STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
The two nations boast a 100 per cent record after day two of European qualification.
Italy and Portugal are on the brink of the knockout stages in European qualification for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup after making it two wins from two on Saturday.
Both nations sit top of their groups with one game to go and, in their current form, look all but certain to contest the second group phase.
Group A
Turkey gave Italy a stern test in front of their home fans in Jesolo, the hosts running out 9-6 winners in a keenly contested affair
Three Gori goals put Italy 5-1 up early in the second period and, while his side looked dangerous throughout, Turkey offered a threat of their own and kept things tight in the final stages thanks to goals from Kerem Sinc, Volkan and Baris.
But Italy ultimately held firm to move three points clear at the top of Group A and effectively confirm their place in the next round.
Earlier, Belarus recovered from their surprise opening-day defeat to Turkey by beating a below-par Serbia 8-1.
Marco Octavio’s men were disappointing in their 3-2 loss on Friday but gave themselves hope of making it to the Bahamas with a dominant display that saw captain Bryshtel score five times.
Group B
World champions Portugal continued their blistering start to qualification as they hammered Romania 11-0.
The world champions put 15 past Moldova on Friday and extended their impressive goal difference despite resting Madjer and Leo Martins – hat-trick hero Jordan in particular impressing as Portugal all but confirmed their progression.
Moldova bounced back from that comprehensive defeat at the hands of Portugal to beat England 3-0 with a disciplined and effective display.
Arlet Vasilii’s men were dismantled on the opening day but recovered well as Cojocari and Negara ensured a first-period platform against a sluggish England side before Iordachi’s free-kick sealed the points.
Group D
Switzerland breezed to their first points of the competition in Group D with a clinical 16-1 rout of Lithuania.
The writing was on the wall for Lithuania when Stankovic scored straight from kick-off with the forward adding four more for the 2015 World Cup quarter-finalists while Ott and Hodel also weighed in with key contributions.
Lithuania will look to learn from the experience as they prepare to face a Greece side next who had hat-trick hero Kafantaris to thank for their 5-1 win over the Netherlands.
The Hellenic side used their wider beach soccer experience to cruise past the Oranje in both sides’ debuts in the competitions.
Group E
Poland were 5-3 winners against Estonia to move second in Group E.
A second-placed finish behind Spain likely represents both sides’ best hopes of reaching the second group stage and Poland look best placed to achieve that after two from captain Ziober and a Saganowski hat-trick claimed the points in a tight encounter.
Group F
The only game in Group F saw recently-crowned European champions Ukraine hold off a gutsy Georgian effort to pick up an 8-5 win.
Having ended Portugal’s European title defence in Catania last week, Ukraine battled back from an early Nadaraia goal to move 6-2 ahead midway through the second period.
And, while Georgia rallied to make it 6-5 with five minutes left, late Ukrainian efforts from Shcherytsia and Korniichuk wrapped up the points.
Saturday results
Lithuania 1-16 Switzerland
Poland 5-3 Estonia
England 0-3 Moldova
Greece 5-1 Netherlands
Georgia 5-8 Ukraine
Belarus 8-1 Serbia
Portugal 11-0 Romania
Italy 9-6 Turkey
Sunday fixtures
Germany vs Kazakhstan (Broadcast live)
Hungary vs Azerbaijan (Broadcast live)
Romania vs Moldova (Broadcast live)
Turkey vs Serbia (Broadcast live)
France vs Bulgaria (Broadcast live)
Russia vs Norway (Broadcast live)
Portugal vs England (Broadcast live)
Italy vs Belarus (Broadcast live)
