Tahiti, Sept 28, 2013: Russia has retained their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup crown with a comfortable 5-1 win over an outclassed Spain. The match was largely a tense low key affair with no goals in the opening period, before an organised and workmanlike Russia gained a clear ascendency in the middle period to put the game virtually out of reach.
Russia’s Egor Shaykov missed a great opportunity but failed to connect with a volley from close range and only the goalkeeper to beat in the best chance of the opening period.
Anton Shkarin opened the scoring for the reigning champs 30 seconds into the second period with a flying volley that bobbled over the line and through a group of players.
Juanma blazed a sweetly hit free-kick narrowly wide in a rare chance for Spain.
Kirill Romanov doubled the lead a few minutes later with a neat finish on a counter-attack as Spain began to feel the heat.
The contest was virtually over midway through the second period with Yury Krasheninnikov finishing again at the end of a fast move upfield.
Raul Merida hit the crossbar with a header for Spain soon after. And finally Spain got on the scoreboard just before the final break with a great Llorenc flying volley.
Both teams missed great chances early in the third period, with Spain’s Antonio and Egor Shaykov missing from close range
Russia put the match out of sight midway through the third period with a scrappy goal awarded to Krasheninnikov for his second, following a long ball from the other end that bobbled over the line.
Appropriately it was tournament leading scorer Dmitrii Shishin that iced the cake with a fifth in the dying seconds.
PREVIOUS TOURNAMENTS HISTORY:
Italy 2011
Winner: Russia. Runners-Up: Brazil. Third: Portugal. Fourth: El Salvador
Adidas Golden Ball: Ilya LEONOV (RUS). Adidas Golden Boot: ANDRE (BRA). Adidas Golden Glove: Andrey BUKHLITSKIY (RUS)
FIFA Fair Play award: Nigeria
Technical Report »
More evenly contested than some of its predecessors, the sixth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup proved an engrossing event, ending with the tactically astute Russians deposing mighty Brazil.
Dubai 2009
Winner: Brazil. Runners-Up: Switzerland. Third: Portugal. Fourth: Uruguay
Adidas Golden Ball: Dejan STANKOVIC (SUI). Adidas Golden Shoe: Dejan STANKOVIC (SUI). Adidas Golden Glove: MAO (BRA)
FIFA Fair Play award: Japan, Russia
Technical Report »
FIFA.com looks back on a frenetic but successful FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai that witnessed Brazil cement their pre-eminent position.
Marseilles 2008
Winner: Brazil. Runners-Up: Italy. Third: Portugal. Fourth: Spain
Adidas Golden Ball: AMARELLE (ESP). Adidas Golden Shoe: MADJER (POR). Adidas Golden Glove: ROBERTO VALEIRO (ESP)
FIFA Fair Play award: Russia
Technical Report »
FIFA.com looks back at the highlights from Marseille 2008, where beach soccer titans Brazil were made to work hard to retain their world title.
Rio de Janeiro 2007
Winner: Brazil. Runners-Up: Mexico. Third: Uruguay. Fourth: France
Adidas Golden Ball: BURU (BRA). Adidas Golden Shoe: BURU (BRA). FIFA Fair Play award: Brazil
Technical Report »
Rio de Janeiro 2007 proved beyond doubt that Brazil are the world’s greatest beach soccer team, but new powers also shone.
Rio de Janeiro 2006
Winner: Brazil. Runners-Up: Uruguay. Third: France. Fourth: Portugal
Adidas Golden Ball: MADJER (POR). Adidas Golden Shoe: MADJER (POR). FIFA Fair Play award: France
Technical Report »
Back on top of the world, Brazil will probably put their performance in last year’s competition down to an aberration; the kind of wild upset that happens from time to time. Having surrendered their global crown to Portugal in 2001 and France in 2005, the Auriverde set the record straight this time around to claim their tenth title in the discipline.
Rio de Janeiro 2005
Winner: France. Runners-Up: Portugal. Third: Brazil. Fourth: Japan
Adidas Golden Ball: MADJER (POR). Adidas Golden Shoe: MADJER (POR). FIFA Fair Play award: Japan
Technical Report »
So say the Brazilians: See you in 2006! At the end of the inaugural FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, one cannot help reflecting on what a fine first tournament it was. Offering an exceptional field made up of the best teams on the planet, the competition turned out to be extremely close. —- Photo by Shaun Botterill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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