2019 Euro Beach Soccer League

2019 Euro Beach Soccer League
Composite image of the banner style logos used during the 2019 EBSL. At each regular season stage, the main EBSL banner is joined solely by the subtitle corresponding to that stage.
Tournament details
Host countriesPortugal
Italy
Dates5 July – 8 September
Teams28 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)3 (in 3 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Portugal (6th title)
Runners-up Russia
Third place Spain
Fourth place Italy
Tournament statistics
Matches played71
Goals scored566 (7.97 per match)
← 2018
2020 →
2019 Euro Beach Soccer League is located in Europe
Stage 1, Nazaré
Stage 1, Nazaré
Stage 2, Catania
Stage 2, Catania
Superfinal, Figueira da Foz
Superfinal, Figueira da Foz
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Locations of the two stages and the Superfinal of the 2019 Euro Beach Soccer League

The 2019 Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL) was the 22nd edition of the Euro Beach Soccer League, the annual, premier competition in European beach soccer contested between men's national teams. It was organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), in a league and play-off format.

This season, the competing teams continued to take part in two divisions: the top tier (Division A) and the bottom tier (Division B). 12 teams continued to contest Division A; all twelve teams returned from last season's top tier as none were relegated. Division B accommodated a record 16 nations: 14 nations who did not gain promotion from last season, Finland who made their debut, and the Netherlands who returned after an absence from competing in recent years.

Due to the saturated 2019 international beach soccer calendar for European teams, this season was shortened considerably compared to the usual program.[1][2] A total of just two stages of fixtures were scheduled during the regular season. Each team from Division A played in just one stage (compared to the usual two) whilst each team in Division B also played in one. At each stage the participating nations earned points for the overall league tables.

At the end of the regular season, according to the league tables, the eight best teams in Division A advanced to the post-season event, the Superfinal, to compete to become the winners of this year's EBSL. Meanwhile, the top seven teams in Division B (the four group winners and three best runners-up) and the team ranked bottom of Division A played in a different post-season event, the Promotion Final, to try to earn a spot in Division A next year.

Azerbaijan, the defending Division A team in the Promotion Final, beat Kazakhstan in the final to win the event, therefore retaining their Division A status for next season;[3] for the second year running, no Division B nation earned promotion. Italy were the defending champions but were knocked out of title-winning contention in the group stage of the Superfinal, ultimately finishing fourth in the post-season event. The concluding match of the Superfinal was contested between Russia and Portugal, who were both looking to claim a record sixth European title.[4] Portugal, on home sand, came from 2–0 down to win the match and claim their sixth EBSL crown.[5]

Calendar and locations

[edit]

The calendar below was revealed on 18 March 2019.[6]

Similarly to the 2008 and 2015 editions, this season's regular season schedule was truncated, down to just two stages, in order to accommodate the additional events taking up space in the international calendar,[1][2] including Division A teams competing in just one stage each, compared to the usual two stages.[7]

Phase Dates Country City Stage Divisions
Regular
season		 5–7 July  Portugal Nazaré Stage 1 A B
16–18 August  Italy Catania Stage 2 A B
Post-season/
Finals		 5–8 September  Portugal Figueira da Foz Superfinal A
Promotion Final B

Teams

[edit]
  Competing in Division A
  Competing in Division B
  Competed in previous editions but not this year
  Never competed in the EBSL

The following 28 teams entered this season, divided into divisions A and B as shown (12 in Division A, 16 in Division B).[6]

The numbers in parentheses show the European ranking of each team prior to the start of the season, out of 36 nations.[8]

Division A

[edit]

Division B

[edit]
Notes:
1. Teams making their debut

Stage 1 (Nazaré, 5–7 July)

[edit]
Praia de Nazaré
Estádio do Viveiro

Matches are listed as local time in Nazaré, WEST (UTC+1)

All matches took place at the Estádio do Viveiro on Praia de Nazaré (Nazaré Beach),[9] in tandem with the hosting of the 2019 Women's Euro Beach Soccer Cup. The area has a capacity of 2,200.[10]

During this round, Georgia won their first ever matches in the EBSL,[11] ultimately leading to a first stage title (in either division), meanwhile Spain reached a milestone of winning their 25th stage title. Goalkeeper Valentin Jaeggy made his 300th appearance for Switzerland on day 3, marked with a commemorative jersey presented on-field by fellow players.[12]

Division A

[edit]

Division B

[edit]
Key:   Group winners
Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts
1  Georgia 3 2 0 0 1 12 10 +2 6
2  Bulgaria 3 2 0 0 1 12 8 +4 6
3  Norway 3 1 0 0 2 8 12 –4 3
4  Denmark 3 1 0 0 2 8 10 –2 3

Georgia & Bulgaria; Norway & Denmark are ranked based on their head-to-head results.

