2020 Euro Beach Soccer League

Last updated

2020 Euro Beach Soccer League
2020 Euro Beach Soccer League logo.png
Logo of the Superfinal.
Tournament details
Host countryPortugal
Dates2–6 September
Teams5 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal (7th title)
Runners-upFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
Third placeFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
Fourth placeFlag of France.svg  France
Tournament statistics
Matches played10
Goals scored83 (8.3 per match)
2019
2021

The 2020 Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL) was the 23rd edition of the Euro Beach Soccer League , the annual, premier competition in European beach soccer contested between men's national teams. It is organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW).

Contents

The season was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting a campaign completely unrecognisable to that of recent seasons. Originally due to start in June, the start of the season was postponed until September which ultimately saw the entire regular season cancelled. Therefore, all competing teams were entered straight into their respective divisions' post-season events: nations of Division A into the Superfinal, to compete to become the winners of this year's EBSL, and countries of Division B into the Promotion Final, to try to earn a spot in Division A next year. [1] However, due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, many nations chose not to participate, [2] and ultimately no competition concerning Division B took place at all.

Portugal were the defending champions and successfully retained their title, earning their seventh European crown.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Initial consequences

The preliminary 2020 EBSL season schedule was released in November 2019. [3] It was planned that the regular season, taking place during June and July, would consist of five stages of fixtures in Moscow (Russia), Naples (Italy), Nazaré (Portugal), Budapest (Hungary) and one unnamed location. [4]

In March 2020, with the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic increasing rapidly across Europe, Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) announced the suspension of all beach soccer competitions under their auspices until at least June to protect the health of all those involved. [5] In May, with the situation yet to improve, BSWW extended the suspension until September [6] – typically this is the end of the EBSL season. However, in July, with the situation in Europe easing, BSWW announced that the EBSL season would begin in August but with major format changes due to the virus's effect: [1] [7]

Calendar and locations

The original calendar was revealed on 8 July 2020. [1]

Chișinău, Moldova was to host the Promotion Final from 19 to 23 August, whilst Figueira da Foz, Portugal was to host the Superfinal from 1–6 September. [1] Organisers, BSWW, stressed the schedule may be changed depending on the future state of the COVID-19 pandemic; [1] changes were subsequently made:

The local organisers in Figueira da Foz decided to defer hosting until 2021 due to the requirement of having to play their event behind closed doors this year. [8] Later, due to cross-border travel restrictions because of the pandemic, BSWW and the Moldovan Football Federation (FMF) agreed to postpone Chișinău's hosting until 2021 as well. [9]

The Superfinal was rescheduled to take place as follows, [9] [2] however the Promotion Final was never rescheduled and thus no competition regarding Division B took place this season:

PhaseDatesCountryCityStageDivisions
Regular season Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic AB
Post-season/
Finals
2–6 SeptemberFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Nazaré Superfinal A
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Promotion FinalB

Teams

The numbers in parentheses show the European ranking of each team prior to the start of the season, out of 37 nations. [10]

Division A

With COVID-19 concerns and restrictions in mind, [11] of the 12 sides in the top tier, just five decided to participate as follows. [2] This made it the first season of the competition not to feature Italy or Spain.

Division B

None – season cancelled.

Superfinal

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). Due to COVID-19 concerns, the matches were played behind closed doors. [12]

The Superfinal was played in a single round-robin format, involving one group of all five teams. The team with the most points after all games were completed were crowned EBSL champions. [2]

As per the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the competition, no team was relegated to Division B this season.

Results

PosTeamPldWW+WPLGFGAGDPtsResult
1Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal (H)44000207+1312EBSL Champions (7th title)
2Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 430012615+119Runners-up
3Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 410121413+14Third place
4Flag of France.svg  France 41003928–193
5Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 400041420–60

Key: (H) Hosts

Ukraine  Flag of Ukraine.svg3–3Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
  • Hoeveler Soccerball shade.svg19' (o.g.)
  • Pashko Soccerball shade.svg24'
  • Voitok Soccerball shade.svg31'
Report
  • Soccerball shade.svg20', 35' Metzler
  • Soccerball shade.svg36' Biermann
Penalties
  • Voitok Soccerball shade cross.svg
  • Pashko Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Shcherytsia Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Khyzhniak Soccerball shad check.svg
  • Zavorotnyi Soccerball shad check.svg
4–3
  • Soccerball shade cross.svg Meltzer
  • Soccerball shad check.svg Baaske
  • Soccerball shad check.svg Mutulingam
  • Soccerball shad check.svg Nowak
  • Soccerball shade cross.svg Weirauch
France  Flag of France.svg0–7Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Report
  • Soccerball shade.svg10', 11', 28' Leo Martins
  • Soccerball shade.svg14' Von
  • Soccerball shade.svg18' Rui Coimbra
  • Soccerball shade.svg24' Lourenço
  • Soccerball shade.svg26' Belchior

Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg10–2Flag of France.svg  France
  • Stankovic Soccerball shade.svg2', 26', 35'
  • Mounoud Soccerball shade.svg5'
  • Wuest Soccerball shade.svg11'
  • Ott Soccerball shade.svg12', 14', 25'
  • Hodel Soccerball shade.svg29'
  • Wandji Soccerball shade.svg31'
Report(ru)
  • Soccerball shade.svg10' Huck
  • Soccerball shade.svg15' Belhomme
Portugal  Flag of Portugal.svg4–1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
  • Bê Martins Soccerball shade.svg12'
  • Bruno Torres Soccerball shade.svg13'
  • Belchior Soccerball shade.svg19'
  • Lourenço Soccerball shade.svg22'
Report(ru)
  • Soccerball shade.svg10' (pen.) Mutulingam

Germany  Flag of Germany.svg4–5Flag of France.svg  France
  • Mutulingam Soccerball shade.svg5' (pen.)
  • Beqiri Soccerball shade.svg25', 35'
  • Metzler Soccerball shade.svg35'
Report(ru)
  • Soccerball shade.svg15' Shillingford
  • Soccerball shade.svg17' Gosselin
  • Soccerball shade.svg23' Belhomme
  • Soccerball shade.svg30' Santos
  • Soccerball shade.svg35' Huck
Ukraine  Flag of Ukraine.svg2–4Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
  • Zborovskyi Soccerball shade.svg8', 28' (pen.)
Report(ru)

Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg8–6Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
  • Wuest Soccerball shade.svg4', 29'
  • Hodel Soccerball shade.svg11', 21', 33'
  • Steinemann Soccerball shade.svg14'
  • Ostgen Soccerball shade.svg15'
  • Hoeveler Soccerball shade.svg20' (o.g.)
Report(ru)
  • Soccerball shade.svg3', 26' (pen.) Biermann
  • Soccerball shade.svg17', 22', 35' (pen.) Beqiri
  • Soccerball shade.svg27' Meltzer
Portugal  Flag of Portugal.svg4–2Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
  • Bê Martins Soccerball shade.svg11'
  • Bruno Torres Soccerball shade.svg13'
  • Batalha Soccerball shade.svg20'
  • Leo Martins Soccerball shade.svg30'
Report(ru)
  • Soccerball shade.svg7' Voitenko
  • Soccerball shade.svg27' Voitok

Ukraine  Flag of Ukraine.svg7–2Flag of France.svg  France
  • Pashko Soccerball shade.svg3', 12', 29'
  • Voitok Soccerball shade.svg21'
  • Zavorotnyi Soccerball shade.svg23'
  • Shcherytsia Soccerball shade.svg28'
  • Voitenko Soccerball shade.svg30'
Report(ru)
  • Soccerball shade.svg10', 33' Gosselin
Portugal  Flag of Portugal.svg5–4Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
  • Leo Martins Soccerball shade.svg4', 14', 34'
  • Lourenço Soccerball shade.svg10'
  • Belchior Soccerball shade.svg17'
Report(ru)

Awards

Winners trophy

 2020 Euro Beach Soccer League
champions 
Flag of Portugal.svg
Portugal
Seventh title

Individual awards

Top scorer(s)
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Dejan Stankovic
8 goals
Best player
Flag of Portugal.svg Leo Martins
Best goalkeeper
Flag of Portugal.svg Elinton Andrade

Top scorers

Players with at least 2 goals

8 goals
7 goals
  • Flag of Portugal.svg Leo Martins
5 goals
  • Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Glenn Hodel
  • Flag of Germany.svg Valon Beqiri
4 goals
3 goals
  • Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Angelo Wuest
  • Flag of Portugal.svg André Lourenço
  • Flag of Portugal.svg Belchior
  • Flag of Ukraine.svg Maksym Voitok
  • Flag of France.svg Quentin Gosselin
  • Flag of Germany.svg Christian Biermann
2 goals
  • Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Eliott Mounoud
  • Flag of Portugal.svg Bruno Torres
  • Flag of Portugal.svg Bê Martins
  • Flag of Ukraine.svg Dmytro Voitenko
  • Flag of France.svg Sébastien Huck
  • Flag of France.svg Stephane Belhomme
  • Flag of Ukraine.svg Oleg Zborovskyi
  • Flag of Germany.svg Julin Mutulingam

Source

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The 2020 beach soccer season to begin in August". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Euro Beach Soccer League match schedule confirmed". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  3. "Заглянем в будущее! На встрече Season Launch 2020 рассказали, каким будет следующий сезон" (in Russian). Beach Soccer Russia. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  4. "Что? Где? Когда? Открываем все «чёрные ящики» сезона-2020!" (in Russian). Beach Soccer Russia. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  5. "All BSWW-organized competitions postponed until 1st June". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  6. "BSWW to kick off season in September". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  7. "Beach Soccer Talks #10: Season Update". Beach Soccer Worldwide – Facebook. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  8. "Superfinal da Liga Europeia de futebol de praia adiada para 2021". ZeroZero.pt. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  9. 1 2 "EBSL Promotion Final moved to Nazaré (1-6 September)". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  10. "OVERALL WORLD RANKING - EUROPE". Beach Soccer Worldwide. March 2020. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  11. The 2020 Euro Beach Soccer League is finally here! Beach Soccer Worldwide. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  12. Devido às contingência implementadas em virtude da COVID-19, as partidas vão realizar-se à porta fechada.. FutebolDePraiaPortugal. 1 September 2020.