2 Days Left to Register for Toronto Beach Soccer Tournament

With only two days left, deadline for the Soccerworld at Polson Pier beach soccer tournament is fast approaching. Last day to get your team in is Thursday July 31st, 2008 for the August 9th/10th tournament.

Busy that weekend? Soccerworld is also hosting part II of the SandBlast tournament in sunny Wasaga Beach August 23rd-24th weekend so it's still not too late to get your teams together.

For more information and to register online be sure to check out Soccerworldcentral.ca

Junior Negao: Now I feel complete

Rarely does a sportsman, regardless of his vocation, retire in the blaze of glory that Junior Negao did in Marseille...

For some of you, when we think of beach soccer, a word appears just in our head: Jr. Negão.

It was the strike that set Brazil en route to hegemony. Fifteen years on from the Seleção's maiden goal in the sport, they have played 314 matches, won 11 Beach Soccer World Championships and three FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups. These figures, inconceivably, also belong to Junior Negao, the scorer of that landmark goal in 1993.

The synonymy between the team and its ever-present No 8 nonetheless took its last step today, when he brought the curtain down on his incomparable playing career. And rarely does a sportsman, regardless of his vocation, retire in the blaze of glory that Junior Negao did in Marseille.

There, fittingly, the defender lifted the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup trophy high above his head after captaining Brazil to a 5-3 defeat of Italy in a memorable final. The result moved Alexandre Soares' side on to 73 games unbeaten, their aura of invincibility indebted to Junior Negao.

"It was the perfect way to go out," enthused the 44-year-old, proudly showing off the trophy. "I'm very emotional, thinking about all the wonderful times I've had with Brazil. But if we hadn't won today, there would have always been that something missing. Now I feel complete."
I'm very happy. I'll never forget this day and I'd like to say thank you to all of my coaches, team-mates and the Brazilian supporters Junior Negao after captaining Brazil to Marseille 2008 glory.

"I feel so privileged to have played with so many great players over the years. Because of my team-mates I've been able to win so many titles. But this one was extra special because it was much harder for us to win the World Cup away from Brazil. I'm very happy. I'll never forget this day and I'd like to say thank you to all of my coaches, team-mates and the Brazilian supporters."
This debt of gratitude will be returned with interest, for Junior Negao has served his country through struggle and pain. Literally.

"I've broken my big toe on a few occasions but I've never even thought about missing a game," he explained. "It's the greatest honour to represent this team and I've loved every minute of it since it all started."

When Brazil's beach soccer adventure began in 1993, Junior Negao was a relative nobody encompassed by celebrities. They included Paulo Sergio, Junior and Jairzinho, and he has since lined up alongside other former FIFA World Cup participants such as Branco, Zico and Romario.

These aforementioned luminaries engaged in exciting holiday romances with Brazil's beach soccer team. Junior Negao, by contrast, has revelled in the most consummate of love affairs with the side. And while he exited the sport on the red carpet today, his legend will remain an infinite symbol of the Seleção.

from fifa.com...

In the spirit of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Soccerworld Polson Pier will be hosting Canada’s biggest Beach Soccer Championships this coming August. With two tour dates set August 9^th-10^th (Soccerworld, Polson Pier) and August 23^rd-24^th (Wasaga Beach), the tournaments will support all levels of play, from Youth to Co-ed, Womens and Men’s Pro Am.

For more information and to register check out Soccer World Central.

See you in Dubai!

The United Arab Emirates must improve if they are to provide tough opposition as hosts next year, and the list of teams who need to make major strides ahead of Dubai 2009 ought to be extended to include Cameroon, Iran, Japan, Solomon Islands and El Salvador.

Neutrals may be hoping to see a few more goals when the competition moves to the Middle East, but if Marseille 2008 was the least prolific of the four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups so far, that had a lot to do with the excellent standard of goalkeeping. Aside from Spain's Roberto Valeiro, winner of the inaugural adidas Golden Glove, Russia's Andrey Bukhlitskiy, Marcelo Salgueiro of Argentina and El Salvador's Luis Rodas all left a memorable impression on the Mediterranean coast.

For all those reasons, the competition's first voyage beyond Brazilian shores must go down as a remarkable success. Little by little, it has forced its way into the reckoning as one of the most significant events in the sporting calendar since its inception four years ago - to that extent that the growing army of beach soccer enthusiasts can hardly wait to watch the world's finest talents reconvene in Dubai a year from now.

