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MY BEACH SOCCER 
World Champions lift the Euro Beach Soccer Cup after bending Portugal in the final with a new sample of playing excellence
Whether we are at the beginning of an era of sublime leadership by Russia is something nobody can foresee, but it is absolutely undeniable that, nowadays, no team proves able to beat the Russian side. If 2011 was their year, this 2012 has just begun in an unbeatable manner for Likhachev’s side, who clinched the Euro Beach Soccer Cup 2012 in a new brilliant efficiency display against Portugal, who had been performing terrifically in Moscow.
As they have seemingly got used to, no goals were conceded in Bukhlitskiy’s end during the first half of the game, a situation they ground their victories on, when adding a consistent advantage that gets them ahead for good. This time, Shaykov scored the opener, with Eremeev and Makarov making it 3-0 at the end of the second period. Eremeev would hit again for the 4-0, pulling the distance wider to make Lucio’s and Madjer hits absolutely harmless to their victory.
This way of doing things, although reads simple, involves a huge amount of individual skill and collective beach soccer excellence. Among such a high team level, the performances of Bukhlistkiy, awarded as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, and Makarov, MVP, were specially outstanding, key for the Russian team to conquer the very first title they take part in in the season and continue expanding their glorious trajectory.
Goals: 1-0: Shaykov, min. 4 (1); 2-0: Eremeev, min. 6 (2); 3-0: Makarov, min. 1 (2); 4-0: Eremeev, min. 6 (3); 4-1: Lucio, min. 4 (3); 4-2: Madjer, min. 0 (3)
Crazy last minute bags bronze for Switzerland
In beach soccer, everything can change in one single minute. Or even less, because just 35 seconds went by between what seemed to be Ramacciontti’s winner for Italy and Borer’s second hit, Switzerland’s bronze-clinching goal that turned the situation upside down. The game was, again, one of those spectacles that keep you from even blinking, and meant the Alpine taking the position achieved by the Azzurri in the last edition of the tournament.
Italy seemed to be steering things through the right path when getting 2-0 ahead rather quickly. That first advantage, the Swiss managed to turn around, with Stankovic and Spacca balancing things back and Meier’s terrific volley sweeping them ahead. It was the first minute of the last period, and, as time went by, it seemed harder and harder that Italy could answer to that. But they did, thanks to a free kick by Leghissa that made things 3-3 with just 3 minutes to go.
But that 180 seconds gave room enough for a whole set of emotions exchange, ups and downs, and unbelievable moments. It was just one minute till the end of the match when Ramacciotti was conceded a foul next to Valentin’s box he would not miss for the apparently decisive 3-4. Unfortunately for them, it was only “apparently”, as before the final whistle, Borer send two amazing missiles to grab the bronze for his team.
Goals: 1-0: Soria, min. 9 (1); 2-0: Soria, min. 6 (1); 2-1: Stankovic, min. 5 (1); 2-2: Spacca, min. 8 (2); 2-3: Meier, min. 11 (3); 3-3: Leghissa, min. 3 (3); 4-3: Ramacciotti, min. 1 (3); 4-4: Borer, min. 1 (3); 4-5: Borer, min. 0 (1)
France equals last records
Les Bleus could finally farewell this Euro Beach Soccer Cup Moscow 2012 with a notable victory, the one achieved against Romania. François team could then add their first victory to their European Season records, in their third match with their recently recovered Division A license. Romania, in turn, left the tournament with the same wrong foot they stepped into it, bagging no good memory here in Moscow.
The first stages of the game were rather balanced, having Romania undo the French advantage and the other way round for the 2-2, with a wonderful move between Samoun and Mendy, by the way. But after that, the Carpathians were never able again to recover the distance when Basquaise and Barbotti made it 4-2.
That led to a situation Damasaru’s side failed to fight against, and, although Cioby shortened the gap, the French punished them back with two more goals that made things almost impossible for them. The final 6-4 gets France the 7th place, paralleling the records obtained in the last edition of the Euro Beach Soccer Cup, held in Rome.
Goals: 1-0: Samoun, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Croi, min. 6 (1); 1-2: Basquaise (og), min. 3 (1); 2-2: Mendy, min. 8 (2); 3-2: Basquaise, min. 6 (2); 4-2: Barbotti, min. 4 (2); 4-3: Cioby, min. 11 (3); 5-3: Samoun, min. 10 (3); 6-3: Basquaise, min. 6 (3); 6-4; Luci, min. 5 (3);
Poland clinches fifth place
The Polish National team showed today a new episode of his growing moment and beat Spain in the match for the fifth place in this Euro Beach Soccer Cup Moscow 2012. Always with the control of the score, Saganowski’s team stepped ahead up to three times, with the Spaniards only able to reply twice.
With two free kicks, Kuman and Beiro equalized Depta’s and Friszkemut’s hits. But, when Saganowski pulled his team ahead for the third time, with nine minutes to go, Joaquín Alonso’s team were unable to react, seeing Poland get the fifth place, thus improving their previous Euro Beach Soccer Cup final rank.
Goals: 0-1: Depta, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Kuman, min. 6 (1); 1-2: Friszkemut, min. 7 (1); 2-2: Beiro, min. 6 (2); 2-3: Saganowski, min. 9 (3)
EURO BEACH SOCCER CUP MOSCOW 2012
Final Standings
Champions: Russia
Runner Up: Portugal
3rd place: Switzerland
Individual awards
MVP: Makarov (RUS)
Top Scorer: Madjer (POR), Stankovic (SUI), Soria (ITA) – 6 goals
Best Goalkeeper: Bukhlitskiy (RUS)
Complete results
Fri. 17.02.12
15:15 – Switzerland 3*-0 Romania – (Match 1)
16:30 – Spain 4-11 Italy – (Match 2)
17:45 – Portugal 5-3 Poland – (Match 3)
19:00 – Russia 5-1 France – (Match 4)
*http://www.beachsoccer.com/news/388
Sat. 18.02.12
13:00 – Romania 2-6 Poland – (Match 6)
14:15 – France 2-3 Spain – (Match 7)
15:30 – Switzerland 6-7 Portugal – (Match 8)
16:45 – Russia 4-1 Italy – (Match 9)
Sun. 19.02.12
13:00 – France 6-4 Romania– (7th/8th place)
14:15 – Spain 2-3 Poland– (5th/6th place)
15:30 – Italy 4-5 Switzerland – (3rd/4th place)
16:45 – Russia 4-2 Portugal – (FINAL)
