All is set to begin in the tenth edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup which will be hosted in Asuncion, Paraguay from tomorrow until 1 December. There are 16 teams in four groups and the top two from each group will progress to the quarter-finals. Italy will face Tahiti, Uruguay and Mexico in the group with the first match at 20:15 CET against Tahiti at the Beach Arena in Asuncion.

The group named by the Coach is an experienced one with record appearance holder Paolo Palmacci set for his eight tournament and it will be the seventh tournament for the captain Francesco Corosiniti. It’s set to be the fifth tournament for the goalkeeper Simone Del Mestri, the fourth for the Viareggio pair of Gabriele Gore and Dario Ramacciotti, thee hits for Alessio Frainetti, Simone Marinai and Emmanuele and the second for Catania's Alfio Chiavaro. The three players set for their first World Cup are: Andrea Carpita, Josep Jr and Marcello Perciamontani.

Italy will have a full squad with everyone available to take on the previous runners-up at the competition. The path to the tournament has been positive with 29 wins from 42 games in 2019, 237 goals for and 156 against. Tahiti have improved rapidly since hosting the competition in 2013, finishing as finalists in 2015 and only losing to Portugal and Brazil in 2017. Italy and Tahiti have never met before but some players already know each other well. Taiarui, Labaste, Tavanae, Tchen and Tehau all played in Italy between 2014 and 2017 for Pisa, Romagna and Villafranca. Taiarui and Labaste have been their top scorers at World Cups since 2011 with nine and eight goals. In Italy, scored 19 goals in two seasons and Patrick Tip was top scorer in World Cup qualifying with twelve goals.

In Italy, Taiarui hit 20 goals in just over two years and won the Golden Ball at the 2015 World Cup. Italy will be back in action in Paraguay on Saturday at 23:25 CET for the second group match against Uruguay.

Photos, news and highlights from the tournament will be available on  figc.it and beachsoccer.lnd.it. On social media, the official hashtag for the tournament is #BeachSoccerWC.  

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2019

SCHEDULE

GROUP STAGE

Matchday One (Thursday 21 November)

Italy vs. Tahiti (20:15 CET)
Uruguay vs. Mexico (23.25)

Matchday Two (Saturday 23 November)

Tahiti vs. Mexico (20:15 CET)
Uruguay-Italy (23:25)

Matchday Three (Monday 25 November)

Mexico vs. Italy (20:15)
Tahiti vs. Uruguay (23:25)

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Andrea Carpita (Viareggio BS), Simone Del Mestre (Happy Car Samb BS);

Defenders: Alfio Chiavaro (Catania BS), Francesco Corosiniti (Catania BS);

Wingers: Alessio Frainetti (BS Terracina), Josep Junior (Sambenedettese BS), Simone Marinai (Viareggio BS), Paolo Palmacci (Catania BS), Dario Ramacciotti (Viareggio BS).

Forwards: Emmanuele Zurlo (Catania BS), Marcello Perciamontani (Happy Car Sambenedettese BS) e Gabriele Gori (Viareggio BS).

Staff - Head Coach: Emiliano Del Duca; Delegation Head: Massimo Agostini; Accompanying Director: Ferdinando Arcopinto; Secretary: Sabrina Filacchione; Assistant Coach: Michele Leghissa; Fitness Coach: Paolo La Rocca; Goalkeeping Coach: Antonino Nosdeo; Doctors: Alvise Clarioni and Monica Fabbri; Physiotherapist: Fabio Caliendo.