16 Sep 2016

Sport: Kurukuru face another tough test

12:01 pm on 16 September 2016

It doesn't get any easier for Oceania futsal champions Solomon Islands, who take on Argentina this morning in their second match at the World Cup in Colombia.

The Kurukuru were beaten 4-2 by Costa Rica on Tuesday, a margin that could have been more if the CONCACAF champions didn't miss two first-half penalties.

Solomons coach Juliano Schmeling was expecting another tough match against Argentina.

"Probably the second best team here in South America...they have only one player from Argentina because the rest of the team every single is playing in Europe, in professional clubs, so we know the challenge will be very high."

Captain Elliot Ragomo, who scored from the penalty spot against Costa Rica, told FIFA.com the Kurukuru have learnt a lot since their World Cup debut eight years ago.

"2008 was unbelievable. We were sent there, came up against those guys and, to look back, it was crazy but you put Costa Rica up compared to even where we are now and the people in the Solomons would have never believed we could play them like we did," he said.

"The more years we've been through, the more we've changed. We have this competitive mind state: we come out and we want to win. In 2008 we went there just to have fun, we came out there to play."

Argentina opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Kazakhstan.

Solomon Islands captain Elliot Ragomo celebrates one of his two goals.

Solomon Islands captain Elliot Ragomo (c). Photo: OFC Media