“We go to Russia to do our best and win”

The best players on the planet already have their sights set on Russia, a week ahead to the maiden edition of the Women’s Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup Moscow 2021. One of those players is Carol Gonzalez, Spain’s star and 2019 Best Player in the World. 

The talented forward is already fully focused in the competition, the most prestigious Women’s Beach Soccer tournament in the World: “We are really excited. What we have in front of us is truly thrilling, one more step in empowering beach soccer.” 

The participants in this Women’s Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup are reflective of the level of the competition, with Brazil, USA and Spain joining hosts Russia for what promises to be a world-class beach soccer contest.

The imposing competition does not scare Carol though, as she explains that the team are “fully determined to go all the way in this competition. We know we are facing great teams, but we will hit the sand willing to enjoy the moment, do our best and with our minds set on winning the cup.”

Although they have never faced USA, and they have played against Brazil on just one occasion (at the 2019 World Beach Games in Qatar), the Spaniards know very well the level of the teams they will be facing, and many of the players have played with and against each other on the club scene. 

In particular the Russian national side, which Carol defines as “old friends. We have faced them on many occasions, always with a major trophy at stake. Every time we are fighting for something, we end up facing Russia. They are such a competitive team, very well-balanced and talented”.

Out of the whole squad of the hosts, Carol González highlights two names: goalkeeper Anna Akylbaeva and dynamic Anna Cherniakova: “The way they manage the team is amazing, always calm and composed, knowing exactly what to do.” 

González also understands that having won the gold medals at the last World Beach Games in 2019 does not add extra pressure to La Roja’s campaign in Moscow. “We always play with one very clear idea: winning every game, and every single game is a whole new story. This is what we need to care about”, she said.  

Spain will be making their debut in the Women’s Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup against none other than Brazil (13 August – 3 pm local time), therefore being the first game to be contended at the stunning Luzhniki Beach Soccer Arena, an enormous state-fo-the-art venue, built for the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021.  

 For more information on the competition, please visit: https://beachsoccer.com/event/womens-intercontinental-cup-2021