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 Americas & Beyond | May 2008 
Hosts and Defending Champion Eye Promising
 Beach Soccer Worldwide
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Day 4 of the Benidorm showdown that started off with an historical number of 24 Nations striding for continental glory. Eight teams have packed their bags and sixteen are still in the running to snatch one out four berths for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 that will be played in Marseille, France from July 17-27.
Host Spain rushed into the quarter finals to the sounds of Manolo del Bombo and the thousands of fans who came out and support the ‘red fury’. Amarelle, Nico and co overpowered Norway 6-3 and head on to the next round where the Czech Republic will be waiting.
“It seems that we’re getting better as the tournament goes on. More and more people are coming out to support us and I have to admit that helps us a lot”, commented Ramiro Amarelle. We’re playing fast and efficient, we take distance from our opponents in the beginning of the games and that makes it hard for them to come back. We just have to make sure we stay focused and don’t get avoidable goals against us like today.”
In the first game of this 1/8 final day the Czech Republic took on Hungary in very closed game where nothing much really happened until late into the Second period. The Czechs took the lead by an outstanding performing Mikan, the only light point in this first 1/8 final of the day. Moments later the East-Europeans got the chance to extend their lead when they were rewarded a penalty but Hungary goalkeeper Kovacs denied Mikan his second goal. Hungary tried, but was not able to break through a solid Czech defence. Bouska and Veleman countered the Hungarians attempt to pull the game back to parity, 3-0 and 5 minutes left on the scoreboard. The Magical Magyars got themselves a late consolation goal by the team’s top scorer Weisz which gave them a last sparkle of hope, but Mikan eventually made it 4-1 that puts his team in the quarter finals and one inch closer to qualifying for the global showpiece.
Italy struggled their way into the quarterfinals by defeating a Belarus side that purely based on performance has been the biggest surprise of the tournament so far. They obliged the Italians to play their best Beach Soccer at the Benidorm showdown to notch their spot amongst the last eight, where they will meet Ukraine. The Italians took the lead up to three times, but the former Soviets managed to pull the game level at every occasion until Palmacci scored the winning goal early in the third period that qualifies the Italians for the next round and keeps them in the running for Marseille.
It turned out to be a red-letter day for Ukraine as they beat England 6-0 in their 1/8 final game of the Benidorm showpiece and storm into the next round where they will face the Azzurri to clinch a berth at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 in Marseille. Varenytsya and Mozgovyy both scored two goals and were the light points of a very strong playing Ukraine side.
It has never been a secret that Portuguese Madjer is one of the most talented players worldwide when it comes to playing a game of Beach Soccer, but The Lusitanian team have the luxury to consist out of World class players like Alan or Belchior to back up an off-day of the Portuguese superstar. The Selecçao das Quinas destroyed surprising 1/8 finalists Latvia 8-1 led by Alan who scored 4 goals and move on to the quarter finals of the Benidorm showpiece.
“What my players showed on the pitch today was pretty impressive. We created a lot of chances and didn’t allow our opponents any space”, said Portugal coach Mateus. “I think it’s normal that my team wins games like this one. We owe it to ourselves if we want to qualify for the World Cup and their make a chance to beat Beach Soccer giants like France or Brasil.”
Greece will be Portugal’s rival in the quarterfinals as they beat Germany 3-4 after extra-time.
The Germans was very close to gaining a spot amongst the last 8, but can only blame themselves for giving away the comfortable 3-1 lead they had after the first period. Paris, Komiotis and Triantafillidis all got one goal and led ‘the pirate ship’ to a victory that puts their team one step closer to the global showpiece.
Russia initiated the Benidorm Qualifier as one of the favorites for continental glory, but were never convincing until their last group game on Tuesday, where they taught the Czech Republic a firm lesson in efficiency.
Estonia was Russia’s next victim on their road to the global showpiece. They beat the former Soviets 6-0 and will face top scorer Stankovic’ Switzerland in the quarter finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 Qualifier Benidorm.
“We really kept our shape and managed to keep their most dangerous players under control, which was vital to what is a great result for us”, said Russia coach Nikolay Pisarev after the resounding victory. We made the most of our free kicks and that was very important. Today was our first final and we came through in the end”, concluded Pisarev.
It turned out to be a red-letter day for Ukraine as they beat England 6-0 in their 1/8 final game of the Benidorm showpiece and storm into the next round where they will face the Azzurri to clinch a berth at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 in Marseille. Varenytsya and Mozgovyy both scored two goals and were the light points of a very strong playing Ukraine side.
Switzerland made it through the 1/8 finals after getting the better half of Poland and move on to the quarterfinals where they have the complicated task in bringing down the Russians to snatch a berth to the World Cup finals in Marseille. The ‘white and red’ did a good job in shutting down first class striker Stankovic, but the Swiss could count on an outstanding performing Leu, who scored the two goals, to qualify the ‘oath comrades’ for the next round.
Results and match schedule (GMT+1)
May 11 (Sunday) – Matches
9:00 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
9:00 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
9:00 Andorra 5 x 7 Slovakia
Netherlands 2 x 4 Latvia
Followed by Estonia 7 x 0 Georgia
Greece 5 x 1 Azerbaijan
Followed by Romania 2 x 6 Belarus
Austria 2 x 4 Lithuania
Followed by Poland 3 x 4 Ukraine
Followed by Switzerland 5 x 1 Hungary
Followed by Italy 5 x 2 Norway
Followed by Russia 6 x 2 Czech Rep
Followed by Portugal 6 x 1 England
Followed by Spain 6 x 1 Germany
May 14 (Wednesday) – Rest Day
May 15 (Thursday) – 1/8 finals
10:15 M37 Czech Republic 4 x 1 Hungary
11:30 M38 Italy 4 x 3 Belarus
12:45 M39 Portugal 8 x 1 Latvia
14:00 M40 Germany 3 x 4 Greece (ET)
15:15 M41 Russia 6 x 0 Estonia
16:30 M42 Ukraine 6 x 0 England
17:45 M43 Poland 3 x 4 Switzerland
19:00 M44 Spain 6 x 3 Norway
May 16 (Friday) – Quarter finals
15:15 M45 Portugal x Greece
16:30 M47 Ukraine x Italy
17:45 M46 Russia x Suiza
19:00 M48 Czech Republic x Spain
May 17 (Saturday) – Semi finals
17:45 M49 Winner M45 x Winner M46
Followed by M50 Winner M47 x Winner M48
May 18 (Sunday) – 3rd & 4th play-off/Final
17:45 M51 Loser M49 x Loser M50
Followed by M52 Winner M49 x Winner M50
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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