Participating teams

Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, United Arab Emirates, Spain, France, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Solomon Islands, El Salvador, Senegal, Uruguay

Final standings

1 - Brazil

2 - Italy

3 - Portugal

4 - Spain

Goals

(total) 259

An average of 8.09 per match

Top scorers

Madjer (POR) 13

Amarelle (ESP) 11

Belchior (POR) 10

from fifa.com...

In the spirit of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Soccerworld Polson Pier will be hosting Canada’s biggest Beach Soccer Championships this coming August. With two tour dates set August 9^th-10^th (Soccerworld, Polson Pier) and August 23^rd-24^th (Wasaga Beach), the tournaments will support all levels of play, from Youth to Co-ed, Womens and Men’s Pro Am.

For more information and to register check out Soccer World Central.

Brazil Wins FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008

Brazil won its third straight FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup on Sunday with a 5-3 win over Italy in Marseille.

Bruno and Sidney each notched a pair of goals and teammate Andre added another as Brazil stormed out to a 5-0 lead and held on for the win.

"We have achieved our goal," Brazil forward Benjamin said. "We still want to do more and prove to the entire world that we are the best. I think that we can be proud of ourselves."

Early on, it was Italy with the best scoring chance, as Massimiliano Esposito flicked the ball into the air and attempted an overhead kick. It hit the crossbar, however.

Benjamin was equally unlucky in the first period, as he fired a shot just wide of the net before he was foiled by the crossbar on another try.

Brazil finally got on the board in the ninth minute, as Bruno knocked down a chest pass before spinning around to score. He added another in the 15th minute with a shot to the top left corner. Sidney kept things going, making his way around Italian goalkeeper Stefano Spada with a dribble in the 22nd minute to give Brazil a 3-0 lead. He headed in a fourth goal for the squad two minutes later.

Andre notched a goal on a pass from Duda in the 29th, to cap a five goal run by Brazil in the first 30 minutes.

Italy responded by scoring three goals in five minutes, but could not catch up to Brazil. Paolo Palmacci, Roberto Pasquali, and Diego Maradona Jr. each scored in the attempted rally.
"Our initial aim was to reach the quarter-finals," Italy's Esposito said. "So we're pleased to have exceeded our expectations by such a distance. It's a huge performance."

In the third-place match, Madjer scored a hat trick to put Portugal over Spain 5-4.Amarelle won the award for the tournament's best player, the Golden Shoe. He was the top scorer with 13 goals.

from cbcsports.ca...

In the spirit of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Soccerworld Polson Pier will be hosting Canada’s biggest Beach Soccer Championships this coming August. With two tour dates set August 9^th-10^th (Soccerworld, Polson Pier) and August 23^rd-24^th (Wasaga Beach), the tournaments will support all levels of play, from Youth to Co-ed, Womens and Men’s Pro Am.

For more information and to register check out Soccer World Central.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 Golden Shoe Awards & Highlights

adidas Golden Shoe Award

The adidas Golden Shoe Award goes to the top goal scorer of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Assists serve as a tie-breaker with the FIFA Technical Study Group deciding whether an assist is to be counted as such. The assists will only be counted if two or more players are equal on goals scored.

1. Madjer (POR) 13 Goals
2. Amarelle (ESP)11 Goals
3. Belchior (POR)10 Goals

adidas Golden Ball Award

The adidas Golden Ball is always awarded to the most outstanding player, as voted by the media present at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Marseille 2008.

1. Amarelle (ESP)
2. Benjamin (BRA)
3. Belchior (POR)

adidas Golden Glove Award

The adidas Golden Glove Award is a brand new award which is being handed out for the first time at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008, and which honours the top goalkeeper of the tournament.

1. Roberto Valeiro (ESP)

FIFA Fair Play Award

The FIFA Fair Play award is given to the team with the best record of fair play according to the points system and criteria specified by the Competitions Regulations.
Winner in 2008: Russia
from fifa.com.....

In the spirit of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Soccerworld Polson Pier will be hosting Canada’s biggest Beach Soccer Championships this coming August. With two tour dates set August 9^th-10^th (Soccerworld, Polson Pier) and August 23^rd-24^th (Wasaga Beach), the tournaments will support all levels of play, from Youth to Co-ed, Womens and Men’s Pro Am.

