2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

Qualifying rounds

African Zone

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (CAF)

The African qualifiers took place between June 15 and June 19, 2011, in Casablanca, Morocco, for the first time. The competition took place between nine teams, the same number of teams who competed in the previous championship. Not surprisingly, Senegal and Nigeria were the eventual qualifying nations, after beating Egypt and surprise semi-finalists Madagascar respectively to reach the final. Senegal were the winners of the competition, beating Nigeria 7-4 in the final.

Asian Zone

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (AFC)

The Asian qualifiers took place in Muscat, Oman, for the first time, between February 27 and March 4, 2011. Beach Soccer Worldwide and FIFA decided on holding the tournament there, due to the success of the 2010 Asian Beach Games, also held there. A record eleven teams participated, an increase on the previous record of seven teams in 2009. Japan clinched their second successive championship title, after beating hosts Oman in the final who will play at the World Cup for the first time. Iran won the third-place play off against the United Arab Emirates to qualify for their fourth World Cup appearance, whilst the United Arab Emirates have failed to qualify to the World Cup, after hosting the competition in 2009.

European Zone

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (UEFA)

The European qualifiers took place in Bibione, Italy from 11–18 July 2010, with 27 teams participating for four European berths. The surprising winners of the qualifiers, Ukraine, qualified along with runners-up Portugal, third-place Russia and fourth-place Switzerland. Only the semi-finalists qualified to the World Cup, meaning that Spain, who won the qualifiers in 2008, have failed to make the finals in Ravenna, meaning that this World Cup will be the first time Spain have not competed in twelve World Cups, since 1997. 2005 World Cup winners France have also failed to qualify, making it two World Cups in a row France have failed to qualify for.

North, Central American and Caribbean Zone

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)

The CONCACAF qualifiers were played between 8 nations, an increase from last year's 6, for the first time, between 1–5 December 2010, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for the third year in a row, seeing Jamaica return after four years and newcomers Guatemala joining the tournament. However, inevitably, the qualifiers were fought out between the strongest four nations in CONCACAF: El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States, who met in the semi-finals of the tournament, clearly dominating as a 'big four' force. However, only the finalists could qualify for the World Cup, which led to two dramatic semi-final games which saw both matches go to penalty shootouts. In the end, it was El Salvador and Mexico who qualified, after tense 3-3 and 1-1 draws against Costa Rica and the United States respectively. The qualifying nations eventually went through on penalties, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively, meaning that El Salvador qualify for the World Cup consecutively after putting out Costa Rica, who qualified last year, whilst Mexico qualify after a two-year absence from the World Cup, meaning the United States have now failed to qualify since 2007. Mexico were favourites from CONCACAF in Ravenna after beating El Salvador in the final of the qualifiers. The United States finished third after beating Costa Rica in the third place play off.

Oceanian Zone

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (OFC)

The OFC qualifiers took place from 23–26 February 2011 in Papeete, Tahiti, the place where the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be held. This was the third time the island hosted the qualifiers following 2006 and 2009, but the first in Papeete, as it had been held in Moorea previously. Once again, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Tahiti competed however Vanuatu were forced to withdraw due to being stranded at their airport because of a cyclone that had passed through the area. Despite the Solomon Islands looking the dominant team, winning both their games in the group stage, they lost to hosts Tahiti in the final, meaning for the first time since the qualifiers began in 2006, the Solomon Islands will not be competing in the World Cup.

South American Zone

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)

The CONMEBOL qualifiers were originally scheduled to take place from 7–14 May 2011, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However the tournament was rescheduled and took place from 31 July to 7 August. For the fourth consecutive tournament, Brazil won the championship, after beating Argentina in the final, 6-2. Since both these nations reached the final, this also means that they both qualify for the fourth year in a row. The surprise of the tournament saw Uruguay crash out at the group stage of the tournament, meaning for the first time since the World Cup's inception in 1995, Uruguay will not be competing, leaving Brazil as the sole nation to have competed in every World Cup to date. With Uruguay's absence from the knockout stage, this allowed Venezuela to claim victory over surprise semi-finalists Colombia, to qualify for their third World Cup, after their last appearance in 2001.

