2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (UEFA)

The 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers for UEFA was a beach soccer tournament contested by European men's national teams who are members of UEFA that determined the four nations from Europe that qualified to the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia.

2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (UEFA)
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier - Europe - Nazaré 2021
Tournament details
Host countryPortugal
CityNazaré
Dates17–27 June
Teams21 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Spain (4th title)
Runners-up Ukraine
Third place Portugal
Fourth place Belarus
Tournament statistics
Matches played56
Goals scored426 (7.61 per match)
2019
2023

The event, organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), took place in Nazaré, Portugal from 17–27 June 2021.[1]

The tournament was a multi-stage competition, consisting of a first group stage, second group stage, knockout stage and placement matches.

Russia were the defending champions but did not enter this year's competition, having already qualified for the World Cup as hosts.[1] The tournament was won by Spain, who, along with Ukraine, Portugal and Belarus earned qualification to the World Cup by finishing in the top four positions; Ukraine subsequently withdrew from the World Cup before it began and were replaced by Switzerland.[a]

Format

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The competition format was as follows:[1]

The tournament started with a round-robin group stage; the lowest ranked ten teams entered at this point. Five nations, the group winners and best runners-up, advanced to the next round.

There was then a second round-robin group stage; the highest ranked 11 teams entered at this point. Plus the five qualifiers from the first group stage, a total of 16 teams competed during this round. The top two teams of each group (total of eight nations), advanced to the knockout stage.

The knockout stage began with the quarter-finals and ended with the final. The four winners of the quarter-final ties secured qualification to the World Cup;[a] they also progressed to the semi-finals to continue to contest the tournament title.

The nations not advancing from the second group stage played in consolation matches to decide ninth through sixteenth place; the nations not advancing from the quarter-finals played in consolation matches to decide fifth through eighth place.

Teams

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21 teams entered the competition:[2]

Entered at the first group stage
Entered at the second group stage
Notes:
1. First appearance

Draw

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The draws for both the first and second group stages took place at 12:00 CEST on 4 June,[2][3] at Beach Soccer Worldwide's headquarters in Barcelona, Spain.[4] Its procedure was as follows:[5]

First group stage

The ten teams entering the first group stage were drawn into two groups of three and one group of four. Firstly, the three highest ranked teams were seeded and one each automatically assigned to the head of one of the groups. The remaining seven teams were split into two pots of three and one pot of one, with the highest ranked teams placed in Pot 1 through to the lowest ranked placed in Pot 3.

From Pot 1, the first team drawn out was placed into Group A, second into B and third into C; they were allocated to position 2 in their respective groups. The teams from Pot 2 were drawn in the same manner; they were allocated to position 3 in their respective groups. The solo team in Pot 3 was drawn alongside a lot from an additional pot containing three lots marked with one of the names of the three groups, to determine which group it would be randomly placed in; it was allocated to position 4 in that group.

The composition of the seeds and pots is shown below:[5]

Seeds Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3

  Czech Republic (36) (assigned to A1)
  England (43) (assigned to B1)
  Kazakhstan (44) (assigned to C1)

  Norway (48)
  Romania (50)
  Lithuania (51)

  Estonia (52)
  Moldova (54)
  Denmark (67)

  Sweden (110)

Second group stage

The sixteen teams competing in the second group stage were drawn into four groups of four. Firstly, the four highest ranked teams of the 11 entering at this stage were seeded and one each automatically assigned to the head of one of the groups. The remaining seven teams entering at this stage plus the then unknown best qualifier from the first group stage were split into two pots of four, with the highest ranked teams placed in Pot 1 and the lowest ranked placed in Pot 2.

From Pot 1, the first team drawn out was placed into Group A, second into B and so on; they were allocated to position 2 in their respective groups. The teams from Pot 2 were drawn in the same manner; they were allocated to position 3 in their respective groups.

The composition of the seeds and pots is shown below:[5]

Seeds Pot 1 Pot 2

  Portugal (1) (assigned to A1)
  Italy (3) (assigned to B1)
  Spain (5) (assigned to C1)
   Switzerland (8) (assigned to D1)

  Belarus (15)
  Ukraine (18)
  France (22)
  Germany (28)

  Poland (30)
  Azerbaijan (31)
  Turkey (34)
  Best qualifier

The numbers in parentheses show the BSWW World Ranking of the teams as of December 2020, out of 120 nations.[6]

First group stage

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Each team earns three points for a win in regulation time, two points for a win in extra time, one point for a win in a penalty shoot-out, and no points for a defeat.[7]

All times are local, WEST (UTC+1). Kickoff times shown were those scheduled; actual times may have differed slightly.

