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 Americas & Beyond | April 2008 
Marseille Dream Comes True for Brazil and Argentina
 Beach Soccer Worldwide
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Favourites Brazil and hosts Argentina have secured their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 berths this Saturday, as both teams advanced to the final of the CONMEBOL qualifier in Buenos Aires. The defending world champions defeated Venezuela 8 -3, while the Argentineans outbattled Uruguay 5-3.
This year’s edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be played outside of Brazil for the first time ever, but the mythical Canarinho made sure to secure its presence right away, in their first opportunity to do so. The defending world champions defeated Venezuela smoothly 8-3 and advanced to the final match of the CONMEBOL qualifier that is being played at the Obras Sanitarias stadium in Buenos Aires.
On Sunday, things should not be anywhere close to smooth, though, as Brazil will face-off with hosts Argentina for the continental trophy. Before the title match, semifinals losers Uruguay and Venezuela will battle for the third South American ticket to Marseille in the tournament’s 3rd place play-off.
After struggling badly to qualify for the semifinals on Friday, both Argentina and Uruguay took on the pitch with renewed energies and displayed what was probably the most intense performance of the tournament so far. Lifted by their passionate fans, the Argentineans came back from being down 1-2 and made it to the final in style.
“It is never easy to battle back against such a tough team like Uruguay: normally, when they score first, they simply take control of the match with their defensive prowess. I am glad we could control the ball consciously and play our game”, proudly stated Argentinean head coach Hector Francisco Petrasso. “We have been working hard for years looking to improve, and having taken part of the previous FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups has already been a tremendous experience for the boys. Now, getting to travel to Marseille in the first edition being played away from Brazil is an honour.”
Well aware of how tense the final match should be on Sunday, no matter which opponent they would face, the Brazilians took the opportunity to give some playing to some of their substitutes as they opened an early 4-1 lead in the 1st period. “It is great when we are able to score early in the game and keep control of the tempo. This is what gave me the opportunity to give a proper chance to a few players that had not been used so often in the first two matches. This is vital before a tough match like the one we expect to have in Sunday’s final, because in the end having all of our 10 players ready for the battle is what will make the difference.”
The match schedule is set like this:
Wed 23.04.08
3:15pm - Chile 8 x 5 Peru
4:30pm - Brazil 8 x 3 Uruguay
Followed by - Argentina 2 x 1 Venezuela
Thu 24.04.08
3:15pm Venezuela 5 x 4 Chile
4:30pm Paraguay 4 x 6 Brazil
Followed by - Peru 0 x 8 Argentina
Fri 25.04.08
3:15pm - Venezuela 7 x 5 Peru
4:30pm - Uruguay 5 x 4 Paraguay
Followed by - Argentina 6 x 5 Chile (2 x 1 a.e.t)
The teams play round robin within their pools and the top two of each advance to the semifinals:
Semi-finals*
Sat 26.04.08*
4:30pm - Brazil 8 x 3 Venezuela
Followed by - Argentina 5 x 3 Uruguay
Sun 27.04.08**
Noon – Venezuela vs. Uruguay (Play-off 3rd/4th)
Followed by – Brazil vs. Argentina (Final)
** The two finalists and the winner of the 3rd place play-off will join France (host country); Cameroon and Senegal (CAF) and El Salvador and Mexico to be the South American representatives at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
 Click HERE for the complete matchday report (PDF)
 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008
Follow the competition from Durban, to Puerto Vallarta, Buenos Aires, Dubai, and Benidorm on the road leading up to the final championship matches in Marseille, France, the host country for the 2008 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. |
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