Switzerland, Italy, Portugal & Russia step forward

4 semi-finalists decided in the Euro BeachSoccer Cup, as great beach soccering chairs the first day of the competition

Italy inflicts Spain loud but brilliant punishment

An astonishing Italy get loudly rid of Spain in the kick-off to this Euro Beach Soccer Cup Moscow 2012. The Transalpine, by means of a delightful set of goals and volleys, mercilessly punished the twice title holders to a heavy defeat (4-11) . With this win, Italy gets a bit healed after the bitter disappointment suffered last summer in Ravenna, where their early defeat against El Salvador smashed the dream of having an outstanding record in the FIFA World Cup they held at home, at the time they get into next round sending a clear message to all their opponents.

When Palmacci and Feudi gave a brilliant opening to the game, with the latter firing in a brilliant overhead kick, and the earlier making it 2-0 some minutes later, it seemed that the match would undeniably turn to the Azzurri side. But it didn’t, at least at that early stages, as Beiro immediately replied and Kuman gave a true value to the Spaniards best minutes with the 2-2 in the second period.

The match came then to a second  beginning. One in which, this time, Italy would not give Spain the chance to counteract their advantage. In that second 12 minutes, after Kuman’s equalizer, a smashing 1-5 run would paint the game in blue, making the result 3-7 before the referee whistled the second period out.  Dona’s nets would not be safe from then on, anyway, as Marinai, Feudi and Soria, would make the distance even bigger to secure the Italian place in semifinals, denying Spain any chance to get the Cup back to their hands.

Goals: 0-1: Feudi, min. 11 (1): 0-2: Palmacci, min. 7 (1); 1-2: Beiro, min. 7 (1); 2-2: Kuman, min. 9 (2); 2-3: Soria, min. 9 (2); 2-4: Palmacci, min. 5 (2); 2-5: Corosiniti, min. 4; 2-6: Soria, min. 2 (2). 3-6: Beiro, min. 1 (2); 3-7: Soria, min. 1 (2); 3-8: Palmacci, min. 5 (3); 3-9: Marinai, min. 3 (3); 3-10: Feudi, min. 3 (3); 4-10: Kuman, min. 2 (3); 4-11: Soria, min. 0 (3);

Solid Poland makes Portugal work hard

That Poland is year after year becoming a stronger team is something every single beach soccer fan knows. But seeing them battling one of the best among the best, Portugal, and making them suffer until the very last second, is just one step further. Saganowski and his mates were really close to bend the Portuguese, to whom Graça needed to rescue twice, with two amazing saves when the score was really tight.

Indeed, it was even the Polish the ones to hit first, but that is something that can easily happen in Beach Soccer, where the ball keeps travelling from one end to the other continuously. Quite soon, Portugal counteracted to give the match a much more expectable script, with Bruno Novo, Torres and Madjer making it 3-1. But Poland were not to stay inside the boundaries directed by Ze Miguel’s team, and managed to equalize the score 3-3, putting their opponents into serious difficulties.

Graça turned then into the big protagonist of the game. First of all, firing a ball from his own box that got deflected by Piechnik to end inside the Polish nets, and afterwards, saving two penalties that would have meant much more bigger problems for his side. When the roles were changed, being Madjer the one to take the penalty kick in the last seconds of the game, the story was all the way different, as the Portuguese superstar did not miss the chance to finish the game and secure his team’s place in the semifinals.

Goals: 0-1: Sagan, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Bruno Novo, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Torres, min. 4 (1); 3-1: Madjer, min. 10 (2); 3-2: Baran, min. 10 (2); 3-3: Piechnik, min. 8 (3); 4-3: Piechnik (og), min. 6 (3); 5-3: Madjer, min.. 0 (3)

Russia handles tough beginning against France

Russia did not let France break the bank in this first day in the Euro Beach Soccer Cup they are hosting in Moscow, although France achieved to cope very well with the Russian power during first half of the game. Likhachev’s team’s talent finally prevailed and sent them straight to the semifinals stage, where they are to take on a great-shape Italy tomorrow(16.45, GMT +3)for a place in the tournament’s final.

It was never easy for Russia to start laying the foundations of a convincing win against the tournament’s ‘rookies’. France kept their nets un touched against the world champions for more than a whole time, seeing Makarov finally beat their resistance only almost by mid second period. After finding the way to their opponents  core, the Russian roller began their march, and, in just one minute, Makarov repeated and Shishin hit his first goal today to make the score 3-0.

Needless to say, having things 3-0 down against such a machine as the Russian National Team is having things really complicated, if not impossible. France were exposed to that today, and although Touchat tried to cut the Russian ascent, Shishin empowered the World Champions’ wings to make it 5-1 in the third period and finish any chance for a surprise.

Goals: 1-0: Makarov, min. 8 (2); 2-0: Makarov, min. 3 (2); 3-0: Shishin, min. 3 (2); 3-1: Touchat, min. 0 (2); 4-1: Shishin, min. 4 (3); 5-1: Shishin, min. 1 (3);

EURO BEACH SOCCER CUP MOSCOW 2012

Fri. 17.02.12   
15:15 – Switzerland 3*-0 Romania – (Match 1)
16:30 – Spain 4-11 Italy – (Match 2)
17:45 – Portugal 5-3 Poland – (Match 3)
19:00 – Russia 5-1 France – (Match 4)

*http://www.beachsoccer.com/news/388

Sat. 18.02.12 
13:00 – Romania vs. Poland – (Match 6)
14:15 – France vs. Spain – (Match 7)
15:30 – Switzerland vs. Portugal – (Match 8)
16:45 – Russia vs. Italy – (Match 9)

Sun. 19.02.12
13:00 – Loser Match 6 vs. Loser Match 5 – (7th/8th place)
14:15 – Winner Match 6 vs. Winner Match 5 – (5th/6th place)
15:30 – Loser Match 8 vs. Loser Match 7 – (3rd/4th place)
16:45 – Winner Match 8 vs. Winner Match 7 – (FINAL)

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