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Norway 2 1 0 1 0 3 1 +2 4 Second group stage
2   Czech Republic 2 0 0 1 1 4 4 0 1
3   Moldova 2 0 0 0 2 3 5 −2 0
Source: BSWW
Czech Republic  3–3 (a.e.t.)  Moldova
Report
Penalties
4–3

Norway  2–0  Moldova
Report

Czech Republic  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Norway
Report
Penalties
3–5

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Romania 3 2 0 0 1 12 10 +2 6 Second group stage
2   Estonia 3 1 1 0 1 9 7 +2 5
3   England 3 1 0 1 1 6 6 0 4
4   Sweden 3 0 0 0 3 6 10 −4 0
Updated to match(es) played on 19 June 2021. Source: BSWW
Romania  3–4 (a.e.t.)  Estonia
Report
Sweden  0–2  England
Report

Romania  5–4  Sweden
Report
England  2–2 (a.e.t.)  Estonia
Report
Penalties
4–1

Estonia  3–2  Sweden
Report
England  2–4  Romania
Report

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Denmark 2 2 0 0 0 9 7 +2 6 Second group stage
2   Kazakhstan 2 1 0 0 1 8 8 0 3
3   Lithuania 2 0 0 0 2 4 6 −2 0
Source: BSWW
Kazakhstan  5–6  Denmark
Report

Lithuania  2–3  Denmark
Report

Kazakhstan  3–2  Lithuania
Report

Ranking of second-placed teams

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Since Groups A and C consisted of just three teams, for the third placed team from Group B, their result against the team finishing in fourth place in their group was discounted for this ranking.

Pos Grp Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 C   Kazakhstan 2 1 0 0 1 8 8 0 3 Second group stage
2 B   Estonia 2 0 1 0 1 6 5 +1 2
3 A   Czech Republic 2 0 0 1 1 4 4 0 1
Source: BSWW

Second group stage

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As per the regulations of the second group stage draw, the statistically best qualifier from the first group stage was automatically allocated to position B3; this was Denmark.[8]

The other four qualifiers (Estonia, Kazakhstan, Norway and Romania) were placed into the groups via a draw, made after the conclusion of the first group stage. All four teams were placed in one pot. The first team drawn out was placed into Group A, second into B and so on; they were allocated to position 4 in their respective groups.[8] 20 June was allocated as a rest day.

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Portugal (H) 3 3 0 0 0 12 5 +7 9 Knockout stage
2   Ukraine 3 2 0 0 1 13 7 +6 6
3   Turkey 3 1 0 0 2 12 12 0 3 9th–12th place play-offs
4   Kazakhstan 3 0 0 0 3 5 18 −13 0 13th–16th place play-offs
Source: BSWW
(H) Host
Ukraine  7–5  Turkey
Report
Kazakhstan  3–7  Portugal
Report

Ukraine  6–1  Kazakhstan
Report
Portugal  4–2  Turkey
Report

Turkey  5–1  Kazakhstan
Report
Portugal  1–0  Ukraine
Report

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Italy 3 3 0 0 0 19 3 +16 9 Knockout stage
2   Germany 3 2 0 0 1 14 3 +11 6
3   Romania 3 1 0 0 2 6 12 −6 3 9th–12th place play-offs
4   Denmark 3 0 0 0 3 3 24 −21 0 13th–16th place play-offs
Source: BSWW
Germany  8–0  Denmark
Report
Romania  2–4  Italy
Report

Germany  5–0  Romania
Report
Italy  12–0  Denmark
Report

Denmark  3–4  Romania
Report
Italy  3–1  Germany
Report

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Belarus 3 3 0 0 0 21 7 +14 9 Knockout stage
2   Spain 3 1 1 0 1 18 10 +8 5
3   Poland 3 1 0 0 2 11 16 −5 3 9th–12th place play-offs
4   Norway 3 0 0 0 3 3 20 −17 0 13th–16th place play-offs
Source: BSWW
Belarus  8–2  Poland
Report
Norway  0–8  Spain
Report

Belarus  9–2  Norway
Report
Spain  7–6 (a.e.t.)  Poland
Report

Poland  3–1  Norway
Report
Spain  3–4  Belarus
Report

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1    Switzerland 3 3 0 0 0 26 14 +12 9 Knockout stage
2   Azerbaijan 3 2 0 0 1 11 11 0 6
3   France 3 1 0 0 2 9 9 0 3 9th–12th place play-offs
4   Estonia 3 0 0 0 3 8 20 −12 0 13th–16th place play-offs
Source: BSWW
France  0–2  Azerbaijan
Report
Estonia  4–12   Switzerland
Report

France  4–1  Estonia
Report
Switzerland  8–5  Azerbaijan
Report

Azerbaijan  4–3  Estonia
Report
Switzerland  6–5  France
Report

13th–16th place play-offs

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The teams finishing in fourth place in the groups of the second group stage faced each other in consolation matches to determine 13th through 16th place in the final standings.

 
13th–16th place semi-finals13th place match
 
      
 
24 June
 
 
  Kazakhstan 2
 
25 June
 
  Estonia 3
 
  Estonia 6
 
24 June
 
  Denmark 7
 
  Denmark 5
 
 
  Norway 3
 
15th place match
 
 
25 June
 
 
  Kazakhstan 2
 
 
  Norway 7

Semi-finals

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Denmark  5–3  Norway
Report
Kazakhstan  2–3  Estonia
Report

15th place match

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Kazakhstan  2–7  Norway
Report

13th place match

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Estonia  6–7  Denmark
Report

9th–12th place play-offs

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The teams finishing in third place in the groups of the second group stage faced each other in consolation matches to determine 9th through 12th place in the final standings.

