UAE encouraged ahead of Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup with win over Russia

The UAE's beach soccer team played Russia level 3-3 in regular time on Saturday, before winning the friendly 5-4 on penalties ahead of the annual Intercontinental Cup in Dubai.

The UAE beat Russia on penalties in a Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup warm-up match on Saturday. Photo Courtesy / UAE FA / October 29, 2016

DUBAI // Gustavo Henrique, the UAE national beach soccer team coach, was a pleased man as the Whites warmed up for next week’s Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup with a hard-fought win over three-time champions Russia in a practise match.

The two teams were level at 3-3 after the end of regulation time, but the UAE clinched the tie 5-4 on penalties. This was the first of their three practise matches before the start of the five-day tournament at the Dubai International Marine Club on Tuesday.

The UAE will take on Egypt and Hungary in their next two practise games, but the win over Russia should be a huge confidence boost going into the tournament.

“I believe this match will be important in raising the morale of the players ahead of their participation in such a tough tournament,” said Henrique. “We have a tough group with teams who have a lot of experience in beach soccer like Tahiti, Brazil and Poland. But then, the other group has Russia, United States, Egypt and Iran.

“There are no easy matches in this tournament. You cannot afford any slipups and that is what makes this tournament so tough and exciting.

“So we have been working hard to get our team ready for the tournament and I am happy with the level they played at in the match against Russia. We tried to use this match to access the physical and technical readiness of the players we have, and I can say I am happy. But we need to keep working and make the best possible start to the tournament.”

Drawn in Group A, the UAE, who finished third in 2012 and 2013, will open their Intercontinental Cup campaign on Tuesday evening against South American powerhouses and 2014 champions Brazil, before taking on 2015 runners-up Tahiti on the second day of the tournament. The hosts will then meet Poland in their final group match on Wednesday.

In Group B, defending champions Russia will open their campaign against Egypt, before taking on the United States and Iran, the 2013 Intercontinental Cup champions, over the following two days.

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