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The Russian coach wants the defending champions to recover quickly from recent disappointments
Russia coach Mikhail Likhachev is convinced his side will bounce back from recent disappointments by impressing once more at the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup in Dubai in November.
The two-time FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup winners have often found Dubai a happy hunting ground – winning the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup three times in total, most recently last year.
But they head into this year’s title defence off the back of difficult recent form, having failed to qualify for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas after a defeat to surprise package Poland in Jesolo.
Regardless, Likhachev is determined to steer his side back to winning ways against stellar opposition at the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup, which takes place from November 1st to November 5th at the Dubai International Marine Club.
“For us, this Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup is a great opportunity to get back on top after a disappointing European season,” he explained.
“Failing to qualify for the World Cup was a huge disappointment, but the team is focused to make the most of our participation in the Intercontinental Cup.
“We want to reign in Dubai again, and our first objective is to make our fifth final there”.
Russia – who will face hosts UAE and Japan in friendlies before the competition – will be the team to beat, according to Likhachev, who also maintains his side are ready for such a challenge.
“We have been working hard during these last month to improve in our game, we have been thinking a lot about that, and we really hope to show all these improvements on the sand”, the coach added.
“Obviously, Brazil have to be regarded as the main threat in the event,” he continued.
“You just have to look at the way they have been performing in the last months – they have a new structure introduced by [coach] Gilberto [Costa] and they managed to beat Portugal, at home, at the Mundialito in Cascais.
“But we cannot forget about Iran, who won the competition in 2013 and are playing at a great level, as they showed in Ordos, or Tahiti, who have a lot of the same players from when they finished second at the World Cup last year.”
Russia will face USA, Egypt and Iran in Group B while Group A sees hosts UAE go up against Tahiti, Brazil and Poland at an event that is set to showcase the best that global beach soccer has to offer.
Stadium entrance is free for the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup, which runs from November 1st to November 5th at Dubai International Marine Club.