5 July 2019 Norway  4–1  Denmark
13:30
  • Sorensen 8', 19'
  • H. Salveson 10'
  • Li 33'
 Report(ru)
  • 13' C. Jorgensen
 Referee: Oezcan Sultanolu (Turkey)
5 July 2019 Georgia  4–3  Bulgaria
14:45
  • Davitadze 4'
  • Todadze 20'
  • Kokoladze 23'
  • Shamiladze 25'
 Report(ru)
  • 8' Tsvetkov
  • 25' Filipov
  • 34' Gospodinov
 Referee: Oleg Cebotari (Moldova)
6 July 2019 Norway  3–6  Georgia
11:30
  • Sandsor 8'
  • E. Salveson 32'
  • Sorensen 33'
 Report(ru)
  • 13' Shamiladze
  • 15', 18' Ivaniadze
  • 19' Kokoladze
  • 21' K. Makhadadze
  • 35' G. Makharadze
 Referee: Emmanuel Vocale (Belgium)
6 July 2019 Bulgaria  4–3  Denmark
12:45
  • Filipov 7', 7', 20'
  • C. Jorgensen 8' (o.g.)
 Report(ru)
  • 7', 33' C. Jorgensen
  • 22' Kjobek
 Referee: Francisco Henriques Costa (Portugal)
7 July 2019 Denmark  4–2  Georgia
12:45
  • Damm 3'
  • Raedkjaer 6', 30'
  • Kjobek 36'
 Report(ru)
  • 6' G. Makharadze
  • 14' Ivaniadze
 Referee: Jesus Montoro (Spain)
7 July 2019 Norway  1–5  Bulgaria
14:00
  • H. Salveson 8'
 Report(ru)
  • 1' Dzhambazov
  • 10' Martinov
  • 11', 20', 30' Filipov
 Referee: Jonathan Mallia (Malta)

Awards

[edit]

The following were presented after the conclusion of the final day's matches. Individual awards apply to Division A only.[12]

Stage Winners trophy Top scorer(s) Best player Best goalkeeper
 Spain
(Division A)		  Georgia
(Division B)		 Switzerland Dejan Stankovic 8 goals Portugal Jordan Santos Spain Dona

Stage 2 (Catania, 16–18 August)

[edit]

Matches are listed as local time in Catania, CEST (UTC+2)

All matches took place at the Arena Beach Stadium on the "Spiaggia libera numero 1" (Free beach number 1) section of Playa di Catania (Catania Beach),[13] with a capacity of approximately 2,000.[14]

Finland made their EBSL debut during this stage.[1]

Division A

[edit]
Key:   Group winners / (H) Hosts
Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts
1  Italy (H) 3 2 0 1 0 13 9 +4 7
2  Belarus 3 2 0 0 1 9 5 +4 6
3  Germany 3 0 0 1 2 13 15 –2 1
4  France 3 0 0 0 3 11 17 –6 0
16 August 2019 Belarus  4–1  France
16:45
  • Samsonov 6', 13' (p)
  • Piatrouski 11'
  • Chaikouski 12'
 Report(ru)
  • 2' Fayos
16 August 2019 Germany  4–5  Italy
18:00
  • Körner 5'
  • Weirauch 18'
  • Biermann 20', 33'
 Report(ru)
  • 6' Ramacciotti
  • 12' Palmacci
  • 13' Marinai
  • 20', 21' Gori
17 August 2019 Belarus  3–2  Germany
17:00
  • Ryabko 16' (p)
  • Chaikouski 24'
  • Hapon 25'
 Report(ru)
  • 19' Weirauch
  • 26' (p) Metzler
17 August 2019 France  3–6  Italy
18:00
  • Bru 8', 34' (p)
  • Leblanc 20'
 Report(ru)
  • 8' Gori
  • 11', 17', 23' Palmacci
  • 18' Josep Jr
  • 19' Zurlo
18 August 2019 France  7–7 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)		  Germany
16:45 Bru 6', 8'
Soares 14'
Barbotti 18', 36'
Angeletti 24'
Dias 38'		 Report(ru) 2', 10', 14', 21', 33' Körner
5', 39' Metzler
Penalties
  • Soares soccer ball with red X
  • Gosselin soccer ball with red X
  • Angeletti soccer ball with red X
  • Leblanc soccer ball with check mark
  • Fayos soccer ball with check mark
  • Dias soccer ball with check mark
  • Barbotti soccer ball with red X
  • Bru soccer ball with check mark
  • soccer ball with check mark Ebener
  • soccer ball with red X Kniller
  • soccer ball with red X Höveler
  • soccer ball with check mark Körner
  • soccer ball with check mark Nowak
  • soccer ball with red X Metzler
  • soccer ball with check mark Martinez
  • soccer ball with check mark Weirauch
18 August 2019 Italy  2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)		  Belarus
18:00
  • Palmacci 16'
  • Gori 27'
 Report(ru)
  • 12' Hapon
  • 22' Piatrouski
Penalties
  • Chiavaro soccer ball with check mark
  • Gori soccer ball with check mark
  • Zurlo soccer ball with check mark
  • soccer ball with check mark Savich
  • soccer ball with red X Samsonov
  • soccer ball with check mark Chaikouski