For more information and to register check out Soccer World Central.

Portugal Moves Into the Semis

from fifa.com...

Portugal delivered a dominant third-period display to see off Uruguay's challenge and march into the semi-finals of Marseille 2008. Ze Miguel's side's 6-3 victory means they will now face the winners of Brazil-Russia for a place in the final.

After a tight opening, the in-form Belchior fired Portugal in front. Beirao Sousa and Madjer extended their advantage, but Fabian and Martin ensured Uruguay went in at the second break only a goal behind.

However, Bilro, a Coco own goal and another from Belchior sent the Portuguese into a 6-2 lead, before Fabian's second of the game reduced the deficit.

Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup Highlights & Overview

Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup Highlights & Overview

FIRST DAY - THURSDAY, JULY, 17

> Senegal survived a spirited comeback to beat France on penalties after a thrilling 5-5 draw in front of a vociferous crowd in Marseille.

> With goalkeeper Luis Rodas in outstanding form, El Salvador threatened an upset early on, but Portugal turned on the style to win 8-2.

> Uruguay made a positive start to their bid to qualify from Group A, a Ricar hat-trick inspiring them to a comprehensive 6-1 win over Iran.

> Eleven goals provided the crowd with a fitting curtain-raiser to Marseille 2008, Italy scoring seven of them against the brave Solomon Islands.

SECOND DAY - FRIDAY, JULY, 18

> Two goals from Spain’s Amarelle threatened to upset the reigning world champions, but Buru completed a double of his own to snatch Brazil victory.

> United Arab Emirates scored five unanswered goals in the final period to beat Cameroon 10-4 in a match that hung in the balance for so long.

> Trailing 1-0 after two periods, Ricardo Villalobos scored two brave headers to inspire Mexico to a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Japan.

> Federico Hilaire scored twice in the closing stages to complete his hat-trick and help Argentina twice come from behind to beat Russia 5-3.

THIRD DAY - SATURDAY, JULY, 20

> Eric Cantona’s France overcame Iran on penalties following an entertaining 6-6 draw to save themselves from group-stage elimination in front of their own fans.

> Paolo Palmacci scored twice as Italy beat El Salvador 4-1 to march into the quarter-finals and end their opponents’ chances of progression.

> With Madjer, Alan and Belchior in prolific form, Portugal overwhelmed Solmon Islands 13-4 to effectively qualify for the quarter-finals.

> Uruguay edged Senegal 8-7 courtesy of extra-time goals from Pampero and Ricar to leave themselves on the cusp of a place in the quarter-finals.

FOURTH DAY - SUNDAY, JULY, 21

> Brazil beat Japan 8-1 to move on to the brink of a place in the quarter-finals, while the result left the Asians with a mountain to climb.

> Russia scored four times without reply to eliminate Cameroon and ensure the winner of their meeting with United Arab Emirates will advance.

> Marcelo Salgueiro, Federico Hilaire and Cesar Leguizamon starred as Argentina beat United Arab Emirates to move towards the quarter-finals.

> Goals from Amarelle and Antonio reversed an early deficit to earn Spain a 2-1 win over Mexico that left them in a strong position to advance.

FIFTH DAY - MONDAY, JULY, 21

> France sneaked into the quarter-finals as Group A winners courtesy of a 4-3 win over Uruguay; a result which condemned Senegal to elimination.

> Senegal kept their side of the bargain by beating Iran 4-1. France had to beat Uruguay in normal time to pip the Africans to a quarter-final place.

> The irrepressible James Naka scored four times to inspire Solomon Islands to a 6-3 victory over El Salvador in the battle to finish third in Group B.

> Belchior completed his hat-trick in extra time to earn Portugal a 5-4 win over Italy in the battle to go through to the last eight as group winners.

from vmbf at menstennisforums.com...

In the spirit of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Soccerworld Polson Pier will be hosting Canada’s biggest Beach Soccer Championships this coming August. With two tour dates set August 9^th-10^th (Soccerworld, Polson Pier) and August 23^rd-24^th (Wasaga Beach), the tournaments will support all levels of play, from Youth to Co-ed, Womens and Men’s Pro Am.

For more information and to register check out Soccer World Central.