Group stage closes with plenty to play for

The quarter-final schedule for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Tahiti 2013 will be completed with just one spot up for grabs, while jockeying for positioning in the last-eight schedule will also take place. Argentina have locked down top spot in Group B, while Tahiti and Spain are also through. United Arab Emirates, USA, and Netherlands, meanwhile, will be playing purely for pride

Match of the day
While all local focus will be on Tahiti?s match against Spain, the match of the day is Solomon Islands’ meeting with El Salvador. It is a winner-takes-all scenario between these two with Argentina unreachable at the summit. The dynamic Solomon Islands will be aiming to make it an unprecedented two Oceania nations in the knockout stage of a FIFA tournament. El Salvador, for their part, seemed to rediscover the kind of form which took them to fourth place at Ravenna 2011, when they claimed an impressive 5-1 win over Netherlands on Saturday.

Other highlights
United Arab Emirates meet USA in the early match with both on zero points but they have been far from disgraced. The Stars and Stripes will be particularly buoyed by their last match when they were unlucky to be knocked out by Tahiti in extra time.

Tahiti?s impressive nine match international unbeaten streak will come under intense pressure when they face Spain with top spot on the line and, in theory, a better quarter-final draw. As a result there will be little scope for either team to take their foot off the pedal, and the rowdy Papeete crowd will again inspire the Tiki Toa?s energy levels.

The final match is inconsequential in terms of the knockout round, but the Dutch will be aiming to end their maiden tournament on a high. Argentina may take the opportunity to rest some weary legs, but they will be mindful not to lose some impressive momentum.

Player to watch
Solomon Islands? 17-year-old Anthony Talo now has a hat-trick against mighty Argentina to his name, to add to a goal at last year?s FIFA Futsal World Cup. Interestingly, that goal was scored while he playing as a goalkeeper. A lithe, fast-moving figure on the field – Talo is a handful for any opponent.

The stat
8 ? Solomon Islands will be anxious to avoid conceding first in their quest to match the achievement of Oceania neighbours Tahiti and advance to the quarter-finals. They have lost eight of their nine matches when falling behind to the first goal.

The words
?The heat given off by everybody?s support gives you more energy, you want to fight for them.? Tahiti’s Naea Bennett on the boost provided by the Papeete crowd.

The schedule
United Arab Emirates v USA (16:00, Group A)
Solomon Islands v El Salvador (17:30, Group B)
Tahiti v Spain (19:00, Group A)
Netherlands v Argentina (20:30, Group B)