Hosts

Italy qualified automatically as the hosts, although they still competed in the European qualifiers, being knocked out in the round of 16.

Teams

These are the teams that have qualified for the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup:

Asian zone (AFC):

• (first appearance)

African zone (CAF):

European zone (UEFA):

• (hosts)

North, Central American and Caribbean zone (CONCACAF):

Oceanian zone (OFC):

• (first appearance)

South American zone (CONMEBOL):

Venue

Only one venue was used in the city of Ravenna during the World Cup which has been called the Stadio del Mare or the Stadium of the Sea, in English. The Stadium was built as a temporary structure, primarily built to host the World Cup however the stadium also hosted the third stage of the 2011 Euro Beach Soccer League, to promote beach soccer in the area before the start of the World Cup.

Referees

FIFA chose 25 officials to referee the matches. From the 25 referees, at least one referee representing each confederation; four from the AFC, three from CAF, five from CONMEBOL, three from CONCACAF, one from the OFC and eight from UEFA, with all 25 officials being from different countries. The referees were revealed in August 2011.

Final draw

The draw to divide the 16 teams in four groups of four was conducted on 5 July 2011 in Rome, Italy, which was conducted by FIFA Beach Soccer Committee members Joan Cuscó and Jaime Yarza. 1998 FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu and beach soccer legend, Ramiro Figueiras Amarelle assisted the draw.

The sixteen teams were placed into four pots of four teams. One team from each pot was placed into each respective group A, B, C and D, with the hosts being chosen first to play in group A.

Squads

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup squads

As with previous tournaments, each nations' squad consists of a total of 12 players; only these players were eligible to play in the World Cup. On 25 August 2011, the squad lists for the 16 teams were announced, consisting of a total of 192 players who will be participating in the World Cup. Brazil have the oldest squad, with an average age of 31, whilst Nigeria have the youngest squad with an average age of 22.

Group stage

The group stage commenced on September 1 and concluded on September 6, with Argentina against Oman being the opening match of the competition.

All kickoff times are listed as local time in Ravenna (UTC+2).

Group A

M. Jaeggy
N. Sylla
S. Leu N. Mbaye N. Sylla L. Diagne I. Bakhoum

M. Marrucci
G. Gori
F. Corosiniti
F. Palma A. Naderi H. Abdollahi F. Boulokbashi G. Soria
F. Palma
G. Gori
P. Palmacci A. Naderi F. Boulokbashi M. Ahmadzadeh M. Mesigar

M. Ahmadzadeh
H. Abdollahi S. Spaccarotella M. Jaeggy M. Rodrigues A. Schirinzi S. Leu

P. Koukpaki P. Palmacci B. Fall
N. Mbaye G. Soria F. Palma

M. Mesigar
F. Boulokbashi B. Fall C. Ba

F. Corosiniti D. Stankovic

Group B

G. Spinelli
S. Larreta

F. Velásquez N. Belchior R. Coimbra Alan Lucio B. Novo

N. Belchior

Al-Dhabit T. Hernández J. Gallo A. Ruiz

P. Graça
Lucio
Y. Al Araimi
Duarte
N. Belchior Al-Mukhaini Al-Rajhi

A. Ruiz
J. Membreño
W. Torres J. Levi

Group C

V. Tale
M. Najare
O. Okemmiri Y. Gorchinskiy E. Shaykov A. Makarov I. Leonov A. Shkarin

N. Bennett
M. Amau
T. Labaste C. Longa

N. Nwosu
K. Camargo V. Tale N. Nwosu

E. Eremeev
Y. Krasheninnikov
I. Leonov
A. Makarov

F. Landaeta
G. Cardone A. Shkarin I. Leonov Y. Krasheninnikov

M. Najare O. Okemmiri

Group D

S. Suzuki J. Cervantes R. Villalobos

Sidney O. Zborovskyi O. Korniychuk Bruno O. Korniychuk

S. Bozhenko
O. Zborovskyi
O. Mozgovyy M. Komaki

Betinho André Buru Jorginho

A. Yevdokymov A. Rodriguez

Benjamin M. Komaki

Knockout stage

|8 September 2011 ||5|**** (a.e.t.)|6 |8 September 2011 ||5||3 |8 September 2011 | (a.e.t.)|10||8 |8 September 2011 |**** (pen.)|4 (3)||4 (2) |10 September 2011 ||3||7 |10 September 2011 ||4||1 |11 September 2011 ||12||8 |11 September 2011 ||2||3

