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France and Germany seize first points in Promotion Final. Portugal, Poland, Ukraine, and Netherlands come onto stage tomorrow
France takes good first step in the Promotion Final
France earned the first points at stake in the opening of the Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final, taking place as of today to Sunday, August 26th, in The Hague (Netherlands). Les Bleus needed an extra effort to bent Czech Repuvblic, whose goalkeeper, Petr Visek, turned into a real nightmare, throwing unbelievable hands to most of the shots and headers by the French. That was not enough for Lukic’s team, though, and France grasped three points they will absolutely need in their fight to skip being condemned to Division B.
François’ side hit the sand in The Hague with the only idea of ruling from the very first minute in the game, and subjected the Czechs to an intense siege for most of the first period, with innumerable attempts from all angles. Visek frustrated them all in the beginning, even saving a penalty kick, but Iborra finally managed to open the score for Les Bleus with a powerful free kick shot. The solo by the Czech’s goalie went on, though, and let his team stay alive against such a bombing. And just as it normally happens in any sport highest level, if you do not profit your chances, your opponent will do it for you, just as Brüsch proved in the last minute of the first period.
The second period, though, meant the definitive turning point for France. A 4-0 run during that second 12 minutes, would definitely give the Les Bleus the game command. Mendy, Pagis and Basquaise, plus the involuntary contribution by Brüsch, materialized the French dominion and set things ready for them to finish the game in the third period. Things were not that easy for them, though, due to the fact that the Czechs regarded that last stage as their last chance to grasp something positive and also because Visek went on with his amusing performance, denying once and again the French chances. Notwithstanding, none of those were enough to change the course of a match that gave France the first three points to keep fighting to avoid relegation.
Goals: 1-0: Iborra, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Brüsch, min. 0 (1); 2-1: Mendy, min. 5 (2); 3-1: Brüsch (og), min. 5 (2); 4-1: Pagis, min. 4 (2); 5-1: Basquaise, min. 0 (2); 5-2: Chalupa, min. 9 (3); 5-3 : Toman, min. 8 (3)
Germany earns first points in the race to Division A
The German National team joined France and got on top of their table, in Group A of this Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final taking place in The Hague. In a really hard fought game against Belarus, Germany behaved again as a really mature team and overcame the 0-1 to end up tightly beating the champions in Terracina and seeing the game against hosts Netherlands on Saturday as the decider to access the last step to Division A.
It took quite a while for any of the two sides to find the nets, something happening only in the second period. Facing a Division B stage winner is something you need to be really careful with, and so did both contenders. Finally, Haiduk had Belarus hitting first, and Bogaichuk’s side managed to stay ahead for most of the second period. A terrific bicycle kick by Castelli, though, found the equalizer for Germany, meaning at the same time the first step of the German comeback.
Böringschulte’s team had been giving evidence about their growth all through the season, and today they again displayed a really solid performance; one in which they seemed comfortable in every moment, both when being down in the score, and also when Olli’s header swept them ahead. Only a free kick hit, by Haiduk again, contested the dominant role the Mannschaft with just two minutes to go for the final whistle. This remaining tight slot was enough, though, for the German side to strike that back, with a ball Heger fought until the end to seize the points that have the topping the table in the Group A of the Promotion Final.
Goals : 0-1 : Haiduk, min. 8 (2) ; 1-1 : Castelli, min. 2 (2) ; 2-1 : Olli, min. 9 (3); 2-2: Haiduk, min. 3 (3); 3-2: Heger, min. 1 (3);
Switzerland comes back and ends up blasting Romania
The Swiss National Team clinched an amazing, authoritarian victory against Romania in their debut in the Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal. Despite the Romanians dared to slap first, and twice, indeed, they found a terrific response by their opponents that ruined any chance they may have with a flattering 4-0 run in just seven minutes, something they would even round for a brilliant victory.
Romania strongly stepped into the game, offering Switzerland a huge resistance for most of the game’s first half. Actually, Boata in the closing of the first period, and Maci, in the opening of the second one, pushed the Carpathian side 0-2 ahead, what got the Swiss kind of worried about what was going on. Immediately, though, they came down to work to amend things, and, in a matter of two minutes they turned the score around, thanks to Stankovic, Borer and Leu.
Once in command, Schirinzi’s side had no mercy on their opponents, and punished their cheekiness with a new set of goals that raised the score to a loud 6-2. It was not only the Swiss efficiency, but the brilliant way they were playing what got the Romanians, and everyone at the Beach Stadion of Scheveningen, absolutely open-mouthed. Before the time was over, Dejan Stankovic had even time to widen his scorer records with the 7-2, and he himself was close to the 8-2, which did not finally happen. Anyway, Switzerland had already secured the victory, and an excellent +5 goal average, to get on top of the Division A – Group B table.
Goals: 0-1: Boata, min. 2 (1); 0-2: Maci, min. 9 (2); 1-2: Stankovic, min. 7 (2); 2-2: Borer, min. 6 (2); 3-2: Leu, min. 5 (2); 4-2: Ziegler, min. 0 (2); 5-2: Kaspar, min. 10 (3); 6-2: Stankovic, min. 9 (3); 7-2: Stankovic, min. 3 (3)
Russia seals hard-fought win over Italy
Defending champions found it hard today to bag their first points in the Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal held this weekend in The Hague. No surprises, though, as Italy has always been, and will always be, a terrifically competitive side, one of those you can never consider beaten beforehand, no matter you are the World Cup Champions. It was not until the last minutes of the game that Likhachev’s side would build the necessary distance to seize the victory over the Transalpine.
It was soon made clear that the fight between current Russians and Italians was not to be other than leveled, and none of the teams conceded the other any clear chance during first stages. Russia was finally the first to open the score, thanks to a great volley by Shishin, and Leonov followed him with the 2-0 little afterwards. Despite that significant advantage, Italy would react to get on the pursuit, to try to never let Russia too far again. Gori’s 2-1, and Ramacciotti’s 3-2 after Makarov’s hit meant the success of the Azzurri in doing so, but after the Italian latter net, Eremeev headed a ball past Del Mestre to widen the distance again to 4-2.
Russia seemed to seal the win through Shaykov’s 5-2 at the beginning of the last period, but Italy were not going to give up without fighting, and Gori scored again for the 5-3. Italian’s determination to stay in the battle finally crumbled, though, with the Russian latter run. Eremeev and Makarov scored their second goals today to close the match and make clear the points were to fall on their hands.
Goals: 1-0: Shishin, min. 1 (1); 2-0: Leonov, min. 10 (2); 2-1: Gori, min. 8 (2); 3-1: Makarov, min. 5 (2); 3-2: Ramacciotti, min. 4 (2); 4-2: Eremeev, min. 3 (2); 5-2: Shaykov, min. 8 (3); 5-3: Gori, min. 7 (3); 6-3: Eremeev, min. 5 (3); 7-3: Makarov, min. 2 (3);
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE SUPERFINAL & PROMOTION FINAL THE HAGUE 2012
Thu 23.08.12
13:45 – France 5-3 Czech Republic – Division B
15:00 – Germany 3-2 Republic of Belarus – Division B
16:15 – Switzerland vs. Romania – Division A
17:30 – Russia 7-3 Italy – Division A
Matches tomorrow:
Fri 24.08.12
10:00 – Portugal vs. Romania – Division A
11:15 – Poland vs. Italy – Division A
16:15 – Ukraine vs. Czech Republic – Division B
17:30 – Netherlands vs. Republic of Belarus – Division B
