2003 Euro Beach Soccer League

2003 Euro Beach Soccer League

Tournament details
Dates	6 June – 30 August
Teams	9 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)	9 (in 9 host cities)
Final positions
Champions	Spain (4th title)
Runners-up	France
Third place	Portugal
Fourth place	Switzerland
Tournament statistics
Matches played	61
Goals scored	653 (10.7 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Madjer
Best player(s)	Ramiro Amarelle
Best goalkeeper	Adrian Lingenhag
← 2002 2004 →

Marsielle

Palma de Mallorca

Lignano Sabbiadoro

Estoril

Brighton

Linz

Stavanger

Bern

Knokke

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Locations of the events of the 2003 Euro Beach Soccer League
Division A events
Division B events
Superfinal & Division B event

The 2003 Euro Beach Soccer League, was the sixth edition of the Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL), the premier beach soccer competition contested between European men's national teams, known as the European Pro Beach Soccer League at the time, occurring annually since its establishment in 1998. The league was organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) between June 6 and August 31, 2003 in nine different nations across Europe.

This was the last time the tournament would be held under the Pro title, as the following season the tournament was renamed and shortened to the Euro Beach Soccer League.

Following the preceding season, BSWW continued organising the nations of the EBSL across two distinct groups based on ability. This season the two groups were renamed as Division A, the top tier group, comprising the best nations of the Europe and Division B, the lower tier group, consisting of teams with lesser ability than those in A; these replaced the Southern and Northern "divisions" established in 2002. Each team competed in their respective division to try and earn a place in the season-finale event, the Superfinal, in which the league title was then contested directly. ^[1]

Spain, having won three successive titles from 1999 to 2001, successfully reclaimed the title by defeating France in extra-time in the final. This was the fourth European title won by the Spanish. Portugal, who entered as defending champions, lost in the Superfinal semi-finals, ultimately finishing in third place. ^[2]

The league also doubled as the qualification process for the 2004 Beach Soccer World Championship. The nations finishing in first, second, third and fourth place qualified. ^[3]

Teams

This season 9 nations took part in the Euro Beach Soccer League whom were and were distributed as follows:

Division A (5)   England   France   Italy   Portugal   Spain

Division B (4)   Austria   Belgium   Germany (withdrew) [4]   Norway    Switzerland

Superfinal berths

There were six berths available in this season's Superfinal. The table summarises in what positions nations needed to finish in their respective divisions in order to qualify to the Superfinal, what round of the Superfinal they would enter finishing in said positions, and the seeding they would receive.

Allocations
The amount of qualification spots available in the Superfinal from each division reflected the abilities of the nations in the respective tiers.

• Division A, consisting of the best teams of the EBSL, was awarded four Superfinal berths
• Division B, as the bottom tier, received two berths

#	Position in Division	Division	Round entered
1	Winner	A	Semi-finals
2	Runner-up
3	Third place		Quarter-finals
4	Fourth place
5	Winner	B
6	Runner-up

Division A

Division A consisted of five rounds of fixtures known as stages, with one stage hosted in each of the five countries participating as shown. Four teams took part in each, with each team taking part in a total of four of the five stages. In each stage, the teams played each other once. The nation who earned the most points at the end of the stage was crowned stage winners.

At the end of the five stages all results were tallied up in a final league table.

Stage 1

The first stage took place in Estoril, Portugal. The hosts claimed the opening stage of Division A.

Matches 6 June 2003 Spain   5–3   England Portugal   7–3   Italy 7 June 2003 Spain   2–3 (a.e.t.)   Italy Portugal   9–2   England 8 June 2003 Italy   5–2   England Portugal   5–4   Spain

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1   Portugal 3 3 0 0 21 9 +12 9 2   Italy 3 1 1 1 11 11 0 5 3   Spain 3 1 0 2 11 11 0 3 4   England 3 0 0 3 7 19 –12 0 Awards [5] Best player: Massimo Agostini Top scorer(s): Massimo Agostini (8 goals) Best goalkeeper: Zé Miguel

Stage 2

The second stage took place in Brighton, England. Portugal won their second stage of the season.

