The sport
Born in Copacabana, Brazil, beach football is played all across the world, even countries with barely a coastline in insight.
It relies on extreme skills, and often keeping the ball off the bouncy pitch. Expect spectacular volleyed goals to be the order of day. Each team is made up of four outfield players and one goalkeeper, with unlimited substitutions. Each match consists of three periods of 12 minutes.
The tournament
This is the fourth staging of the Beach Soccer International Cup in Dubai. Russia won the first two competitions before Iran were the victors 12 months ago.
Over the past five years, Dubai has become a natural destination for big beach football events after the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup was held there in 2009 as well as several World Cup continental qualifiers.
Player to watch
For Joao Victor Saraiva, better known as Madjer, the tournament will feel like a home away from home. Nicknamed after his hero, Algerian legend Rabah Madjer, he plays for Al Ahli in the UAE Beach Soccer League.
The 37-year-old Portuguese striker’s remarkable skills have already brought him Golden Boot awards for most goals at the Beach Soccer World Cups in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
With the next World Cup to be held in his home country, he will be eager to show the crowds here that he has not lost his touch.
Favourites
As ever, Brazil will be one of the favourites to win the competition. They clearly relish Dubai as a playing environment and won the most recent of their 13 world titles in the city in 2009.
Portugal, the 2001 world champions, are preparing to host the 2015 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup and will also feel confident of their chances.
The favourites again, though, will be Russia, the winner of the past two World Cups and holders of the Euro Beach Soccer league.
Last year, they were shocked by Iran as they lost 4-3 in the final, so they will not take anything for granted.
Intercontinental Cup fixtures
All games at Dubai International Marine Club
Tuesday
USA v Brazil, 4.15pm
Russia v Japan, 5.30pm
UAE v Morocco, 6.45pm
Iran v Portugal, 8pm
Wednesday
Portugal v Morocco, 4.15pm
Brazil v Japan, 5.30pm
Russia v USA, 6.45pm
UAE v Iran, 8pm
Thursday
Japan v USA, 4.15pm
Brazil v Russia, 5.30pm
Portugal v UAE, 6.45pm
Morocco v Iran, 8pm
Friday
3rd Group B v 4th Group A, 4.15pm
3rd Group A v 4th Group B, 5.30pm
Semi-final 1: 1st Group B v 2nd Group A, 6.45pm
Semi-final 2: 1st Group A v 2nd Group B, 8pm
Saturday
7th Place play-off, 4.15pm
5th Place play-off, 5.30pm
3rd Place play-off, 6.45pm
Final, 8pm
akhaled@thenational.ae
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