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 Americas & Beyond | May 2008 
Powerhouse Russia Downed by The Netherlands
 Beach Soccer Worldwide
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Day 2 of the Benidorm showdown and another step closer to find out which teams will represent the European continent alongside host France at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008.
Nine teams have already qualified for the 1/8 finals and will be joined by seven more after tomorrow’s encounters.
The biggest excitement came from the Netherlands, who beat global powerhouse Russia on penalties after a battle full of emotions, and oblige Russia to go into the last day of the group stage with three points and a game against the Czechs ahead of them. The Russians started strong and were soon 2-0 up, but the Dutch put matters straight a few minutes later, burying their efforts to restore parity. “Oranje” took heart out of the equalizer and soon took a 2-4 lead with goals by Groenendijk and Koswal. The Russians managed to get a goal back and were rewarded a penalty in the very last minute of the game. Russia equalized and the encounter went into extra-time. The extra three minutes were not enough to find a winner, however, and so it went to a penalty shoot-out, with Bolabonov missing his crucial spot-kick. Groenendijk didn’t miss and lifted his team to higher spheres.
“This is fantastic. To be able to win a thriller like this and against a world class team like Russia is a great achievement. We wanted to make it as hard on them as we could. They play a very physical type of Beach Soccer which is very hard to counter, but we did it and we go into the last matchday with still a chance to make it to the 1/8 finals”, concluded today’s hero Groenendijk.
Host Spain secured their spot amongst the last 16 after defeating a struggling Romania side 8-2. Joaquin Alonso’s troops controlled the game from the start and showed that they’re not going to hand out any gifts at this qualifier.
Defending champions Portugal snatch their spot in the 1/8 finals by downing Estonia 5-2 in their second game of the Benidorm showdown. Led by an inspiring Madjer, the Portuguese were able to take distance form a courageous Estonia side, who have made a good impression until now here in Benidorm. Tomorrow the Lusitanians will face England to decide who finishes first in Group D.
Another usual suspect amongst Europe’s finest, Switzerland overcame neighbours Austria 4-3 in their second group game of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 Qualifier Benidorm. The Swiss started a little shaky, and had to count on their top scoring and outstanding performing striker Stankovic to bring three important points home. “Stanko” is leaving the competition in becoming the tournament top scorer far behind and has proved to be the most decisive link of the Swiss team so far. With their tournament hopes slipping away, the Austrians gave everything in the last five minutes and were only denied by some excellent defending from Angelo Schirinzi’s men.
“The first games of a tournament are always the most important ones, so we’re happy we’ve won them and won’t have to worry about qualification anymore in the last group game. A game against Austria is always special for us, there’s always a little more to it then just Beach Soccer, so I think it’s quite normal that we started out a little nervous. This win keeps us on course and will give us some confidence ahead to whatever comes next, “concluded after Swiss playmaker Stephane Meier after his team's second victory.
Results and match schedule (GMT+1)
May 11 (Sunday) – Matches
9:00am Hungary 3 x 1 Austria
Ukraine 6 x 2 Andorra
Followed by England (3)2 x 2(2) Estonia ap*
Norway 4 x 3Greece
Followed by Czech Rep 5 x 4 Netherlands
Germany 8 x 3 Romania
Followed by Slovakia 1 x 4 Poland
Followed by Lithuania 3 x 14 Switzerland
Followed by Azerbaijan 2 x 4 Italy
Followed by Latvia 1 x 4 Russia
Followed by Georgia 3 x 15 Portugal
Followed by Belarus 0 x 5 Spain
May 12 (Monday) – Matches
9:00am Germany 3 x 1 Belarus
Czech Rep 7 x 5 Latvia
Followed by Norway 2 x 3 Azerbaijan
England 4 x 1 Georgia
Followed by Ukraine 7 x 4 Slovakia
Hungary 6 x 2 Lithuania
Followed by Poland 4 x 2 Andorra
Followed by Switzerland 4 x 3 Austria
Followed by Italy (2)1 x 1(1) Greece ap*
Followed by Russia (0)4 x 4(1) Netherlands ap*
Followed by Portugal 5 x 2 Estonia
Followed by Spain 8 x 2 Romania
May 13 (Tuesday) – Matches
9:00am Andorra x Slovakia
Netherlands x Latvia
Followed by Estonia x Georgia
Greece x Azerbaijan
Followed by Romania x Belarus
Austria x Lithuania
Followed by Poland x Ukraine
Followed by Switzerland x Hungary
Followed by Italy x Norway
Followed by Russia x Czech Rep
Followed by Portugal x England
Followed by Spain x Germany
May 14 (Wednesday) – Rest Day
May 15 (Thursday) – 1/8 finals
9:00am A2 x C2
Followed by D1 x 3rd (from B,E or F)
Followed by B1 x 3rd (from A,C or D)
Followed by F1 x E2
Followed by E1 x D2
Followed by C1 x 3rd (from A,B or F)
Followed by B2 x F2
Followed by A1 x 3rd (from C,D or E)
May 16 (Friday) – Quarter finals
15:00 Winner M37 x Winner M38
Followed by Winner M39 x Winner M40
Followed by Winner M41 x Winner M42
Followed by Winner M43 x Winner M44
May 17 (Saturday) – Semi finals
17:00 Winner M45 x Winner M46
Followed by Winner M47 x Winner M48
May 18 (Sunday) – 3rd & 4th play-off/Final
17:00 Loser M49 x Loser M50
Followed by Winner M49 x Winner M50
Ap*: after penalties
The 24 teams in the European Zone Qualifier to be played from May 11 to 18 were drawn into 6 groups of 4 teams from which sixteen teams will go to the next round and so on towards the semi finals, where we will officially know the 4 teams that qualify for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 Marseille.
 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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