Italy-Egypt, Spain-Tahiti, United Arab Emirates-USA and Argentina-IR Iran all face off across Groups A and B in Dubai.
The eight sides which made the FIFA Beach Soccer UAE 2024 Dubai™ opening day such a captivating spectacle will return to the sand on Saturday hoping to serve up another handful of mouth-watering contests. IR Iran and Italy will look to make another statement of their title intentions, while Tahiti and United Arab Emirates also have the knockout phase in sight.
Fixtures: Saturday 17 February
Italy vs. Egypt, Spain vs. Tahiti, UAE vs. USA, Argentina vs. IR Iran
Italy v Egypt
After swatting aside USA in their opening match at the finals, Italian attention turns to newcomers Egypt. Will one of the tournament favourites live up to their billing and exact revenge on the side who defeated them in the Mediterranean Games last September, or will the underdogs ignite their World Cup flame?
Players to watch
Leandro Casapieri Voted as the world’s Best Men’s Goalkeeper at the Beach Soccer Stars 2023 Gala, Casapieri began the tournament with an impressive display against USA.
Hassam Paulo By decisively heading home Moustafa Sasa’s corner against the UAE on Thursday, 41-year-old Paulo netted Egypt’s first-ever goal at the tournament. He’ll be looking to help his nation to a maiden point against Italy.
Trivia
- Marco Giordani, who netted in the 3-1 opening-day win against USA, also scored when these two sides met at the Mediterranean Games.
- This is Egypt’s first time at the finals. They are the eighth African team to participate at the competition.
Quotes
“Our focus is already on Egypt. We lost to them at the Mediterranean Games, we know they are a good team. We will study them and try to win.”
Marco Giordani, Italy player
“Our preparations have been going well, and the players are motivated to achieve our goals because it’s our very first World Cup. We’re going to do our very best to achieve even more, which would be great for me, the players and our country.”
Mostafa Lotfy, Egypt coach
Spain v Tahiti
Despite opening their campaign with a shootout defeat to Iran, Spain showed their outstanding quality with a six-goal showing stunning the boisterous crowd at Dubai Design District stadium. Tahiti wowed onlookers too, netting four goals – including three overhead kicks – in their victory over Argentina.
Players to watch
David It took just three seconds for David to leave his mark on these finals, as he fired home a rocket of a shot, before netting an overhead kick just nine minutes later. The 25-year-old will be eager to continue his scoring form against the Warrior Gods.
Jonathan Torohia The 38-year-old goalkeeper, who was voted the best in the world in 2015, put in a Player-of-the-Match performance in the victory over Argentina and still looks as impressive as ever on the sand.
Trivia
- Spain’s 6-6 draw with IR Iran is the highest-scoring group-stage tie since Switzerland and Senegal drew by the same scoreline at Bahamas 2017. That game was also settled by a 3-1 shootout victory, with Switzerland emerging victorious.
- This will be the first time since 2015 that Tahiti will enter Matchday 2 after winning their opening game, following defeats to Brazil, Italy and the UAE in their most recent tournament participations.
Quotes
“Tahiti are a very strong team. We know that from previous World Cups. They are always going far. We are a strong team too. We have to work hard to correct the mistakes we made against Iran and get the three points.”
Chiky, Spain player
“Beach soccer is crazy. It’s so fun to watch. You see bicycle kicks, other spectacular goals. You always see teams coming from behind and winning. Argentina almost did that to us at the end [in the opening game]. I think it was a great spectacle for the spectators.”
Heimanu Taiarui, Tahiti player
United Arab Emirates v USA
The hosts opened their tournament with a nervy 2-1 win over Egypt in the finals’ first-ever all-Arab clash, and will be looking to take that momentum into the game against the Americans. USA, for their part, played well for large spells of their 3-1 defeat to Italy, and will be intent on converting the chances they had last time out.
Players to watch
Ali Mohammad While the hosts’ narrow victory over Egypt was product of a team effort rather than the result of individual brilliance, Ali couldn’t help but catch the eye with an industrious performance, which he capped by scoring the winning goal from a free-kick.
Conner Rezende Fresh off the back of opening USA’s account at UAE 2024 Dubai, Rezende, who found the net with a fine, left-footed strike to bring their Italy encounter level, put in an impressive all-round display on Matchday 1.
Trivia
- The UAE’s victory over Egypt was the first time that two Arab nations have ever faced off at the finals.
- USA last faced off against the UAE at the finals during the 2013 edition. On that occasion, a Nic Perera hat-trick helped the States to a 6-4 win.
Quotes
“I see the next game against USA as another final. We have three final games in the group stage, and we have to focus on each game as if it is the final, we are going step by step and we will give 100 per cent in each game”
Ali Mohammad, UAE goalscorer
“They’re a great team. On top of that they’re the hosts, they’re going to be amped up with energy. They’re going to have a big crowd behind them. But we’re very confident we can get the result.”
Nicolas Perea, USA player
Argentina v IR Iran
The opening day for this pair was a story of two comebacks: one which fell just short, and one which was completed in stunning fashion. Argentina scored two late goals against Tahiti but couldn’t find an equaliser, while Iran, who twice found themselves three goals behind against Spain, managed a 6-6 draw before prevailing on spot-kicks.
Players to watch
Manuel Pomar While Argentina fell to defeat to Tahiti on Matchday 1, Pomar coupled a strong personal display with a rocket of a goal late on to give the South Americans hope.
Mohammadali Mokhtari Iranian Mokhtari left the Dubai Design District Stadium on Thursday a hero following a stunning four-goal haul, which helped drag his side from three goals down against Spain to penalty-shootout celebrations.
Trivia
- By lashing home against Tahiti to open the scoring on Thursday, Lucas Ponzetti scored Argentina’s first Beach Soccer World Cup finals goal in more than 3,000 days. Santiago Hilaire had netted their last in a 7-2 loss to Portugal in 2015.
- Iran have now drawn 6-6 four times at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. They also did so against Canada in 2006, France in 2008 and Italy in 2011.
- Against Spain, Mokhtari became the first-ever Iranian to score four goals in a single game at the competition.
Quotes
“Iran are a very strong team. We will analyse them, see how they play, what they bring. We will face them as best we can. We’re still confident we can make it through.”
Lucas Ponzetti, Argentina player
“Mokhtari is a rare genius in beach soccer. Today was just another day of him pulling off heroics. He’s scored four goals against Spain. He’s showed once again why he is one of the best players in the world.”
Moslem Mesigar, IR Iran captain
Credits: FIFA
