Zidane's new zest for futsal

Having spent five years at Real Madrid CF Zinédine Zidane knows all about bringing European glory to Spain - just as UEFA Futsal Cup final four hosts ElPozo Murcia FS and Madrid-based holders Boomerang Interviú will be trying to do over the next few days.

Popular sport
Zidane, of course, found fame in the eleven-a-side game, but since he retired, he has had time to discover the small-sided discipline. Last month the 34-year-old took part in a well-attended event in Paris, lining up with some of his team-mates from France's 1998 FIFA World Cup-winning side in a futsal tournament. It was not new to him though. "I had seen it during my stay in Madrid as it is a very well known sport in Spain," Zidane told uefa.com.

Familiar territory
He is already a fan, the game reminding him of his early days in the Marseille suburb of La Castellane playing on the small improvised pitches. It is how Zidane developed his superb technique - similar to the Brazilians who invariably grow up playing futsal. "I like it very much, that's the kind of game I played when I was a kid," he said.

Different technique
Certainly, watching Zidane play at the famous Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy arena in the RTL-Futsal event, it was clear Zidane was made for the game. While most of the professional footballers needed time to adapt to the size four futsal ball, Zidane was caressing it with an astounding ease. The way he eliminated two opponents with a one-touch control to score against Paris Saint-Germain FC spoke volumes. Zidane explained: "The technique of playing futsal is different to the eleven-a-side version; there are spectacular things you can attempt in futsal that you would not dare trying in football. It adds more fun to the discipline."