Marco Giordani discusses 11-a-side football and beach soccer, the best players and Italy’s UAE 2024 hopes.

Marco Giordani is the hottest thing in Italian beach soccer right now. Without him, Italy’s 5-4 victory over Spain in the final of the recent Euro Beach Soccer League would have been a completely different story. The 26-year-old Catania star bagged a hat-trick for Emiliano Del Duca’s side in Alghero, and his eight goals helped him to the tournament’s MVP award. The win brought Italy their third European title, following on from 2005 and 2018, and came just five months before they opened their campaign against the USA at the 12th FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai next February.

FIFA: Just over a month ago in Alghero, you scored a hat-trick in the final and Italy won the Euro Beach Soccer League.

Marco Giordani: Even a week after the final, it hadn’t sunk in. It was only a fortnight ago when I watched it back that I realised just what we’d achieved. When the previous group of players won the Euros in 2018, I watched the final on my phone and imagined what it must have felt like for them. It was my first year playing beach soccer and those players were my idols. The boss [Emiliano Del Duca] called me up for a training camp a couple of months later, and the rest is history. Having achieved all of this just five years later is such an honour. It’s hard to put into words.

You’re set for the World Cup in February. Do you plan to keep riding this wave of positivity, or will it be a case of reset and refocus?

Marco Giordani: For a beach soccer player, winning the Euro Beach Soccer League meant as much as the 11-a-side guys winning the EURO in 2021. Sure, they are different disciplines, but the emotions are the same. Now though, we must keep our feet on the ground and play with the same humility we showed this year. Having said that, we need to play with our chests out and remember who we are: silver medallists at the European Games, champions of Europe and one of the best teams in the world. It’s such a young group of players, but we were the best team in Europe in 2023.

United Arab Emirates, Egypt and USA. That wasn’t a bad draw, was it?

Marco Giordani: We mustn’t underestimate anyone because they will all want to beat the European champions. We will need to be ready and fight for every ball to make sure we get off to a good start.

Do you think Italy are one of the title favourites?

Marco Giordani: Our main aim this year was to qualify. We managed it against Spain, who had knocked us out in 2021. When we get to the tournament, we want to do well and can’t underestimate anyone. For example, we lost to Egypt at the Mediterranean Games. All I’ll say is that we are Italy, and we will try and do well in every match.

This will be your first World Cup. How are you feeling just a few months out from such a major event in your life?

Marco Giordani: It will be the first World Cup for all of the current squad except [Andrea] Carpita and [Emmanuele] Zurlo. It was kind of my year in 2023: I scored 22 goals to help Anzio get promoted to Serie D, I won the Beach Soccer Coppa Italia with Catania and then of course the Euros with Italy. I’ve played in Dubai before with the national team at the 2019 Intercontinental Cup. I have fond memories of that and returning there four years later to play in my first World Cup is a dream. Anyone would swap places with us. I’ll be trying my hardest but I also want to enjoy myself, because I think this is the best sport in the world.

You’re still playing 11-a-side in Serie D with your hometown club Anzio as well as beach soccer with Catania. How do you manage to do both?

Marco Giordani: They are two very different disciplines, but some of the skills are transferable. And at the end of the day, you still have to put the ball in the back of the net, so the mentality is the same in both sports. I’m playing my first season in Serie D. Last season I finished the league with Anzio on 7 May and was already in Catania on 10 May to prepare for the beach soccer campaign. My first double training session was on 11 May.

So it is a bit difficult to juggle all of this and your personal life, and you are obviously at greater risk of injury, but as I’ve always said, ‘I’ll do it for as long as my legs can manage’.

Giordani

How does beach soccer compare to the 11-a-side game?

Marco Giordani: Goals are worth more in 11-a-side because you score much more often in beach soccer, but there is so much athleticism on display. Things like bicycle kicks and acrobatic volleys. For example, [Ovidio] Alla opened the scoring in the final of the Euro Beach Soccer League with a spectacular goal, and Leandro Casapieri made some equally spectacular saves. Beach soccer has also given me a second shot at glory. I didn’t manage to hit the big time in 11-a-side, but I’ve played for my country on the sand and the Italian jersey is still the Italian jersey.

How did you get into beach soccer?

Marco Giordani: In 2017, some of my teammates were also playing for the Nettuno beach soccer team, which is now called Roma beach soccer. They said I should come down to the sea and train with them. I grew up and still live right by the sea, so I’ve got sand in my veins. That’s how it started, and then I went to Terracina, Napoli and finally to Catania.

You were born in the coastal town of Anzio. How much did that shape who you are?

Marco Giordani: I was born in August and was on the beach when I was just two days old! It’s only 15°C today but I was out earlier taking a walk with my cousin. I live by the sea and I’m on the beach for a kickabout whenever I get the chance. Being born here definitely gave me a head start. If you’re not familiar with the sand, you have to learn how it plays, and what the bounce is like for example.

I was already totally familiar with beach soccer. They say playing on sand is tiring, but not for me. I’m used to it.

Giordani

You mentioned Leandro Casapieri earlier. He’s in sensational form right now, isn’t he?

Marco Giordani: I heard lots of good things about him when I was at Terracina, but I didn’t know him then. Then I played against him in the title decider. He made an unbelievable save from one of my shots and I congratulated him on their win afterwards. Then they called him up to the national team. He’s improved so much over the last two years, both as a goalkeeper and with his feet, and I think he’s one of the best keepers in the world.

Who do you think is the best beach soccer player in the world right now?

Marco Giordani: My idol is the current [Beach Soccer Stars] Best Player, Be Martins. It’s been an honour to play with him at Catania this year. He’s taught me to sense key moments in the game and watching him train has been inspirational. I’ve also got to know Catarino and then there’s the likes of Mauricinho and Rodrigo, whom I’ve never seen play. But Martins is the number one for me.

How is it going at Catania?

Marco Giordani: They tried to sign me last year as well but I chose to stay at Napoli. I signed because, with 14 trophies, they’re the most decorated team in the country. And secondly, because they bring some of the best players in the world to Italy. The club has taught me the meaning of hard work and sacrifice. Ever since I joined in May, I’ve done a double training session every day. There was one ‘rest’ day when we did just one session! And of course, it’s an honour to train with Martins, Catarino and Rafa Padilha. We made three finals last year but sadly only managed to win one. I’m sure this season will be better.

Finally, what’s your message for fans who will be following Italy in UAE 2024?

Marco Giordani: As I said in Alghero when we were in the final of the Euro Beach Soccer League, we would ask our fans to always stay behind us because we’re going to give it everything for Italy, for ourselves and them. We’ll be looking to go as deep into the tournament as possible. And we’re Italian, so we’ll be dreaming of success.

Credits: FIFA, BSWW

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