Eagles on the ocean beach

Belarus’ national team tears rivals apart at the Beach Soccer World Cup

The Seychelles continues to be scorched by the sun as a typhoon of emotions and spectacular goals is raging. The Beach Soccer World Cup, which brought together 16 of the best teams on the planet at the equator, is entering a decisive phase: the group stage matches are coming to an end. These will be followed by playoffs and the fight for medals. The Belarusian national team remains among the contenders for the championship title.

Belarus' national beach soccer team 

They are just amazing — there is no other word for them! And this applies not only to our players, but also to everyone who supports the team at the event site. It is nice to watch! The national team is friendly, united, coherent. As one, they sing the national anthem and play like virtuosos. The fans are a match: in T-shirts with state symbols and flags, they support our guys in a loud, recognisable and beautiful manner in the stands. There are always enough colourful personalities at such world football festivals, but here it is worth admitting the obvious: Belarusians in the Seychelles are clearly not lost among the diverse and vibrant participants, they are noticeable, audible and make you admire them.
The charismatic Nicolás Alvarado’s team started the group tournament with a difficult but very important victory over the hosts of the championship. The Seychelles national team was defeated with a score of 6:3. Artsemi Drozd delivered a hat-trick, scoring all his goals with incredible bicycle kicks. In the second round match against the Japanese team (again 6:3), Drozd scored too. And again in the same style, for which he received from fans and journalists the appropriate nickname — Bicycle King. However, after the last match of the group round, in which the Belarusian beach soccer players left Guatemala in tatters (12:3), Anatoliy Ryabko can easily share this proud title with Drozd. To the admiring cheers of a couple of commentators on the official website fifa.com time after time, he soared like a bird over the golden sand, hovered above the ground despite all the laws of gravity, and, as if from a sling, sent the ball into the goal, scattering the balls in different corners — left and right, upper and lower. Ryabko scored four goals in total — an elegant poker! Ihar Bryshtsel scored the same number of times, Vadzim Bokach scored two goals, Aleh Hapon and goalkeeper Uladzimir Ustsinovich scored one goal each.

   











Mikita Chaikouski rushing to the ball

Belarus’ national team acted easily and naturally, enjoying the game and giving pleasure to all its fans. Notably, their number is increasing every day.

Thus, the Belarusian national team with three wins and a 24-9 goal difference took the uncontested first place in its group and won a ticket to the quarterfinals. Nicolás Alvarado’s squad found out their opponent at this stage in the evening: the loser in the Iran — Portugal pair. We know both teams well. We beat the Iranians in the final of the 2nd CIS Games, and then lost in the duel for third place at last year’s World Cup. We have also met with the Portuguese many times. At the 2024 World Cup, they became the opponents of the Belarusians in the 1/4 finals, and many people still remember that match. The game turned out to be bright, with an abundance of incredible acrobatic elements. The Belarusian team were leading 3:1 but could not hold the advantage. The main time ended in a draw — 3:3, followed by overtime. It seemed that fate would be decided by a lottery — a penalty shootout. And when absolutely everyone believed in such an outcome, an incredible thing happened. The ball landed at the feet of Ihar Bryshtsel and our leader delivered a lightning and irresistible shot under the crossbar. The entire country watching the game and numerous Belarusian fans at the Dubai stadium instantly exploded with delight at the moment when the stopwatch of the match reached zero. There was no time left for the Portuguese to recoup. 
   
Coach Nicolás Alvarado with his team

We will see what happens this time. The quarterfinals will be held on May 8th. The semifinals are scheduled for May 10th, and the final and the bronze medal match will take place on May 11th. The Belarusian guys do not hide their ambitious plans — they have long dreamed of returning home as world champions.

By Sergei Kanashits