After the latest matches in Moscow, the EBSL Superfinal and Promotion final participants have been drawn into groups
The heart of the Costa Daurada will be hosting their second EBSL event in as many years, but this time the stakes are higher. Last year Torredembarra was the sight of a regular group stage but this year it will be the final stop for the EBSL. This season the regular group stages have already been played in Ukraine, Italy, France, Holland and Russia.
The season began with 12 teams and now there are only 8 left with the chance to be named Europe´s best team. Russia, after winning the final EBSL regular stage held in Moscow, tops all teams with 15 points. Ukraine rounds out the top 8 with 9 points. Any tie in points was settled by goal differential, which proved important as Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain all ended with 12 points, but the final standing for them finished in the same order. France ended the season without a win but they will be the top seed in the Promotion final, trying to earn the right to stay in Division A next season.
The defending champion, Switzerland, will have a chance to retain its´ title, but Russia, Portugal, The Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, Spain, and Italy will be fighting them for the continental title. The Promotion final for Division B is just as exciting and important as Israel, England, Turkey, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece and Estonia will battle France to settle on one team to play in Division A next season.
Division A is split up into two groups, with Russia being the top overall seed in Group A of Division A. The next seed in the final regular season standings was Poland and they are the top seed of Group B of Division A. The next highest finishing teams are alternately distributed between the groups. The first three days of the tournament are a round robin, where the teams only play the others in their group, and then Sunday is the final elimination round. The best team over Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Group A will compete against the top team from Group B for the winner take-all-championship.
Division B is divided the same as Division A, with the exception of the last place Division A team, France, will be fighting to stay in Division A for next season. Though, that does make France the top seed in Group A of Division B, Greece is their counterpart in Group B of Division B. Just like with Division A, Division B will consist of three days of round robin play and then on Sunday, the winners will be determined in head-to-head elimination games.
This action packed weekend will get started at 10:15 every day and the first match will be Hungary vs Greece. Division A will start their play on Thursday the 8th of August as well at 15:15 with Ukraine facing Poland. This spectacular event will include more than just the Superfinal and Promotion final, play will get started on the 7th of August as an international frlendly will take place between Italy and Catalunya. Last year the highly competitive Catalunya side made their international debut and defeated England in the same match.
This is the 16th season of the EBSL, played every year since 1998, and the 9th time since Beach Soccer joined forces with FIFA. In all, 24 teams will take part in this championship weekend, which culminates a season that began in Ukraine in May. The tournament, supported by FIFA, also has the support of the City Council of Torredembarra, the Municipal Board of Tourism and Province of Tarragona Provincial Council and the Royal Spanish Football Federation as well as the Secretary General for Sport of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Chech the whole match schedule for the EBSL Superfinal and Promotion Final here (http://www.beachsoccer.com/events?id=980191029)
Final standings after the regular stage of the Euro Beach Soccer League:
1. Russia (15 points)
2. Poland (14 points)
3. Switzerland (12 points, +16)
4. Italy (12 points, +7)
5. Portugal (12 points, +6)
6. Spain (12 points, +5)
7. Netherlands (11 points)
8. Ukraine (9 points)
9. Belarus (3 points, -8, 14 goals scored)
10. Germany (3 points, -8, 12 goals scored)
11. Romania (3 points)
12. France (0 points)
