Iran, Italy, Tahiti and the United Arab Emirates reached the knockout phase as Argentina, Egypt, Spain and the USA suffered elimination.
Tahiti staged one of the greatest comebacks the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ has ever seen to advance, while the United Arab Emirates reached the knockout phase for the first time in front of their adoring audience. IR Iran and Italy also swaggered through in style on a day when Argentina, Egypt, Spain and the USA crashed out.
Results
Italy 6-2 Egypt
Italy goals: Sciacca, Bertacca, Miceli, Josep Jr, Fazzini, Giordani
Egypt goals: Sasa (2)
Player of the Match: Josep Jr
The Nazionale turned it on. Luca Bertacca and Marco Giordani bagged beauties, while several goals came from telepathic team moves.
Quotes
“Josep is Italy’s most important player. He’s been brilliant in these first two games. He is very talented, but he also has a great spirit.”
Gianmarco Genovali
“The game was close in the first and second periods. Egypt has what it takes to reach the World Cup semi-final, but we must prepare and train better for such a big tournament.”
Moustafa Samir, Egypt player
Stat
Italy’s six goals came from six different players. The last time a team had more than five scorers in the tournament was in 2017 when Tahiti had six against Paraguay.
Spain 3-5 Tahiti
Spain goals: Arias, Batis, Dona
Tahiti goals: Tinirauarii (2), Taiarui, Tepa, Labaste
Player of the Match: Heimanu Taiarui
Tahiti were 3-0 down to powerhouses Spain with over half the contest played. They incredibly finished it 5-3 winners and in the knockout phase.
Quotes
“This feels crazy. Did it happen? We are a small island, but we have big, big hearts.”
Roonui Tinirauarii
“We’re very proud people. I know everyone back in Tahiti was in front of the television. This will mean everything to them We were 3-0 down. Maybe we like a challenge!”
Heimanu Taiarui
Stat
Tahiti produced the joint-second-biggest comeback in the competition’s history. Côte d’Ivoire recovered from four goals down to beat El Salvador 7-6 in 2009.
United Arab Emirates 3-2 USA (AET)
United Arab Emirates goals: Rashed Eid, Abdullah, Ali
USA goals: Toth, Canale
Player of the Match: Ali Mohammad
The UAE appeared coasting to victory, only for a late US surge to send the contest to extra-time. There, goalkeeper Chris Toth, who had scored and made a string of exceptional saves, slipped up to enable Ali Mohammad to spark euphoric scenes in Dubai.
Quote
“To score the winning goal is an unbelievable feeling. I can’t put it into words. That was the least we could do for our country and the UAE fans.”
Ali Mohammad, UAE player
Stat
It took the UAE eight attempts to progress from the group stage of the competition. Their victims USA now hold the unwanted distinction of having been to the most FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups without reaching the knockout phase: seven.
Argentina 3-6 IR Iran
Argentina goals: Medero (2), Holmedilla
IR Iran goals: Mokhtari, Behzadpour, Amiri, Moradi, Mohammadpour, Mirshekari
Player of the Match: To follow
Another day, another Team Melli exhibition. The Albiceleste did their best, but they were up against one of the very best sides on the planet.
Quote
“I’m so happy to be qualified for the next round. We had a tough group, but we did great. Our ambition in this tournament is to become champions. I want to say thank you to the fans for the huge support tonight. It felt like we were playing in Iran.”
Ali Mirshekari, Iran player
Stat
For the first time in nine Iran games in the group stage, a contest was decided by more than one goal.
Credits: FIFA
