Sand Under Our Feet

The 5th edition of the FIFA Beach World Cup came to an end on the 22nd of November 2009. The sands of Jumeriah had played host to an extravaganza of bare footed football on sand. This World Cup was unique as it was the first edition to be governed by FIFA. The Others were held under the title Beach Soccer World Championships. A fan zone with 5 a side football was held as well as other attractions such as "guess the number of balls and win the car". Samba domination in this years tournament continued as Brazil retained their crown.Brazil, won its fourth consecutive world title, was a class apart despite a brave and daring performance from the Swiss.

Buru, Betinho and Andre scored a brace each while Sidney, Benjamin, Bueno and Daniel Souza were also on the score sheet. Dejan Stankovic, Mo Jaeggy, Michael Rodrigues, Stephan Meier and Angelo Schirinzi grabbed replied for the Swiss, who finished runners-up at the 2009 European Championships.

Brazil opened the scoring through Andre who beat Nico Jung in the Swiss goal with a superb overhead kick (these kicks are a trademark of the tournament). Betinho doubled the lead with a long-range bullet and Buru added a third a while later. 

 The Swiss managed to pull one back through skipper Jaeggy, but Brazil restored its three-goal cushion before the first break when Souza poked the ball past the Swiss keeper with seconds remaining. To rub salt in their wounds. Switzerland had a goal ruled out as the referee decreed the goal was not in time. Buru scored his second with a powerful shot from a distance and Brazil captain Benjamin made it 6-1 from a free-kick before Andre and Betinho scored a piece after the break.

The third and final session witnessed end-to-end football with both sides employing Napolean's ideology of "Attack Being the best form of defence". The Swiss managed to rattle the net with Meier beating substitute goalkeeper Alessandro with a volley.

Brazil hit back when Sidney converted a penalty, but the Swiss did muster a third goal with a shot by Rodrigues from 10 metres. Brazil keeper Alessandro was forced to pick the ball out of his won net for the third time in the session when Schirinzi headed home following a neat build up with Leu.

Stankovic's header at the end following a corner was the final goal for the Men from The Alps, Brazil's Bueno's thunderbolt of a free-hit gave substitute Swiss goalie Valentin Jaeggy no chance as Brazil pounded in another goal. Portugal skipper Madjer led from the front. 

In the third-place play-off, Portugal demolished Uruguay 14-7. It was deja vu for the Portuguese, as they finished third last year as well in Marseille, France

 By Keegan Pereira