Young kids in Southern America and also in Spain and Portugal are brought up playing futsal and/or beach soccer, where they learn to pass and move the ball quickly and understand the importance of keeping possession. It is little wonder that when these kids start playing 11-a-side football they can easily outshine most European players who have grown up playing 7 or 11-a-side games outside on the grass.
There are obviously going to be some other influences as to why these players become so talented, such as the way they are coached. FC Barcelona seem to have the right formula at present and have earned great success from keeping the same unit of players together from a very young age.
The games of futsal and beach soccer are only just beginning to gain popularity in the UK. If they grow to the level they are at in Spain/Brazil then you never know, we might see a new style of English player progressing onto the world stage in the future.
Thanks to Richard Moore at Sheffield Hallam University’s Sports Industry Research Centre (and manager of Sheffield FC futsal)