Matches 27 June 2003 England   4–6   Portugal Italy   2–3   France 28 June 2003 Italy   5–5 (a.e.t.) 1–0 (pens.)   Portugal England   5–7   France 29 June 2003 England   5–7   Italy Portugal   5–2   France

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1   Portugal 3 2 0 1 16 11 +5 6 2   France 3 2 0 1 12 12 0 6 3   Italy 3 1 1 1 14 13 +1 5 4   England 3 0 0 3 14 20 –6 0 Awards [6] Best player: Andrew Grainger Top scorer(s): Alan (7 goals) Best goalkeeper: Zé Miguel

Stage 3

The third stage took place in Marseille, France. Spain won the stage.

Matches 4 July 2003 Spain   9–1   Portugal France   7–6   Italy 5 July 2003 Portugal   7–6   Italy France   6–8   Spain 6 July 2003 Italy   5–9   Spain France   7–11   Portugal

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1   Spain 3 3 0 0 26 12 +14 9 2   Portugal 3 2 0 1 19 22 –3 6 3   France 3 1 0 2 20 25 –5 3 4   Italy 3 0 0 3 17 23 –6 0 Awards [7] Best player: Amarelle Top scorer(s): Amarelle (12 goals) Best goalkeeper: Roberto Valeiro

Stage 4

The fourth stage took place in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy. A second stage victory was claimed by Spain.

Matches 25 July 2003 Spain   6–3   France Italy   6–1   England 26 July 2003 Italy   4–6   Spain England   7–7 (a.e.t.) 0–1 (pens.)   France 27 July 2003 Spain   7–1   England Italy   3–2   France

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1   Spain 3 3 0 0 19 8 +11 9 2   Italy 3 2 0 1 13 9 +4 6 3   France 3 0 1 2 12 16 –4 2 4   England 3 0 0 3 9 20 –11 0 Awards [8] Best player: Andrea Forte Top scorer(s): Manuel Bustillo (6 goals) Best goalkeeper: Alessandro Giovinazzo

Stage 5

The fifth and final stage took place in Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain. The hosts won their third consecutive stage title of the season.

Matches 8 August 2003 France   9–3   Portugal Spain   8–4   England 9 August 2003 Spain   5–4   France Portugal   10–1   England 10 August 2003 France   9–5   England Spain   6–4   Portugal

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1   Spain 3 3 0 0 19 12 +7 9 2   France 3 2 0 1 22 13 +9 6 3   Portugal 3 1 0 2 17 16 +1 3 4   England 3 0 0 3 10 27 –17 0 Awards [9] Best player: Eloy Souto Top scorer(s): Didier Samoun, Madjer (6 goals) Best goalkeeper: Roberto Valeiro

Final table

The top four teams qualified to the Superfinal, fifth place exited this year's competition. Finishing first and second earned those teams byes straight into the semi-finals of the Superfinal, whilst finishing in third and fourth qualified those nations to the quarter-finals.

Spain were crowned winners of the division and earned the bye into the Superfinal semi-finals along with runners-up Portugal. Having failed to win any matches, England were rooted to the bottom of the table and were eliminated.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	W+	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Spain	12	10	0	2	75	43	+32	30	Advance to Superfinal semi-finals
2	Portugal	12	8	0	4	73	58	+15	24
3	France	12	5	1	6	66	66	0	17	Advance to Superfinal quarter-finals
4	Italy	12	4	2	6	55	56	–1	16
5	England	12	0	0	12	40	86	–46	0

Division B

The second tier consisted of four rounds of fixtures known as stages, with one stage hosted in each of the four countries participating as shown. All four teams took part in each stage. In every round of fixtures the teams played each other once. The nation who earned the most points at the end of the stage was crowned stage winners.

Germany were originally due to participate and host a stage but ultimately withdrew before the competition began. ^[4]

At the end of the four stages all results were tallied up in a final league table.

Stage 1

The first stage took place in Stavanger, Norway. The hosts were winners of the event.

