Paul Baaske on Rostocker Robben playing all 10 Editions of Euro Winners In Nazaré

As the Euro Winners Cup celebrates its 10th consecutive edition in Nazaré, Rostocker Robben and Napoli Patron remain the only two foreign clubs to have featured in every tournament held on the iconic Portuguese beach. Paul Baaske, who first arrived in Nazaré in 2019, has grown into one of the German side’s leading figures and now hopes to help the club reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

Q: Your club and Napoli Patron are the only two foreign teams that have participated every year in Nazaré. What makes this tournament so special?
Paul Baaske: I didn’t know that but it sure is a special tournament. I think it’s the highlight of the year, every year. All the top players are here, and you get the chance to watch them and play against them. It’s the perfect tournament for us to attend, and we love being part of it. I think it’s the biggest tournament of the year. This is my sixth time here. The first time was in 2019, I think, and I had to miss one edition because of work. So, yes, this is my sixth time, and I’m very happy to be here.

Q: How does it feel to play in Nazaré?
Paul Baaske: I think it’s the perfect location to host this event. It’s a relatively small town, but everything is centred around the beach. Every street seems to lead down to it. There are so many players here, and you see them not only on the pitch but also around town. It feels like one big beach soccer family whenever the event is held here. I absolutely love being here.

Q: What are your objectives this time around?
Paul Baaske: It’s difficult to say because we have two Japanese players (Takeru Furusato and Ryota Tsuboya) with us this year – and, of course, Casper Dorph, who has played for us quite often. We don’t know the Japanese players very well yet in terms of playing together, but they are excellent players. We want to go as far as possible, but I think reaching the quarter-finals would be a great achievement. After that, we’d like to keep playing until the very end of the tournament on Sunday. That’s the main goal: to be involved every day and stay in the competition as long as possible.

Q: You’ve never reached the quarter-finals before, always falling short at the Round of 16 stage. What has been missing for the team to break that barrier and make it into the last eight?
Paul Baaske: It’s difficult to say because there is always a bit of luck involved as well. You can win your group and still end up facing a very strong team in the knockout rounds. Sometimes we’ve had very difficult groups and finished second, which meant facing the winners of another group. Then you’re up against top Spanish, Portuguese or Brazilian players, and that’s not quite our level yet. But we come here to improve every year, and I think now is the right time for us to take that next step and reach the quarter-finals.

Q: How do you approach that different level of beach soccer? Is it a learning experience for you?
Paul Baaske: Absolutely. It’s always amazing for us to play against those players because they are undoubtedly among the best in the world. We don’t just watch them play; we actually get the chance to compete against them. For us, it’s a huge learning opportunity, and I think that’s the most important thing.

Q: What would you say makes Rostocker Robben special or different as a club?
Paul Baaske: I think the main thing is that we’re all friends. Apart from the Japanese players, we’re all from the same area and know each other very well. We might not have the highest level of individual quality compared to some other teams, but I think our team spirit is exceptional. I don’t know if it’s unique, but it’s definitely one of our biggest strengths, and that’s what defines our team.

Q: How would you describe the Euro Winners Cup here in Nazaré in one word or one sentence?
Paul Baaske: Amazing. It’s the perfect location, with a fantastic beach and excellent conditions. Maybe it’s a little windy sometimes, but overall it’s an amazing event. Since you asked for one word, I’ll stick with that: Amazing.