The second and decisive fixture for the Beach Soccer National Team ended with a great victory in Catania. Emiliano Del Duca’s side beat 6-3 after some great performances from the forwards. Gori, Palmacci (x3), Zurlo and Josep Jr got the goals to secure a 16th consecutive appearances in the Superfinal. Since the establishment of the European Championship, the Azzurri have never failed to reach it. The second period which Italy won 4-1 proved to be key in determining the result. After scoring 220 goals in 253 appearances, Paolo Palmacci spoke following the match. “For me, this shirt is like a second skin,” he said. “It’s like every game is my first, it feels the same and I put the same effort in. The same goes from my teammates, we did well to maintain a comfortable lead against France all game. We remain focused because we have another difficult game tomorrow.”

Del Duca’s side opened the scoring through a Gabriele Gori free kick only for Bru to equalise straight after. Just before the end of the period, Paolo Palmacci restored the lead with a bicycle kick. Five minutes into the second period, Pablito got his second and then third after a great assist from the captain Corosiniti. Italy were clearly on top and Josep Jr extended the lead. Zurlo got his name on the scoresheet with a free kick from a central position.

On Sunday at 18:00 CEST, Italy will face fellow Superfinal qualifiers Belarus. It will also be a chance to get revenge after losing to Belarus on 25 July in Moscow at the FIFA World Cup - Europe Qualifiers

ITALY 6-3 FRANCE (2-1; 4-1; 0-1)

Italy: Del Mestre, Carpita, Corosiniti (Cap.), Chiavaro, Ramacciotti, Josep Jr, Marinai, Palmacci, Gori, Zurlo. Coach: Emiliano Del Duca
France: Salazar, Soares (Cap.), Angeletti, Santos Dias, Barbotti, Bru, Gosselin, Leblanc, Fort. Coach: Gerard Sergent
Referees: Dario Minder (Svi), Jonathan Mallia (Mal), Ingilab Mammadov (Aze), Laurynas Arzuolatis (Lit)
Goals: 8’ first period Gori (I), 8’ first period Bru (F), 11’ first period Palmacci (I); 5’ second period Palmacci (I), 6’ second period Josep Jr (I), 7’ second period Zurlo (I), 8’ second period Leblanc (F), 11’ second period Palmacci (I); 10’ third period Bru (F)
Bookings: Soares (F), Chiavaro (I)

RESULTS

Division A

Matchday 1 - Friday 18 August

Belarus 4-1 France
Germany 4-5 Italy

Matchday Two– Saturday 19 August

Belarus 3-2 Germany
Italy 6-3 France

Table: Italy and Belarus 6 points; Germany and France 0

FIXTURES

Matchday Three– Sunday 20 August

France vs. Germany (16.45)
Italy vs. Belarus (318.00)