Matches 18 July 2003 Norway   12–5   Austria Switzerland   4–2   Belgium 19 July 2003 Austria   4–5    Switzerland Norway   6–1   Belgium 20 July 2003 Austria   5–7   Belgium Norway   4–3 (a.e.t.)    Switzerland

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1   Norway 3 2 1 0 22 9 +13 8 2    Switzerland 3 2 0 1 12 10 +2 6 3   Belgium 3 1 0 2 10 15 –5 3 4   Austria 3 0 0 3 14 24 –10 0 Awards [10] Best player: Roar Fredriksen Top scorer(s): Roar Fredriksen, Jørn Larsen (6 goals) Best goalkeeper: Karl Rossland

Stage 2

The second stage took place in Linz, Austria. Hosts Austria won the event based on their head-to-head record with Switzerland.

Matches 25 July 2003 Austria   12–5   Norway Switzerland   4–1   Belgium 26 July 2003 Austria   6–8   Belgium Switzerland   9–4   Norway 27 July 2003 Austria   9–8    Switzerland Belgium   5–6   Norway

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1   Austria 3 2 0 1 27 21 +6 6 2    Switzerland 3 2 0 1 21 14 +7 6 3   Norway 3 1 0 2 15 26 –11 3 4   Belgium 3 1 0 2 14 16 –2 3 Awards [11] Best player: Angelo Schirinzi Top scorer(s): Richard Niederbacher (10 goals) Best goalkeeper: Adrian Lingenhag

Stage 3

The third stage took place in Bern, Switzerland. Norway were crowned stage champions based on their head-to-head record with Belgium.

Matches 15 August 2003 Belgium   5–2   Austria Switzerland   8–8 (a.e.t.) 3–4 (pens.)   Norway 16 August 2003 Norway   6–5   Belgium Switzerland   5–4 (a.e.t.)   Austria 17 August 2003 Norway   3–9   Austria Switzerland   3–4 (a.e.t.)   Belgium

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1   Norway 3 1 1 1 17 22 –5 5 2   Belgium 3 1 1 1 14 11 +3 5 3   Austria 3 1 0 2 15 13 +2 3 4    Switzerland 3 0 1 2 16 16 0 2 Awards [12] Best player: Stephan Meier Top scorer(s): Jørn Larsen, Mathieu Belme (7 goals) Best goalkeeper: Michael Konsel

Stage 4

The fourth and next to last stage took place in Knokke, Belgium. Switzerland claimed the final stage of Division B.

Matches 22 August 2003 Switzerland   8–4   Austria Belgium   8–3   Norway 23 August 2003 Norway   6–5   Austria Belgium   4–5    Switzerland 24 August 2003 Switzerland   5–4   Norway Belgium   6–6 (a.e.t.) 1–2 (pens.)   Austria

Final standings Pos Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts 1    Switzerland 3 3 0 0 18 12 +6 9 2   Belgium 3 1 0 2 18 14 +4 3 3   Norway 3 1 0 2 13 18 –5 3 4   Austria 3 0 1 2 15 20 –5 2 Awards [13] Best player: David Christiaens Top scorer(s): Stephan Meier (9 goals) Best goalkeeper: Adrian Lingenhag

Final table

The top two teams qualified to the Superfinal, entering at the quarter-final stage. The remaining Division B nations exited this season's EBSL.

Switzerland were crowned winners, with runners-up Norway also successfully qualifying for the season-ending event.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	W+	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Switzerland	12	7	1	4	67	52	+15	23	Advance to Superfinal quarter-finals
2	Norway	12	5	2	5	67	75	–8	19
3	Belgium	12	4	1	7	56	56	0	14
4	Austria	12	3	1	8	71	78	–7	11

Superfinal

Qualified teams

This is a summary of the teams who qualified for the Superfinal.

#	Team	Division	Round entered
1	Spain	A	Semi-finals
2	Portugal
3	France		Quarter-finals
4	Italy
5	Switzerland	B
6	Norway

Results

• Dates: 28–30 August 2003
• Location: Knokke, Belgium

This season the Superfinal was played as a straight knockout tournament. Four of the six teams contesting the title started in the quarter-finals, whilst the top two nations from Division A received a bye and started in the semi-finals. The teams played one match per round until the final when the winner of the 2003 Euro Beach Soccer League was crowned. The losers of the quarter and semi-finals played in consolation matches to determine their final league placements.

