“After the match against England, we felt we could make it”

Moldova makes historical step in getting onto the 2nd group stage of the Qualifier. Coach Vasilii and captain Negara explain the formula 

Amongst the 12 teams qualified to the second phase of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier Europe Jesolo, there is one which might not sound familiar to the beach soccer fans all over the world. 

The Moldova National Team made a historical step in advancing onto the second round, together with the regular European powerhouses, for the first time in history. 

“There was a moment in the game against Romania” explains coach Arlet Vasilii “in which I realized that we were making it… We were up in the score, and I saw my players fully focused, in a great physical condition and mentally ready for the minutes remaining. I knew we were in”. 

Making it to the next round is the first of the rewards of the Moldovan hard job. “our training conditions are not the best, but we try to make the most of it. During Winter, and with no indoor facility, it is not possible to keep training, but as soon as the weather opens a little door, we begin training twice a week”.

Vasilii, also coach of club Avintul, where he is monitoring a youth program to help the national beach soccer talent believes that the next step for his country is the possibility to have a permanent stadium. With such a facility, players and teams will grow, almost naturally, and pushing younger generations forward will be just a process.

Andrei Negara, the team’s captain, recalls that it was not easy to get here: “After the first game, the team was affected. We faced Portugal, and the match was terribly difficult”. But things changed as of the second. 

Despite the statistics were, by far not, by their side, after having lost the last three games against England and also having lost the last three against Romania, the team were really confident on their possibilities, acknowledging that they could beat both teams, which they did.   

“The victory against England, and most specifically, the way we made it, without conceding any goals, made us believe that we were ready.” 

“Before the game against Romania I told my teammates that we had to give our everything, we had to die on the sand, because we were representing a little country we had to make very proud of us”

According to the captain, the big change for the team came in 2014, when FIFA Instructor and beach soccer legend Madjer held a FIFA Beach Soccer Course in Chisinau. “It was amazing, we learnt a lot from him in all aspects: technical, tactical, understanding of the game… It was an excellent experience, and from then on I have Madjer as the biggest example in this sport”. 

As of this same Wednesday, this little team from a little country, will keep trying to make their name bigger in the beach soccer panorama. They have a great but exciting challenge ahead and, no doubt, they will make the most of it.