Victor Vazquez, the coach of the UAE national beach soccer team, described the team’s qualification for the quarterfinals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup as a long-awaited dream. This dream realized in front of the Emirati audience and on the field of the “Emirates 2024” World Cup.
UAE National Beach Soccer Team Defeated USA Team.
The UAE team secured their place in the last eight (quarterfinals) of the Beach World Cup.
This is by defeating the USA 3-2 after extra time in the second round of Group A of the World Cup.
Then raising their points tally to 5, before facing Italy in the final round of the first round.
Vazquez stated: “We waited a long time for this victory and qualification.
Which was achieved as a result of the work and cooperation of everyone, and from all the officials and for a long time.
These players deserve to win this honor, after doing their best during the previous stages.
They were a model of commitment and giving, so they achieved what they wanted.”
This is the eighth participation of the UAE beach soccer team in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Mentioning that it have previously participated in the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2019 and 2021 editions.
Beach Soccer Cannot Be Compared to Football
The inconsistency in the level during a single match is a characteristic of beach soccer.
It cannot be compared to regular football.
Vazquez explained:
“We cannot look at beach soccer with the same eye that we look at regular football.
The fun of this game is that it changes every moment.
Controlling your level and making the most of the times when you are in control is the real secret in this game, which is what we did in this match.
We excelled and scored two goals…
Then we came back in extra time and took advantage of the first opportunity to make a difference.”
He stressed that the journey is not over yet, and the ambition is still there to achieve more.
He said:
“We play every match in the World Cup as if it is a “final” and we take it step by step.
We still have the Italy match at the end of the group stage, and we have to deal with the next match first before looking ahead to what comes after that.
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