STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
The final day of the Euro Beach Soccer League stage belonged to the group winners
Spain and Switzerland were the big winners in the top tier of the Euro Beach Soccer League in Sanxenxo on Sunday as they topped their respective groups on the final day of competition.
Czech Republic and England had previously secured their tickets for the Promotion Final, before the hosts and the Swiss made all but sure of their places at Catania’s Superfinal.
Hosts Spain wrap up 100 per cent Euro Beach Soccer League campaign
Spain brought the curtain down on the Sanxenxo leg of this year’s Euro Beach Soccer League with a 2-1 win over Ukraine.
La Roja battled back from Korniichuk’s opener with the help of goals from R. Dris and Ezequiel, much to the delight of another packed crowd on Silgar Beach.
Spain will now be heavily fancied to feature prominently at the Superfinal in Catania, with Ukraine forced to settle for second spot in Division A, Group One.
Kuman rattled the Ukraine crossbar inside the first three minutes but it was a delightful curled effort from Korniichuk that broke the deadlock.
Budzko then hit the woodwork for Ukraine before R. Dris dragged Spain back on terms with seconds remaining of the opening period.
A piece on individual class saw Ezequiel chest the ball over Hladchenko and put Spain ahead for the first time, with the hosts coming a post’s width of extending their lead soon after.
The chances continued to flow at both ends in the final period of the match, and the competition, with Medved rattling Spain’s bar once more.
But Spain held firm amid intense yellow pressure late on to wrap up a 100 per cent record in front of their home crowd and cap a hugely enjoyable tournament both on and off the sand in Galicia.
Goals: 0-1: Korniichuk, min. 8 (1); 1-1: R. Dris, min. 0 (1); 2-1: Ezequiel, min. 9 (2);
Schirinzi and Misev help Swiss upset world champions Portugal
Switzerland claimed an impressive scalp by beating world champions Portugal 2-1 in the Euro Beach Soccer League on Sunday.
Both sides boasted 100 per cent records in Sanxenxo and produced a close-fought contest as goals from Schirinzi and Misev handed the points to the Swiss.
Jordan’s equaliser had put Portugal back on track but Switzerland were not to be denied, as they claimed top spot in Division A, Group Two following the disappointment of a second-place finish behind Russia in Moscow.
The sides had notched up 31 goals between them in Sanxenxo but the defenders were on top early on in a goalless first period while Belchior went closest to an opener when he rattled the crossbar after the restart.
Torres was next to go close, after a neat Belchior setup but, while Portugal piled on the pressure, Schirinzi handed the Swiss a lead midway through the second frame.
Jordan had a response with a well-executed finish to set up an finely poised final period that saw Misev restored the Swiss advantage.
Be Martins twice went close while Belchior saw a free-kick well saved by Valentin but Switzerland held firm to top the group with an impressive display.
Goals: 0-1: Schirinzi, min. 7 (2); 1-1: Jordan, min. 3 (2); 1-2: Misev, min. 9 (3);
Barbotti holds off Romania as French pick up maiden win
France stopped their run of Euro Beach Soccer League defeats with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Romania in Sanxenxo on Sunday.
After defeats stretching back to the start of the Moscow leg, Barbotti’s four-goal haul proved the difference, although Les Blues were made to sweat by a Romanian comeback.
I. Poste, Tase and Raj all found the target but Romania ultimately fell short of an impressive comeback.
Barbotti got France off to an ideal start with an impressive early hat-trick with his team-mates able to hold off late Romania pressure and maintain that lead going into the second period.
Persistence from Barbotti paid off when he challenged Lala and tapped into an empty net while Romania struggled to make the most of their possession.
That is, until I. Poste got his side on the board, with Tase reducing the deficit further after the restart.
Gabriel’s dismissal hampered Romanian hopes of a comeback for a spell but they ended the match strongly, Raj able to force the ball past Cianni.
But France did just enough to pick up their first points of the competition, while Romania finish bottom of Division A, Group One.
Goals: 1-0: Barbotti, min. 11 (1); 2-0; Barbotti, min. 10 (1); 3-0: Barbotti, min. 4 (1); 4-0: Barbotti, min. 4 (2); 4-1: I. Poste, min. 0 (2): 4-2: Tase, min. 11 (3); 4-3: Raj, min. 3 (3);
Germany ensure points against rock-bottom Greece
Germany picked up their first points of the Euro Beach Soccer League at the final attempt in Sanxenxo as they moved past Greece 3-1 on Sunday.
Neither side had claimed a point in their opening two encounters in Sanxenxo but goals from Biermann, Thurk and Olli were enough to condemn Greece to a fourth-place finish despite some promising displays.
Germany started the stronger and were initially rewarded when Biermann jinked down the right wing and fired into the top corner only for Papastathopoulos to head Greece level.
Thurk’s close-range header handed Germany back their lead after the restart while captain Olli provided a stunning overhead kick to extend the lead.
Gkritzalis’ acrobatic strike proved the best chance of the final period but, when it dribbled wide, Greek hopes faded as Germany managed to see out the victory and tie up third spot.
Goals: 1-0: Biermann, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Papastathopoulos, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Thurk, min. 9 (2); 3-1: Olli, min. 2 (2);
Sunday results
England (3) 1-1 (1) Turkey
Czech Republic 5-4 Norway
Germany 3-1 Greece
France 4-3 Romania
Portugal 1-2 Switzerland
Spain 2-1 Ukraine
Best goalkeeper
Elinton Andrade (POR)
Top scorer
Noel Ott (SUI)
MVP
Miguel Santiso ‘Kuman’ (ESP)