Division B

[edit]

Group 3

[edit]
Key:   Group winners
Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts
1  Hungary 3 2 1 0 0 14 8 +6 8
2  Estonia 3 2 0 0 1 17 14 +3 6
3  Lithuania 3 1 0 0 2 13 12 +1 3
4  Moldova 3 0 0 0 3 6 16 –10 0
16 August 2019 Moldova  5–6  Estonia
09:00 Report(ru)
16 August 2019 Lithuania  3–5  Hungary
12:45 Report(ru)
17 August 2019 Moldova  0–6  Lithuania
09:00 Report(ru) 3' Plytnikas
6', 17' Lebedev
7' Graiciunas
31' (p), 36' Meskinis
17 August 2019 Hungary  5–4 (a.e.t.)  Estonia
12:45
  • Besenyei 25'
  • Fekete 30'
  • Turos 36', 39'
  • Rutai 38'
 Report(ru)
  • 2', 6', 37' Lepik
  • 2' (o.g.) Turos
18 August 2019 Estonia  7–4  Lithuania
09:00
  • Juha 8', 30'
  • Lukk 12', 15'
  • Stüf 13', 32'
  • Kigaste 24'
 Report(ru)
  • 6' Graiciunas
  • 10' Meskinis
  • 14', 20' Makutunovicius
18 August 2019 Hungary  4–1  Moldova
12:45 Fekete 17'
Besenyei 22'
Rutai 23'
Wirth 25'		 Report(ru) 28' (p) Ignat

Awards

[edit]

The following were presented after the conclusion of the final day's matches. Individual awards apply to Division A only.[16]

Stage Winners trophy Top scorer(s) Best player Best goalkeeper
 Italy
(Division A)		  Greece
(Division B)		 Germany Sven Körner 6 goals Italy Paolo Palmacci Belarus Valery Makarevich

League tables

[edit]

At end of regular season

Ranking & tie-breaking criteria: Division A – 1. Points earned 2. Highest group placement 3. Goal difference 4. Goals scored / Division B – 1. Highest group placement 2. Points earned 3. Goal difference 4. Goals scored 5. Least yellow cards

Promotion Final (Figueira da Foz, 5–8 September)

[edit]

Matches are listed as local time in Figueira da Foz, WEST (UTC+1).

All matches took place at a purpose built stadium constructed between 12 August and 3 September at the Beach Sports Complex on Praia de Buarcos (Buarcos Beach), with a capacity of 2,500.[18]

The top seven teams from Division B and the team bottom of Division A, as per the end of regular season league tables, played in the Promotion Final; the winner earned a place in Division A in the 2020 season.[19]

Qualified teams

[edit]

The teams in bold qualified as Division B regular season group winners; those in italics qualified as the three best group runners-up.

The team in green attempted to retain their position in Division A, having finished bottom of the regular season table.

Notes:
1. First appearance in Promotion Final
2. Bulgaria withdrew due to administrative issues on 2 September; they were replaced by the next best team in the Division B table, Estonia.[20]
3. First appearance as defending Division A team in Promotion Final

Group stage

[edit]
Key: Advance to –   Final /   3rd place match /   5th place match /   7th place match