Belarus, Italy, Switzerland and Russia will compete at the global showdown in Paraguay with Spanish and Portuguese participation in doubt
Just one of the 16 places remains at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, and Spain and Portugal will have to fight for it tomorrow…
While four of Europe’s representative have been chosen by the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2019 – Europe Qualifier Moscow, either Spain or Portugal will not attend the 2019 edition, as both lost on the final day of the second round of group stages.
The European powerhouses will scrap for the final spot in the fifth-place play-off, while Belarus, Italy, Switzerland and Russia will play for finishing places safe in the knowledge that their performances in Moscow have been enough to see them make the cut.
Italy secure place at FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
A tight battle against Portugal saw the European champions hang on to keep out late Portuguese attacks to top the group and earn a place at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay.
Europe’s Gold Medallists Portugal, however, will have to play in the fifth-place play-off of the Europe Qualifier Moscow if they want to do the same.
It was Mario Narciso’s men who took an initial lead through Leo Martins. Gori put away a freekick to level up but Jordan hit back to lead at the end of the first period. The score remained untouched throughout the second period, but in the third Italy suddenly upped their game. Gori scored his second equaliser of the match and then Josep Jr struck to put the Azzurri in front.
They extended the lead to two-goals when Ramacciotti put away a wonder goal, beating the back-pedalling Andrade with a sublime volley from distance. Moments later he cleared off the line, but couldn’t keep out a Jordan Santos bicycle kick in the dying seconds to make it 3-4. It wasn’t enough for Portugal though, who ran out of time.
Italy celebrated winning their place in the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup ecstatically, while the Portuguese will need to regroup and win tomorrow’s play-off if they want to follow the Azzurri to Paraguay.
Goals: 1-0: Leo Martins, min. 7 (1); 1-1: Gori, min. 6 (1); 2-1: Jordan, min. 4 (1); 2-2: Gori, min. 9 (3); 2-3: Josep Jr, min. 4 (3); 2-4: Ramacciotti, min. 2 (3); 3-4: Jordan, min. 0 (3);
Unstoppable Russia put Spanish World Cup participation in doubt
Another six goals from the Russians were enough to down a Spain side which lacked attacking inspiration, as the Qualifier hosts earn a place at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Yet again, it was the Russian keeper Chuzhkov who got the locals off the mark with a long-distance missile, beating Dona between the Spanish posts to make it 1-0.
A panicked back-pass from Javi Torres saw him score an unfortunate own goal and push the Russian advantage to two-goals. In the next stage of play, Nikonorov was on-hand to take advantage of a Dona fumble and nod in number three.
Spain were floundering, and just before the final period began, Kryshanov flew in at the far post to head home a fourth. Then Paporontyi met a corner far too easily to net yet another.
In the third period, Krash bundled a loose ball over the line for six. For once Spain were unable to put together threatening attacks. They got off the mark finally when young keeper Pablo saw his deflected shot ripple the net but time was against the Spaniards.
That was all they could manage and the final whistle blew to Russian exhilaration, as they celebrated another participation at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Joaquin Alonso’s men, however, will have to defeat Portugal in Saturday’s play-off if they want to win the same right…
Goals: 1-0: Chuzhkov, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Javi Torres (OG), min. 4 (1); 3-0: Nikonorov, min. 3 (2); 4-0: Kryshanov, min. 0 (2); 5-0: Paporontyi, min. 0 (2); 6-0: Krash, min. 8 (3); 6-1: Pablo, min. 7 (3);
Poland upset Belarus to leave them out of the final
Poland left Belarus without the chance to play the final of this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Europe Qualifier Moscow after a narrow 4-3 win in the last matchday of the group stage. Despite that, the Polish had no options to fight for another ticket to the World Cup, and they left everything on the sand to upset the Belarusians, who, in turn, had the main prize already secured.
Kanstatinau and Samsonov, two of the Belarusian key players, got the team off to an early advantage, and the 2-0 remained until the last stage of the second period. But in that last two minutes, Baran level ed things back to get Poland back in the fight.
Stanislawski’s men, champions of the last FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup European Qualifier, prevailed in the stroke exchange in the last period. Ilya Savic’s 3-3 was the last Belarus could grasp, before seeing Baran seal the win for the Polish.
Goals: 0-1: Kanstantsinau, min. 4 (1); 0-2: Samsonov, min. 2 (1); 1-2: Jesionowski, min. 2 (2); 2-2: Baran, min. 1 (2); 3-2: Gac, min. 4 (3); 3-3: Savich, min. 4 (3); 4-3: Baran, min. 1 (3)
Switzerland scrape precious points with narrow win to qualify to the World Cup
A narrow win over Azerbaijan, plus the victory of Russia over Spain later on, gave Switzerland the ticket to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019. The Alpine side overcame a tight resistance by the men from the Land of Fire to escape with three points worth yet another qualification to beach soccer’s global showpiece.
A defeat today against the Azeri could leave Switzerland out of the fight for the World Cup, and this is something Angelo Schirinzi’s men knew very well. The Swiss moved ahead first in the match, trying to seize the control, but they found a quick response by Jomard to level things at one apiece.
Azerbaijan resisted for most of the game, even enjoying some goal-scoring chances to get ahead, but finally the Swiss could take the lead once again, with Spacca sealing the 2-1.
Deeper into the period, Borer doubled the advantage with just three minutes to go, and that seemed just the end of the road for Azerbaijan, who were still trying to fight for the third place in the group.
Ramil pulled one back for Zeylanov’s side, but the equalizer did never come, confirming that Switzerland (thanks to the win by Russia over Spain later on) would seal qualification for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019.
Goals: 0-1: Stankovic, min. 5 (1); 1-1: Jomard, min. 2 (1); 1-2: Spacca, min. 9 (3); 1-3: Borer, min. 3 (3); 2-3: Ramil, min. 1 (3)