Unlike in previous years, Monte Carlo, Monaco was unable to host the event. After also failing to organise the Superfinal in Cannes, France, Knokke, Belgium was finally confirmed as the season-finale hosts, following on from being the venue of the final stage of Division B. ^[14]

	Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Final
						Spain		9
	Switzerland (a.e.t.)		6			Switzerland		3
	Norway		5								Spain (a.e.t.)		8
											France		7
						Portugal		6
	France		4			France		7
	Italy		3
						5th place match					3rd place match
						Norway		6			Switzerland		4
						Italy (a.e.t.)		7			Portugal		8

Championship match details

30 August 2003

Spain	8–7 (a.e.t.)	France
Eloy 2', 10' J. Salinas 3' Nico 13', 17',  ?' Amarelle 13', 24'	Report	6', 16' Cantona 12', 26' Sciortino 24' Jairzinho 25' Marquet 33' Bonora

Knokke, Belgium

Referee: Pinto Correia (Portugal)

Winners

2003 Euro Beach Soccer League champions
Spain Fourth title

Statistics [15]

Top scorer(s): Madjer (10 goals)

Best goalkeeper: Roberto Valeiro (84.8% save rate)

Superfinal final standings

Spain beat France in the final to win their fourth Euro Beach Soccer League title and successfully reclaim their crown after losing it to Portugal last year.

Finishing in the top four positions also earned those nations qualification straight into the upcoming World Cup. ^[3]

Pos	Team	Notes	Qualification
1	Spain	EBSL Champions	Qualified to 2004 Beach Soccer World Championship
2	France	Runners-up
3	Portugal	Third place
4	Switzerland
5	Italy
6	Norway

Sources

1. "Calendar – August 2003". beachsoccer.com. August 2003. Archived from the original on 18 August 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
2. "EPBSL 2003 - Superfinal Knokke (BELGIUM)". beachsoccer.com. 30 August 2003. Archived from the original on 12 October 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
3. "X MUNDIAL DE BEACH SOCCER: SORTEIO REALIZADO EM SÃO PAULO DEFINE COMPOSIÇÃO DOS GRUPOS" (in Portuguese). beachsoccerbrasil.com.br. 29 January 2004. Archived from the original on September 11, 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
4. "Calendar – June 2003". beachsoccer.com. June 2003. Archived from the original on 18 June 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
5. "2003 - Stage 1 - Estoril (Portugal) - June, 6-8". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-16. Retrieved 16 October 2003.
6. "2003 - Stage 2 - Brighton (England) - June, 27-29". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-16. Retrieved 16 October 2003.
7. "2003 - Stage 3 - Marseille (France) - July, 4-6". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-16. Retrieved 16 October 2003.
8. "2003 - Stage 5 - Lignano Sab. (Italy) - July, 25-27". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-16. Retrieved 16 October 2003.
9. "2003 - Stage 7 - Mallorca (Spain) - August, 8-10". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-12. Retrieved 23 August 2003.
10. "2003 - Stage 4 - Stavanger (Norway) - July, 18-20". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-16. Retrieved 16 October 2003.
11. "2003 - Stage 6 - Linz (Austria) - July, 25-27". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-12. Retrieved 16 October 2003.
12. "2003 - Stage 8 - Bern (Switzerland) - August, 15-17". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-16. Retrieved 16 October 2003.
13. "2003 - Stage 9 - Knokke (Belgium) - August, 22-24". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2003-10-12. Retrieved 16 October 2003.
14. "EPBSL 2003 – Super Final Knokke (BELGIUM)". beachsoccer.com. 13 August 2003. Archived from the original on 2 August 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
15. "EPBSL 2003 - Superfinal - Knokke, Belgium - August 28th – 30th, 2003 - Final Bulletin" (PDF). Beach Soccer Worldwide. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-07-28. Retrieved 28 July 2004.

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