Quarter finals

E. Shaykov
Y. Krasheninnikov
Y. Gorchinskiy
E. Eremeev R. Villalobos M. Plata

N. Belchior
B. Torres
J. Santos N. Sylla L. Diagne N. Belchior
Madjer B. Fall C. Ba

F. Palma A. Ruiz T. Hernandez

Anderson
Buru
Jorginho
Benjamin
Bruno B. Ibenegbu J. Okwuosa V. Tale

Semi finals

F. Velásquez I. Leonov E. Shaykov A. Makarov E. Eremeev Y. Gorchinskiy

Sidney
Bruno

Third place play off

F. Velasquez N. Belchior

Final

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Final

I. Leonov
E. Eremeev
A. Makarov
Betinho
D. Shishin Betinho Sidney

Winners

Awards

Top scorers

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup goal scorers

14 goals

• André

12 goals

• Madjer

9 goals

• Frank Velasquez

8 goals

• Egor Shaykov

7 goals

• Paolo Palmacci
• Egor Eremeev
• Ilya Leonov
• Dmitry Shishin

6 goals

• Victor Tale
• Nuno Belchior
• Pape Koukpaki

5 goals

• Sidney
• Makarov
• Ndiaga Mbaye
• Agustin Ruiz

4 goals

• Benjamin
• Bartholomew Ibenegbu
• Yuri Krasheninnikov
• Ngalla Sylla
• Dejan Stankovic

Discipline

Main article: 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup disciplinary record

;Cards issued ;Player with most cards ;Team with most cards ;Referee who has issued most cards

• [[Image:Yellow card.svg|10px]] Yellow (38)
• [[Image:Yellow card.svg|10px]][[Image:Red card.svg|10px]] Second yellow (2)
• [[Image:Red card.svg|10px]] Red (2)
• Hamed Ghorbanpour (3)
• Hassan Abdollahi (2)
• Khalid Al-Rajhi (2)
• Rui Coimbra (2)
• Mohd Alhafes (2)
• (8)
• (5)
• (5)
• Javier Bentancor (7)
• Alexander Berezkin (6)
• Jose Cortez (5)
• Juan Rodriguez (5)

Final standings

References

References

1. "Born in the Stadio del Mare beach soccer here is the 'Beach Arena' by 4 thousand spectators". ilrestodelcarlino.it.
2. "Marina di Ravenna Main Events". rivierabeachgames.com.
3. (2011-01-01). "A busy year ahead in 2011". FIFA.com.
4. "The FIFA Calendar". Fifa.com.
5. (2009-11-21). "Valcke: Beach soccer on the move". FIFA.com.
6. (2010-03-19). "FIFA Executive Committee approves special funding for Chile and Haiti". FIFA.com.
7. "When and where already confirmed for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 - Asian Qualifier". beachsoccer.com.
8. "27 teams in 4 groups will take part in the European Qualifier". Beachsoccer.com.
9. "Eight teams confirmed for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 - CONCACAF Qualifier". Beachsoccer.com.
10. "Mexico gets continental throne back after amazing match!". Beachsoccer.com.
11. "OFC Calendar". oceaniafootball.com.
12. "Oceania's Qualifier has been confirmed: Tahití 2011". Beachsoccer.com.
13. "Portugal, Russia, Poland and Spain make their way to the draw". Beachsoccer.com.
14. (2011-07-13). "News and events". clubdelsole.com.
15. (August 2011). "Referees". FIFA.com.
16. (2011-07-05). "Official draw held in Rome". FIFA.com.
17. (2011-07-05). "The official draw for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011". FIFA.com.
18. (2011-08-25). "Squad lists announced for Ravenna". FIFA.com.
19. "Matches". FIFA.com.