 
9th–12th place semi-finals9th place match
 
      
 
24 June
 
 
  Turkey 5
 
25 June
 
  France (a.e.t.) 6
 
  France (a.e.t.)5
 
24 June
 
  Poland 4
 
  Romania 3
 
 
  Poland 8
 
11th place match
 
 
25 June
 
 
  Turkey 10
 
 
  Romania 1

Semi-finals

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Turkey  5–6 (a.e.t.)  France
Report
Romania  3–8  Poland
Report

11th place match

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Turkey  10–1  Romania
Report

9th place match

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France  5–4 (a.e.t.)  Poland
Report

Knockout stage

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June 24 is allocated as a rest day for the teams progressing to the knockout stage.

The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 19 June, before the second group stage commenced. Placeholders for the eight teams were split into two pots: Pot 1, containing placeholders for the group winners, and Pot 2, containing placeholders for the runners-up. For each tie, a team from Pot 1 was drawn against a team from Pot 2. The fixtures were allocated to the bracket from top to bottom in the order they were drawn.[8]

5th place match5th–8th place semi-finalsQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
25 June
   Switzerland5
26 June  Ukraine626 June
   Switzerland6  Ukraine (a.e.t.)1
  Azerbaijan525 June  Portugal0
  Portugal6
27 June  Azerbaijan127 June
   Switzerland (p)5 (3)  Ukraine2
  Germany5 (0)25 June  Spain5
  Belarus5
26 June  Germany126 June
7th place match  Germany (p)3 (6)  Belarus13rd place match
27 June  Italy3 (5)25 June  Spain327 June
  Azerbaijan1  Italy4  Portugal6
  Italy10  Spain (a.e.t.)5  Belarus5

Quarter-finals

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Winners qualify for 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.[a]

Belarus  5–1  Germany
Report
Switzerland  5–6  Ukraine
Report
Italy  4–5 (a.e.t)  Spain
Report
Portugal  6–1  Azerbaijan
Report

Semi-finals

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5th–8th place

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Germany  3–3 (a.e.t.)  Italy
Report
Penalties
6–5
Switzerland  6–5  Azerbaijan
Report

1st–4th place

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Belarus  1–3  Spain
Report
Ukraine  1–0 (a.e.t.)  Portugal
Report

Finals

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7th place match

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Italy  10–1  Azerbaijan
Report

5th place match

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Germany  5–5 (a.e.t.)   Switzerland
Report
Penalties
0–3

3rd place match

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Belarus  5–6  Portugal
Report

Final

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Spain  5–2  Ukraine
Report

Awards

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Winners

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 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers for UEFA
champions 
 
Spain
Fourth title

Individual awards

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The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament.[9]

Best player
  Chiky Ardil
Top scorer(s)
  Noël Ott   Phillip Borer
10 goals
Best goalkeeper
  Andreii Nerush

Final standings

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Key:
    Qualified for the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
Rank Team
    Spain
    Ukraine[a]
    Portugal
4   Belarus
5    Switzerland[a]
6   Germany
7   Italy
8   Azerbaijan
9   France
10   Poland
11   Turkey
12   Romania
13   Denmark
14   Estonia
15   Norway
16   Kazakhstan
17–21   Czech Republic
  England
  Lithuania
  Moldova
  Sweden

Qualified teams to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

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The following five teams from UEFA qualify for the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup1
only FIFA era (since 2005)
  Russia Host nation 7 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019)
  Belarus 25 June 2021 1 (2019)
  Portugal 25 June 2021 9 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019)
  Spain 25 June 2021 7 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015)
  Ukraine 25 June 2021 3 (2005, 2011, 2013)
   Switzerland 6 July 2021[11] 5 (2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019)
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e As the runners-up and a quarter-final winner, Ukraine originally qualified for the World Cup. However, on 6 July, it was announced that the Ukrainian Association of Football had refused to sanction the participation of the team at the World Cup.[10] It was reported that the decision was made as part of a wider sporting boycott of Russia by Ukrainian authorities due to ongoing war between the two states.[11] As the next best-placed team in the qualifiers, Switzerland were chosen to replace Ukraine at the World Cup.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Nazaré to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup - Qualifier Europe!". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Draw for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier Europe to be held on Friday". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  3. ^ "FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier Europe groups decided". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Стал известен состав групп европейского отборочного турнира чм по пляжному футболу 2021" (in Russian). Beach Soccer Russia. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Official Draw - FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2021 - Qualifier Europe". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  6. ^ "World Ranking". Beach Soccer Worldwide. December 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-04-25. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  7. ^ "LAW 10 – The method of scoring: Competition rules". BEACH SOCCER Laws of the Game 2015/2016 (PDF). Zürich, Switzerland: FIFA. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  8. ^ a b c "First group stage qualifiers' draw". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Spain win the European Qualifier for 4th time!". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Switzerland To Replace Ukraine At Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021". FIFA. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  11. ^ a b ""Грати, щоб звучав наш гімн": відомий український тренер виступив проти бойкоту пляжного ЧС у Москві" (in Ukrainian). TSN. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
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