the injury was] and I said that I didn\u2019t even remember it. The coach Marcos Sorato, along with Vander, also came up to me. I said, \u2018Let me on\u2019. As soon as I went on, a supporter came to hug me. I had one eye shut and, when the supporter went to hug me, he poked me in the other eye. I couldn\u2019t see anything. I went off, threw on some eye drops, and when I went back on Neto scored our first goal. With a few minutes remaining I made it 2-2. Then, in extra-time, I made it 3-2. Even the Argentinians tell me, \u2018We made it to three successive World Cup finals. It should be four but you didn\u2019t let us!\u2019 This respect is really cool. If only it was a final. Can you imagine if that story happened in a World Cup final? But for me it was like a final. It kept us on the path to playing Spain in the final. The memories I have from Brazil-Argentina are the greatest possible. The Pan American Games final in 2007, many other finals. I think Argentina are the national team I encountered the most, and I have a lot of respect for them.<\/p>\n
What do you think of Brazil\u2019s campaign so far?
\nTheoretically, Brazil had an easier campaign. Brazil had to play a tough game in the semi-final, and now they have another one in the final. Argentina, since the group stage, have been killing lions one by one. Theoretically, they\u2019ll get to the final more tired, albeit more prepared. Brazil have more injuries; Argentina are in better shape with injuries. Brazil are technically better; Argentina are better collectively. What one national team has more of, the other makes up for with something else. I think it\u2019s very balanced. Brazil will be playing with fewer players, and this makes a difference, but Brazil have much better technique. I think it\u2019s a 50-50. It will be a great game and I\u2019m sure everyone will enjoy it a lot.<\/p>\n
You played alongside Lino. What do you think of Lino as a player?
\nTechnically Lino makes the biggest difference in the national team, together with Dyego. Pito\u2019s injured. If he is able to play, Pito is alongside them too. Lino can unbalance opponents in one-v-ones, he\u2019s really quick. If he\u2019s confident that a game is going to belong to him \u2013 the same goes for Dyego \u2013 technically he can make the difference in it.<\/p>\n
Brazil have had a lot of standouts at this World Cup, but for you which one has been the biggest standout?
\nThis World Cup has been about moments. We had Marcel\u2019s moment in the group stage, Dyego\u2019s moment in the most difficult game. That\u2019s without counting Willian when he was called upon, Guitta when he came on against Ukraine at the most decisive moment. He made three, four saves that everyone expects Guitta to make. For me, for a lot of years, he was the best goalkeeper in the world. Individually, I think we had the moment of Marcel, who\u2019s the World Cup\u2019s top goalscorer, a special moment of Dyego at the right time and also Guitta\u2019s moment when the match was at its most decisive. My standouts would be Marcel in the group stage, Dyego at a decisive time, and Guitta\u2019s last 10 minutes were fundamental.<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s the best Argentinian player you\u2019ve seen in your lifetime?
\nI believe it\u2019s Borruto because of the number of World Cups he\u2019s played at, the experience he has. I think he\u2019s been to five World Cups, the same number as me. Borruto\u2019s that type of player who marks, attacks, runs, is like an ant who goes all over the place. He\u2019s still playing at a high level today. Not specifically at this World Cup, but I think historically Borruto is a landmark player in Argentinian futsal.<\/p>\n
Goalkeepers are crucial in finals. Firstly, what do you think of Nico Sarmiento?
\nSarmiento has grown a lot every year. In 2016, when Argentina became champions, he was fundamental. He was one of their biggest standouts, if not their biggest. In 2021 as well with Argentina reaching the final. They lost 2-1 but he stood out throughout the whole World Cup. Now, once again, another final and he\u2019s in the Argentina goal. No national team reaches three World Cups without a goalkeeper who makes the difference. Sarmiento played in Brazil. This helped him develop a lot. The World Cup is his competition. He\u2019s had three impeccable World Cups.<\/p>\n
And Willian and Guitta?
\nWillian and Guitta have been sharing minutes. I\u2019m a big fan of Guitta. I played alongside Guitta for a lot of years. I played against Willian. They\u2019re great goalkeepers, as is Roncaglio. The two serve Brazil really well. I\u2019m a big fan of Guitta because of how complete he is: he plays with his feet, with his hands, he makes impossible saves. I think that is the big question going into this final: who will play, Willian or Guitta? In my [WhatsApp] group with my friends, that\u2019s what everyone is asking. They have slightly different characteristics, but no matter who plays, Brazil will be in good hands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cThat\u2019s my only regret,\u201d rued Falcao as he blew the lights out on the most extraordinary career futsal has and, probably, will ever witness. The Brazilian thrill machine was referring to pulling a shot wide following a mind-blowing dribble \u2013 he somehow eight challenges in seven seconds \u2013 against Spain in 2004. Now, however, Falcao […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1030258,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20966],"tags":[9648,27192],"class_list":["post-1030257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-news","tag-fifa","tag-fifa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1030257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1030257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1030257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1030258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1030257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1030257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/91varzeshi.ir\/portal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1030257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}