Serbia’s capital Belgrade prepares to welcome the Euro Beach Soccer Cup today.
Serbia make the first foray into the exciting world of international beach soccer this weekend on home sand as the Euro Beach Soccer Cup comes to Belgrade.
Not only is the nation hosting its first beach soccer event, Serbia will also be represented at a tournament for the first time after a lengthy trial process to recruit a side capable of challenging what is a stellar line-up of teams that includes no less than five former champions.
Dejan Knezevic has moulded his players into a solid team who will look to upset the odds, starting on Friday when they open in front of their home support against Hungary in the quarter-finals at 19.00 local time.
Italy and 2005 champions Switzerland will get the tournament under way on Friday at 14.45 before six-time winners and world champions Portugal entertain four-time champions Spain.
Russia and Ukraine will face one another in the third of the last-eight clashes prior to the opening ceremony, which will see music, entertainment and cheerleaders ramp up the atmosphere, before Serbia make their grand appearance on the world stage.
Hungary – ranked 17th in the world and seventh in Europe – provide Serbia’s first opposition in what promises to be a much-anticipated contest in the capital.
“Hungary has three or four excellent players and this sport is very different from football or futsal,” Knezevic explained this week.
“But we will give our best and I believe that miracles do happen. We are believing in miracles.”
Stay up-to-date with all the action from Belgrade via www.beachsoccer.com as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages.
