2016 Euro Beach Soccer Cup Explained

Tourney Name:Euro Beach Soccer Cup
Year:2016
Size:200px
Country: Serbia
Dates:24 - 26 June
Num Teams:8
Confederations:1
Venues:1
Cities:1
Count:7
Matches:12
Goals:97
Prevseason:2014

The 2016 Euro Beach Soccer Cup was the fifteenth edition of the Euro Beach Soccer Cup, one of Europe's main, regular international beach soccer championships, organised every two years by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW). It was held in June 2016, in Belgrade, Serbia, the first time the country has hosted and played in a BSWW sanctioned event.[1]

Eight nations took part which were the best nations in Europe based on their finish in last years 2015 Euro Beach Soccer League, plus hosts Serbia. France, however, pulled out and were replaced by Hungary. The competition reverted to being a straight knock-out tournament instead of involving a group stage first as in the previous edition in 2014, with classifying matches to determine the final standings of those who didn't reach the final.

Spain were the defending champions, accepting the invitation to play, but lost in the quarter-finals, ultimately finishing seventh.

Portugal won the championship, claiming their seventh crown, their first in 10 years. Italy reached their first final, finishing as runners-up.

Participating teams

The following teams took part in the tournament.[2]

Team2015 EBSL finishParticipationPrevious1Euro ranking[3]
– (n/a)1st– (n/a)– (n/a)
Division A, 4th15th(1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014)5th
Division A, 5th14th(1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012)3rd
Division A, 6th14th(1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014)4th
Division A, 3rd6th(2005, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014)1st
Division A, 1st (2015 EBSL Champions)13th(1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012)2nd
Division A, 12th (relegated)5th(2006, 2009, 2012, 2014)7th
Division A, 2nd3rd(2005, 2007)6th

Bold indicates champion for that year. Italic indicates host for that year.

* = hosts of this year

1Note: 1998-2010 annual basis (excluding 2000), biennial basis post-2010.

Results

All times are CEST (UTC+2)

Main tournament bracketClassification matches

Quarter-finals

The winners proceeded on in the main tournament into the semi-finals. The losers progressed into a series of classifying matches to determine the standings of fifth down to eighth place.------------

Semi-finals

Main tournament

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Classification (5th to 8th place)

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Seventh place play-off

The losers of the classifying semi finals contested 7th place.

Fifth place play-off

The winners of the classifying semi finals contested 5th place.

Third place play-off

The losers of the main tournament semi finals contested 3rd place.

Final

The winners of the main tournament semi finals contested the championship final.

Winners

Awards

width=300Top scorer
Gabriele Gori
6 goals
Best player
Elinton Andrade
Best goalkeeper
Elinton Andrade

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Euro Beach Soccer Cup lands in Serbia!. beachsoccer.com. 8 March 2016. 2 May 2016.
  2. Web site: OČEKUJE SE SPEKTAKL: U Srbiju stiže fudbal na pesku!. srbijadanas.com. 28 April 2016. 2 May 2016. Serbian.
  3. Web site: European Ranking. beachsoccer.com. 2 May 2016.